Julie Pennington: artist-in-residence May 2016

Julie Pennington, Clay works, Gunyah 2016

The Gunyah Artist in Residence program gave me a wonderful opportunity to step aside from normal routines, and soak up the atmosphere of this very special place. Situated in a bush setting on the edge of the water, this beautiful house and studio was perfect for finding inspiration and contemplating new ideas.

Julie Pennington, A favourite spot - Gunyah jetty, 2016

I really enjoyed having the bush and the water at my doorstep. I was very lucky with the weather, the sun streaming through the trees and twinkling on the water almost every day. I loved starting and finishing my day down at the jetty, observing the change in the tide, finding something to collect, and photographing the trees and the water in changing light. It was this routine of a different sort that I enjoyed, it was a routine that allowed time to see things that at other times one might miss, or dismiss. Patterns in the water, shadows, silhouettes of trees against the sky, and time to just listen to sounds of the water, bird calls, rustling in the bush, and breeze in the trees.

Julie Pennington, Gunyah studio - growing collection, Gunyah 2016

It was very easy to stay put at Gunyah, but I spent some time exploring the area. Myall Lakes National Park, Tea Gardens, and the beautiful beaches of Hawks Nest. I always like to collect things when I go places, but collecting became quite a thing for me during this residency! I became very interested in arranging multiples of similar pieces. If the neighbours were watching me down at the jetty they must have wondered what I could possibly be finding each day! But this is what was so special about having days to oneself to explore.

Julie Pennington, Oyster shells - playing with clay, Gunyah 2016

The studio got filled with my collections, so together with the view through the trees, I felt surrounded by nature. I spent time drawing and making a few things in clay, trying different shapes and surface pattern ideas. Making small installations of pinch pots, and thinking about multiples of objects and how they relate to each other. This is an idea which I think I will definitely develop further now that I am back in my studio.

Julie Pennington, In the studio - clay forms, Gunyah 2016


I guess that is the nice thing about a residency such as Gunyah, you think you have an idea about how the environment will inspire you, but you never can tell what you will find and where it will take you!

Julie Pennington, Gunyah tress, 2016


Julie Pennington, May 2016
juliepenningtonceramics.net

Ollie Bown & Ben Carey: upcoming artists-in-residence

Ollie Bown and Ben Carey... listening

Ollie Bown and Ben Carey are Sydney based experimental musicians working with a combination of improvisation and studio production techniques. They make innovative use of software, creating their own interactive performance systems and new techniques for generating sound textures and patterns. Their first collaborative album, Ben+Zamyatin, is available to listen to on SoundCloud. 

Ben+Zamyatin album cover, listen online via SoundCloud

While we're at Gunyah, we plan to make a new studio album based around a series of recorded improvisations of Ben playing saxophone with our bespoke software systems. These recorded improvisations will be further edited into fully orchestrated studio constructions. We are both interested in the use of ‘field recordings’ in our work — recordings of naturally occurring sound, used in a creative context. We plan to construct the record around the use of natural environmental sound. This will include recording and improvising in natural settings in and around the Post Stephens area. This new material will also form the basis for a major live work, in conjunction with visual artists and performers, that we aim to put on in Sydney later in the year. We are looking forward to our residency at Gunyah, it will be an inspiring setting away from our other requirements, allowing us the time and space to create this new collaborative work.

Ollie Bown, Solstice LAMP, interactive installation, Vivid 2013, link


Ollie Bown with his new media work animos

Ollie Bown is a researcher, programmer and electronic music maker. He creates and performs music as one half of the duo Icarus, and performs regularly as a laptop improviser in electronic and electroacoustic ensembles. He has worked with musicians such as Tom Arthurs, Lothar Ohlmeier and Maurizio Ravalico of the Not Applicable Artists, and Brigid Burke and Adem Ilhan of Fridge. Icarus' 2012 album Fake Fish Distribution was released in 1000 unique digital variations, presenting a new angle on ownership and uniqueness in digital media artefacts. The band have produced remixes for electronic music pioneers such as Four Tet, Murcof, Caribou and EclecticMethod/ChuckD and recently produced software for an experimental live performance by Aphex Twin, premiered at the Barbican Hall in London in 2012. Ollie has performed at international festivals such as Sonic Acts Amsterdam, the Sonic Arts Network Expo UK and AudioVisiva Milan. He has designed interactive sound for installation projects by Squidsoup and Robococo, at venues such as the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, the Oslo Lux Festival, the Vivid Festival, Sydney, and the Kinetica Art Fair, London. He is also senior lecturer at the UNSW Faculty of Art & Design, in this research role he is local cochair of the 2013 International Conference on Computational Creativity and of the Musical Metacreation Workshop and events series. olliebown.com

Ben Carey, iambic, audiovisual composition, link

Ben Carey, laptopping 

Ben Carey is a saxophonist, composer and technologist with interests in contemporary classical, interactive, improvised and electroacoustic music. His research and practice incorporates equal parts improvisation, interpretation, composition and the development of musical software systems. He has recently completed a PhD at the University of Technology, Sydney, where his research was concerned with the development and use of interactive performance systems for instrumentalists and computer. In 2013 his _derivations interactive performance system was released online, and has since been used in performances throughout the world by numerous improvisers. The EP _derivations: humanmachine improvisations was released in 2014 on Integrated Records, documenting performances by Antoine Läng, Alana Blackburn, Joshua Hyde and Evan Dorrian with the software. As a performer Ben performs a wide range of chamber and mixed works for saxophone and live electronics. As a soloist he has premiered works by composers Daniel Blinkhorn, Mark Oliveiro, Tristan Coelho, François Rossé, Baptiste Boiron and Florent Colautti. As a chamber musician he has performed as part of the Nexas Quartet, Covalent Duo, and Ensemble Offsrping. Ben’s research and creative work has been presented at the dBâle festival of electronic music (Basel), IRCAM Live @ La Gaité Lyrique (Paris), International Conference of Computational Creativity (Sydney), Vivid @ Seymour (Sydney), the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (London/Ann Arbor), the International Computer Music Conference (Perth), the Sound and Music Computing Conference (Copenhagen) and the Australasian Computer Music Conference (Auckland/Brisbane). bencarey.net

Ben Carey, performing _derivations, with Ollie Bown, MuMe 2013, link

Julie Pennington: upcoming artist-in-residence


Julie Pennington working in her Bowral studio

Julie Pennington is a ceramic artist based in Bowral, NSW Southern Highlands. Originally from the Blue Mountains, Julie studied in education in Canberra, then moved Sydney where she studied and worked in textile design. In 2001 she moved to the Southern Highlands and started studying ceramics. Her early ceramic work reflected her interest in textiles, investigating ceramic printing techniques on thrown and slip cast vessels. During her 2013 residency at Sturt Craft Centre in Mittagong, the direction of Julie's work shifted towards exploring the sculptural elements of ceramics. Julie now focuses on porcelain sculptural work, using finely rolled coils to construct intricate and delicate forms that explore positive and negative space, line and movement, and the interplay of light and shadow. Drawing inspiration from the natural environment as well as her ongoing interest in textiles, wire and woven forms, Julie's work evolves in an intuitive way, becoming absorbed in the process of building, and allowing the making process to inform her work. Julie has recently exhibited in The Course of Objects at Manly Art Gallery, at Chinaclay Gallery in Clovelly, M.Contemporary Gallery in Woollahra, Edwina Corlette Gallery in Brisbane, and last month she held a solo show titled Branching Out, at Mu Studio Gallery in Mosman.

Julie Pennington, Twig Vessels I & II, 2015, Porcelain and black stain

While I'm at Gunyah I plan to gather inspiration for a new ceramic works, expanding on my current interest in the surfaces of tree trunks and plant details. I'm looking forward to connecting with the bush on a daily basis – walking and having time to contemplate and observe things more closely. I don't get to spend much time on the coast, so I'll welcome the possibility of new ideas being generated from fossicking on the beach. Having the bush and the sea at my doorstep at Gunyah will indulge my love of collecting things and examining details to use in my work by taking photos and make sketches too refer to back in my studio. I'm looking forward to immersing myself in this new environment, and am excited to see how this residency impacts my work.

Julie Pennington, Leaf sculpture, 2015, Glazed Porcelain

To see more of Julie's work please visit her website - juliepenningtonceramics.net

Michele Morcos: artist-in-residence March 2016


When one paintbrush just isn't enough! Michele Morcos painting at the Gunyah studio
photo credit: Tina Fox
2016 seems to have its high performance running shoes on - and be moving at warp speed. Every year has a momentum of its own. But this year feels different. Every day, every occasion, every catch-up seems to be blending into one another - to the point where there is no pause, no deep breath, no moments of reflection. That's exactly what I was experiencing this year UNTIL I went to Gunyah - and took a deep breath.
Michele Morcos, Triptych on wood, 2016
The Gunyah artist-in-residence program, organised by Sydney based artist Kath Fries is like no other. It is part holiday retreat, part nature wildlife sanctuary, and part artist think tank. Artists' who are lucky enough to be awarded with a 12 day residency have the use of a lovely house on the waters edge of North Arm Cove, and a studio with views of the bush and water. So yes - it is a pretty special place.


Michele Morcos in the Gunyah studiophoto credit: Tina Fox
When I arrived I had a million ideas of what I wanted to achieve, and packed my car with a plethora of materials for any and every project. Paints, pencils, paper, canvases, wood panels, ink, oil pastels. But - as I quickly discovered - the property of Gunyah sets the rules and the pace.

So I rested, reflected, swam, explored ... and THEN I started to work in the studio space.

 My work took on a lighter, more airy feel - inspired by where I was and how I was feeling.

 And I knew - twelve days was not going to be enough.


The beautiful shoreline, Michele Morcos
What my time on this recent residency showed me was that I need to stop more, reflect more, and pay heed to what my surroundings are trying to communicate. The way the world slows down at Gunyah was such a treat to experience - like the way the clouds and water change in form and colour as dusk takes hold. That's how much I had slowed down by my last day on the property, I was watching the wind, clouds and water at dusk - while listening to the birds and wallabies rustle around the trees surrounding the house!
Michele Morcos, By the crescent moon, 2016
Looking now at my completed artworks that I have just unpacked in my studio in Camperdown I can truly feel and see that quiet breath that I took on my residency, in a beautiful and inspiring place called Gunyah. And I hope I can carry this feeling through the rest of my year, and the artworks that are yet to come...
Reflections of outside looking into the studio, Michele Morcos Gunyah 2016
photo credit: Tina Fox
Thank you to Kath Fries and all the organisers and custodians of the Gunyah artist residency at North Arm Cove. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to think, to reflect, to dream and experience the beautiful place. A big thank must also be given to Cath Derksema and Tina Fox for visiting and taking such lovely photos.
Michele Morcos,  March 2016
Michele Morcos, Atmospheric thoughts, 2016

Michele Morcos: upcoming artist-in-residence

Michele Morcos in her Camperdown studio, 2013

Michele Morcos is a visual artist with a studio practice in Sydney. She graduated from the College of Fine Arts (UNSW) in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) and a BA Honours in Art Theory. After living overseas and travelling throughout Europe, Michele held her first solo exhibition in 2002 followed by over 20 group exhibitions throughout Australia. Twice she has been a finalist for The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship and was a finalist for The Mosman Art Prize in 2009. In 2010 Michele completed a six-month studio residency at The Primrose Studios in North Sydney, which concluded with a major exhibition in June. Michele has worked in Sydney galleries for 10 years and until recently worked for Object: Australian Design Centre in Sydney. In 2012 Michele held her 3rd solo exhibition at Breathing Colours Gallery Balmain, and helped to establish a new Pop Up Art Space in North Sydney. In February 2013 she started a studio residency with Marrickville Council where she completed a new body of work for a solo exhibition at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in July 2014, while teaching workshops to the community in coil weaving and abstract drawing & painting. In 2015 Michele was an artist-in-residence at The Milos Studios in Skopelos Greece and she will soon be exhibiting work from that residency at Koskela in Rosebery NSW.
Michele Morcos, (in) place, diptych, 2015, acrylic on canvas

 My work is an exploration of colour, texture and light through painting, drawing, coil weaving and photography. During my residency at Gunyah I plan to focus on the light and the colours that filter through the landscape in the Port Stephens area, with the intention of building a new collection of drawings and paintings for a future exhibition, and a plein air painting submission for the 2016 NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize. I intend to take my time walking through the environment, writing poetry, sketching, coil weaving and observing the sights and sounds of the bushland I will collate and curate the resource material for this new body of work.

Michele Morcos, Traces of white light, 2015, mix media drawing on paper

For more images and information on Michele's practice please visit her website - www.michelemorcos.com

Michele Morcos, Big sky installation, 2015, coil-woven forms
Michele weaving in her studio, 2013, photo by John Mangila

Gunyah artists-in-residence program 2016

Thank you to all the artists who applied to the 2016 Gunyah artists-in-residence program. There will be eight artists' residencies next year, the selected artists are: 
Michele Morcos, a visual artist working across painting, drawing, coil weaving and photography; based in Sydney
michelemorcos.com 
Julie Pennington, a ceramic artist; based in Bowral NSW
juliepenningtonceramics.net
Oliver Bown and Ben Carey, experimental musicians working with interactive performance systems; based in Sydney NSW
olliebown.com and bencarey.net 
Tracey Coutts, a visual artist working across digital media, painting and printmaking; based in Geelong VIC  
Dean Cross, a multidisciplinary artist working across contemporary dance, performance, painting and printmaking; based in Sydney NSW
deancross.com 
Bridget Kennedy, a visual artist working across installation, jewellery and sculpture; based in Sydney
bridgetkennedy.com.au 
Lesa Hepburn, a botanical fibre artist, working with handmade paper and plant materials; based in Moreton Bay QLD
lesahepburn.com 
Charlie Sublet, a writer and photographer; based in Melbourne VIC
charliesublet.com

Gunyah waterfront, photo by Kath Fries

Janet Meaney: artist-in-residence November 2015

I had the most wonderful time at Gunyah. What an amazing retreat - not that I was closeted. Quite the opposite, I enjoyed the outdoors, breakfasts on the balcony, strolls down to the jetty, lolling in the lounge. And all importantly, working on performances - I spent time contemplating the water and the rocks at Gunyah, as well as the beaches and dunes across the cove at Tea Gardens, Jimmy's Beach and the Nature Reserve.

Janet Meaney, Gunyah track down to the water, 2015

What a luxury it was to spend time in such a fabulous house in a bush setting on the waterfront. So calm, peaceful and perfect for coming up with new ideas. Despite my plan to work with the degradation of the beach and the rising sea level I concentrated instead on the oysters from the area. Besides eating them (they were so fresh and delicious) I was fascinated by the way they cling to the rocks below the house and impressed by the fact that their numbers in the wild are rising, indicating the health of the water and the lack of disturbance that allows them to grow and procreate.

Janet Meaney, Old Oysters, 2015

I developed quite a relationship with the oyster shells. As I was lolling in the window seat looking out across the water I was thinking of how sedentary I had become and it struck me that the perfect application for the shells was to attach them to my body with the intent that the viewer would gather that I was so sedentary that the shells began to grow on me. It was also a bit about age and its process.

Janet Meaney, Sedentary sculpture and Sedentary arm drawing, 2015

I also used my new fabulous sound recorder for many hours recording the wonderful lapping of the water on the rocks and the birds as they planned their mornings and settled in the evenings. The recorder picks up 5 times the sound that our ears can hear so after listening for an extended time then taking the earphones off, the sound flattens with a thud - totally flat and one dimensional. What a luxury it was to spend such time listening and contemplating. It has given me all sorts of ideas for performances such as playing the lapping while raising and lowering a sheet for instance in a tub as if washing by hand to test the reaction of the viewer - will they realise that the sound is not that of the washing in the absence of water in the tub, it sounds the same. Another performance I planned is for Amsterdam at the Festival of Unnoticed Art. I recorded the sound of me walking in the bush with the cracking of twigs and leaves underfoot to be played back on a portable speaker that I will carry as I walk the streets of Amsterdam. So the sound will be noticed but not necessarily as art.

Janet Meaney, Re-erosion and Bucket, 2015


My Gunyah residency was a very productive time for me, new ideas are continuing to develop as a result. Thanks again Kath for such a wonderful opportunity to absorb the atmosphere and put it to use.
Janet Meaney
November 2015
janetmeaney.see.me

Janet Meaney, Low tide at Jimmy's Beach, 2015

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