In 2008 I joined forces with fellow artist Fern Smith in creating The Art of Suff-Rage traveling art installation. The project sees us roving Victoria dressed as suffragist giving out the latest edition of our newspaper. The installation celebrates the Centenary of Women's Suffrage in Victoria and I have created one hundred ceramic suffragist sculptures each around 30cm in height. Fern has painted ten commemorative banners to honor the legacy of women campaigning for equality. Gasworks Arts Park has auspice the project and we received funding from the Department of Planning and Community Development Grants Program-Centenary of Women's Suffrage. Thank you to everyone who has helped to get the project up and running.

Below you will find pictures and news from our adventures as well as a Link to Fern Smith's website which has more information on The Art of Suff-Rage  

Link: http://www.fernartz.com/Projects/Suff-Rage.htm

June 2nd 2009

Portland Art Centre

Fern and I ventured to Portland recently with The Art of Suff-Rage traveling art installation for an exhibition of our work. The exhibition consists of the entire body of work that we produced last year for the centenary celebrations of Victorian Women Vote 1908 - 2008. As Portland was the birth place of Vida Goldstein it was fantastic we had this opportunity to explore more of her adventures. Here is a picture of me and Vida on the Victorian Women Vote 1908 - 2008 "Seat for Vida" made by artist Carmel Wallace.

March 8th 2009

International Women's Day

Fern and I attended the Queen Victoria Women's Centre annual International Women's Day celebrations. Women entertainers and stalls holders from various women's organizations as well as artists and produces filled the QV Square for a fun filled informative event.

Febuary 2009

Counihan Gallery - 2009 Women's Salon

Each year Counihan Gallery in Brunswick hosts a Women's Salon as part of IWD celebrations showcasing the work of women artists from the City of Moreland. As the theme for this year was "Stories of Hope" both Fern and I submitted works created for The Art of Suff-Rage We are pictured below after I gave a floor talk one Saturday afternoon.

November 23rd

Parliament Open Day - This year Open day celebrated the achievements of women over the last 100 years in celebration of the Centenary of Victorian women gaining the vote. Visitors to the Parliament were greeted by Fern and I on the steps giving out the Sixth Edition of The Art of Suff-Rage newspaper. My 100 ceramic suffragist sculptures were on display in Queens Hall and Ferns ten Commemorative Banners were on display in the Members Corridor. People were entertained in the gardens by participants from this years celebrations including Cathy Connors brass ensemble playing her especially composed Centenary Fanfare.

November 13th

Union of Australian Women - The final in the UAW Centenary Celebrations at the Incinerator Art Complex in Moonee Ponds. Fern and I were guest speakers and our art installation was on display.

November 11th

Parliament House closing Celebration - We were invited by The Honourable Jenny Lindell MP the Speaker of the House to the closing of this years celebrations. I took my Vida sculpture along to take part in the festivities and she was very at home in the Queen's Hall as you can see by the photo. Many of the grant participants from this year were there as well as Ministers and the Premier John Brumby.

November 10th

Monster Petition at Parliament - The steps of Parliament were adorned with signatures collected this year to honor the Monster Petition of 1891. In that year the Premier of the time wanted proof the women of Victoria wanted the vote and with in six weeks women collected over thirty thousand signatures.  Learn more at www.women.vic.gov.au/womenvote 

Deer Park Library  - I presented a talk on the "tales of the suffragists".

November 7th

Haddon and District Community House on November 7th hosted its final wrap with the unveiling of the “Woady Woman” sculpture commissioned from me. During the year the community researched and voted on who should become the "Woady Woman". I made three ceramic sculptures of the women chosen which will now reside at the Haddon and District Community House.

In 2005 I was commissioned to make an in-ground surround for a drinking fountain at the Hester Reserve in Port Melbourne. I used clay slabs in an elliptical form to mirror the shape of the drinking fountain. The clay slabs were cut in to shapes to fit the design. In the artwork I used the landscape to construct an abstracted view of the site that included the sea, parklands, railway tracks and trees, which all lead to the city along the oldest train route still in use today connecting the port to the city. Dog foot- prints are embedded into the work as the area was designed to be user friendly for the local dogs and their owners.

You can view pictures of my recent solo exhibition in the Sculpture pages of this site.

Photo: Corrie Ancone

Photo: Corrie Ancone

'Flowering Construct' Photo: Corrie Ancone

'Flowering Panel II' Photo Corrie Ancone

'Bird Tower' Photo: Catherine Acin

'Bird People' Photo: Catherine Acin

'Flowering Construct' (Detail) Photo: Catherine Acin