Walking-and-Talking at a snail's pace: a leisurely stroll through PATTERNS OF COLLECTING: FROM THE BOWER AT THE JOHNSTON COLLECTION

The rain is bucketing down as I write, and in its wake come the snails. If not firmly dissuaded, they will devour the lovingly nurtured plants on our Abbotsford balcony down to the stalks.

Thankfully it’s warm and dry inside the Natural History Room at the Johnston Collection Museum and the snail atop my artist book Leaves of Absence, on loan from the museum, is ceramic. An ingenious example of trompe l’oeil, it will leave no slimy trails across the front cover, nor will it chomp on the eucalyptus leaves from Newstead Forest, gathered especially for this project.

Rain or shine, this morning’s Walk-and-Talk at the Johnston Collection with fellow Bower artist Carole Wilson will take place from 10 am – 11.30 am. The event is fully booked, so for those who missed out, a final walk-and-talk is scheduled:

Thursday 13 September 2018 | 10.00 am – 11.30 am with Deborah Klein & Louise Saxton

For further information about the above, or to book a house tour before PATTERNS OF COLLECTING/ From the Bower at the Johnston Collection concludes on 18 September, go HERE: 

PATTERNS OF COLLECTING/From the Bower at the Johnston Collection: Opening Night

Pictured with two of my favourite people, Leigh Hobbs and Paul Compton

Now in its second year, but in a different iteration and with its title appropriately adjusted, PATTERNS OF COLLECTING/From the Bower at The Johnston Collection was officially launched last night. Thank you so much to all who came, to TJC Director/Curator Louis Le Vaillant and his wonderful team and to Alison Inglis for her marvellous opening address.

L - R Bower artists Louise Saxton, Carole Wilson, myself,
and Loris Button with Opening Speaker Alison Inglis

Like fellow Bower artists Carole Wilson and Loris Button, I've made new work for the show, and additional items from our private collections have also been introduced. Numerous artworks and collection items from earlier versions of the show remain, however, including my artist book Leaves of Absence, now on display upstairs in the Natural History Room.

The exhibition runs until 18 September. Full  details are below. Click on the image for a clearer view.