James & Anton

James and Anton's apartment in Darlinghurst was a delight to visit and photograph - lots of natural light and nice white walls are perfect for showing off the art, yet also warm and welcoming. At first glance I didn't quite realise how many works there were due to the crisp and clean aesthetic, and and some simple yet effective ways of displaying the work

I met James at his Potts Point gallery James Dorahy Project Space when I bought a small work by one of the young artists he represented at the time. Many of the works in the apartment are by his gallery's artists, but there are many by other artists too, and some by James himself who is also a practising artist

What goes into their collection is a combined effort, and like many collectors in compact inner city apartments, only a part of their collection is out of storage at any one time

An earlier group of works by Jonathan Jones - the artist's interpretation of views of Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly & Maroubra

One of Lionel Bawden's enigmatic 'works on paper'

James with Noodle on the sofa below a new acquisition - a dazzling work by Sally Gabori 

Some pretty effective shelving showcases a variety of small sculptures, souvenirs and gifts including a work by Ali Noble - the delicate white work hanging from the wall is by Annie Aitken

One of James' own works 'I am my mother's son', with snow dome by Fiona Hall

Perfectly aligned salon hang including works by Stephanie Monteith, Jake Walker and James Dorahy

A group of smallish 3 dimensional works, including the Addison Marshall spaceship drawing on plaster in the foreground, and works by Sarah Newell & Julie Krone sit very nicely on this beautiful vintage sideboard

James Dorahy Project Space

Robin

As promised, instalment number two on gallery owner and director 

Robin Gibson...

A David Eastwood interior with works by Brett Whiteley, Gina Bruce and William Scott. In the top centre of the photo is a hand coloured lithograph by John Rae, New South Wales' first Commissioner for Railways. John Rae built the house which is now Robin's home and gallery in the 1850s

 A Lawrence Daws poinciana painting in front of a much larger work from the artist's iconic glasshouse mountain series gives us an indication of Robin's admiration of his work. Robin has represented Daws for as long as he's had his own gallery which he opened in 1976. The sandy coloured marble & limestone sculpture is by Joel Elenberg who Robin also represented, and the portrait is by Catherine Fox, part of the current gallery stable. The wall work on the right is by John Coburn

Hugh Ramsay painting, with ceramic pieces by Sandra Taylor and Frank Robin


Robin - First Instalment

Art Month Sydney 2011

During the month of March I'll be co-ordinating the Art Month Sydney Blog

Tim & Terry

While in New Zealand in January Tim and I drove from Wellington to Auckland where we had the great pleasure of lazing in hot baths in Tokaanu, driving along the gorgeous Lake Taupo and experiencing the incredible thermal pools at Waiotapu, while taking in the almost gothic North Island landscape

At our destination of Auckland we stayed with sculptor Terry Stringer and his partner, also called Tim,  who live in their very own sculpture park called Zealandia which they open to the public. The house itself seems more like a piece of sculpture, and the sculptures throughout the property give the visitor the sense they have stepped into some other world

The grounds and main foyer are mostly populated by Terry's sculptures, although there are works by other New Zealand artists such as sculptor Chris Booth and Tim's brother, painter & sculptor, Richard McWhannell. In Tim & Terry's sitting room and bedroom, the feeling is quite different, with an eclectic collection of paintings and objects often with quite a theatrical bent

Some architectural details of the house, adorned by one of Terry's sculptures - a human hand holding a world globe

Terry in the reception area of the house with a newly finished work destined for the front steps of Robin Gibson Gallery in Sydney for his solo show there later this year

View of the house from the forest at the bottom of the property

One of Terry's works on the edge of the forest

The walk down into the forest part of the sculpture trail

The main lawn area of the sculpture park, enclosed by the house, the forest at the bottom,  and the front wall which separates the property from the street

Tim McWhannell playing Bach's Goldberg Variations on his outdoor organ while Tim Chappel takes it all in...

The driveway to the house inside the front gate

The front patio area just inside the front gate

The more cosy private sitting room

Good night ;)






http://www.zealandiasculpturegarden.co.nz/

Ingrid & Gary

I met Ingrid in 1993 at a linguistics residential school in Armidale New South Wales - it was love at first sight... 

A few weeks ago, almost 20 years after we met, I took the opportunity to visit her and her partner Gary in their current abode in Wellington New Zealand while the gallery was shut for its annual break

Being my second visit to Wellington I was happy to spend as much time as possible in their new home which architect Gary is designing and building himself, rather than try to see all the sites. The house is somewhat of a miracle - extraordinary in its ingenious plywood simplicity and honesty, way up high on a hilltop in windy Wellington, and overlooking the harbour and suburb of Petone. Discussing the house with Gary and Ingrid, I got the sense that the house was unfolding around them

I found this way of building and making a home extremely appealing...  And of course I couldn't resist the opportunity of taking some snaps for Art Squirrel

For the decade or so they lived in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay in their much cherished Seidler apartment, they acquired a few artworks...

A purpose built lounging platform, perfect for watching TV from or listening to music, is flanked by a painting by Sydney artist Stuart Watters

Ingrid's desk and day bed make a perfect home for a painting by the late Sydney artist Elwyn Lynn

In the hallway a glass & metal wall piece by Cypriot artist Helen Black called for a wall to be made especially for it 

Another painting by Elwyn Lynn in the cavernous yet light filled bedroom, obviously to Sputnik the devon rex's liking

Happy family featuring rocket-fuelled Baguette the dog - on one of the many outdoor areas with views of the harbour and local area

Gary at his desk

And of course I had to take Tim with me - he does make the most delicious margaritas

Another outdoor area, perfect for daydreaming while taking in the view of the town and harbour, as well as the perfectly distanced sound of trains and factories

The most comfortable seat in the house, on the patio

Fleur

Fleur MacDonald's evident fascination with lambs is merely one aspect which is compelling about her compact Kings Cross apartment, which also functions as a working studio. She tells me her two favourite art movements of all time make perfect bed partners here - Bauhaus and Rococo - order and simplicity in abundance...


Being an artist herself hasn't stopped her from admiring and paying good money for other artists' work, and there are hundreds of pieces in this apartment, admittedly not all hanging. There are countless treasures to be marvelled at - Fleur's own work, works by bright young things Jake Walker, Stephanie Monteith and Diablo Mode, as well as more familiar names (Susan Norrie for example) and a few names now almost forgotten


There are so many works in Fleur's apartment - brilliantly hung very tightly to fit as many works in - so I'll only tag a few works here - if you recognise any of these works, please feel free to comment...

One of Fleur's lambs and an older Susan Norrie bear

A Stephanie Monteith painting of a cistern marks the entrance to the bathroom

Artist's tools, storage, another of Fleur's lambs, a Jake Walker interior, a Diablo Mode turntable all fit neatly

A landscape done by Fleur for the Gallipoli Prize

Gina

Emerging artist Gina Bruce invited me to her Randwick home to give me a glimpse of her upcoming show at Robin Gibson Gallery. In this quintessential suburban family home the painter's persona is ever present, especially once entering the backyard garage which has been converted into a studio

A number of watercolour on paper panels on her drawing table in
the studio which will be assembled into one large work

Egg tempera works stacked on a shelf with pieces of canvas and various other tools

Bubble-wrapped and ready for the framer

For the exhibition... an ink work, and a multi-panelled tempera work which may look familiar -
it was hung in the Dobell Prize for Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW

The artist's tools

A room of one's own...

In the living room four year old May makes her mark next to a recent plein air work by Gina