Indigo Exhibition to be Extended !!

The Press Gang are delighted to announce that their Indigo exhibition has been extended to show until 3 January 2014.

Dates and times are as follows:-

Friday 20th & Sat 21 December  10 - 4 daily

Monday 23rd December 10 - 4

Tuesday 24 December 9 - 1

Friday 27 December 10 - 4

Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January 10 - 4

The Press Gang hope to see you at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre before 3rd January!

Moku Hanga and Indigo at Wallarobba

Press Gang printmaker John Crawford's Exhibition of contemporary prints using Japanese woodblock techniques is now on show downstairs in the Artist Lounge at Wallarobba.

These works span the past 2 1/2 years and include his 2013 "Snowgum" series.

This exhibition has now been extended to run until Friday 3 January 2014.

Exhibitions at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre will be open to the public on:

Wed 18 December - Sat 21 December  10 - 4 daily

Monday 23rd December 10 - 4

Tuesday 24 December 9 - 1

Friday 27 December 10 - 4

Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January 10 - 4

The Press Gang's Indigo Exhibition is also on display upstairs at Wallarobba and open from 10 - 4 daily.

Indigo Exhibition

"Indigo - the king of dyes" by Frances Brown

The practice of dying with indigo is an incredibly rich cultural tradition, with each region of the world having its own unique methods, beliefs and rituals as part of the process.

Woven linen fabric with indigo dyed borders survives from the Egyptian tombs dating from around 2400 BC . Reference to blue cloth being traded by the merchants of Sheba (now Yemen) can be found in the Old Testament. Wool and cotton tie dyed and resist dyed fabrics found in Mali date back to the 11^th century.  And these are but a few examples.

Fermented or bacterial indigo has been used as a dye since antiquity, after it was discovered that indigo leaves left to rot in urine would release colour and create a green solution. When soaked in this solution, natural fibres will then turn from green to blue when exposed to air.

The main plant genus that have been traditionally used for indigo dying are Indigofera, Polygonum,  Lochocarpus and Isatis. These plants contain the chemical compound indican in their leaves.

Indigofera tinctoria belongs to the Leguminosae family, has light green foliage and pea like flowers and is native to India, China and parts of South America. The process of fermenting releases the dye.

Isatis tinctoria or Woad is a cool climate plant that has been grown commercially in Europe since medieval times. During the Middle Ages, woad was grown in abundance to supply the local weaving industry in Europe

Polygonum tinctorium also known as  Japanese indigo, Chinese indigo or dyers’ knotweed, is often cultivated concurrently with Indigofera in China and Japan.

In Western Africa the Yoruba people use Lonchocarpus cyanescens to dye their intricate paste resist clothing, in shades of dark and light blue

Information from Prideaux, Vivien 2003, “A Handbook of Indigo Dying” Search Press Limited, Kent , UK

What's happening at Wallarobba? The Grand Old Dame is "Blushing Blue"!! by Michelle Mabbott

Visitors to the HAS Treasures Christmas Exhibition and Sale at Wallarobba this week will have noticed some very strange goings-on.  Strips and snips of blue fabric, paper and ribbons of Indigo blue, are taking over the building!!

Tendrils of colour have wound their way up the grand staircase, heralding an upcoming event. The grand old dame is blushing blue!  Who is responsible for all of this and why?

The staircases installation, brainchild of Hornsby artist and printmaker Michelle Mabbott  includes ribbon, fabric remnants, string, paper fragments, scraps of artwork and found objects including feathers, birds nest and the pocket from a pair of denim jeans- all in various shades of Indigo and blue.

Other "blue bombing" installations have occurred, and more are planned, inside and out. Look out for the beautiful Shibori-dyed textiles by Lisa McArthur-Edwards that will grace the entry foyer walls from 10th December. 

The Press Gang 

So, why all this blue?  "The Press Gang" have been busy preparing for their next printmaking exhibition Indigo Their very diverse, and fascinating artworks, explore the rich history and ongoing cultural influence of the colour, one of the most widely used dyestuffs, known since ancient man.

The inspiring light behind  Indigo was local artist Frances Brown, mentioning the possibility of printing using an indigo coloured ink, during a conversation in the print studio in late 2012. From there, Indigo  was adopted as this year's theme for the Press Gang's annual exhibition and has since become a "blue movement". Hence the blue staircase at Wallarobba!

Frances Brown, Michelle Mabbott and John Crawford working on the staircase installation  at Wallarobba

John Crawford, the founder and facilitator of The Press Gang Printmakers of Wallarobba will run his solo art show ‘Moku Hanga’ concurrently with Indigo in the downstairs art space. John will present an exhibition with a contemporary approach to traditional Japanese woodblock prints; this work spans a two and a half year period. 

The Indigo exhibition will be presented in the upstairs space at Wallarobba. Framed and unframed works, will be on display. Enjoy the complete experience of viewing a lovingly restored heritage building, further enhanced by a unique art show.

Indigo 

Monday 9^th December 12 noon – 4pm. 

Tuesday 10^th December to Saturday 21st December, 10am – 4pm daily.

Opening Night & Supper Wednesday 11th December, 7pm, All welcome.

Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 21 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby.

Rear of Willow Park, free admission, parking, wheelchair access, lift.

The Press Gang sincerely thank Hornsby Council, and Hornsby Art Society, who have generously agreed to the additional decorative measures as pre-publicity for Indigo 

Indigo - A colour steeped in history, a mood tinged with blues

The Press Gang is pleased to announce that their Indigo themed group exhibition of contemporary printmaking is to be held from 9 - 21 December 2013.

Indigo is a natural colour dye with an chequered history, from being the colour of royalty, including the ancient pharaohs and mummies to the modern day worker's blue jeans.  The world's most valued and widely used dyestuff since its use in antiquity, Indigo has proved a rich source of inspiration for our forthcoming exhibition of contemporary printmaking. 

Individual interpretations of Indigo encompass trade history (the Silk Road), nature's curiosities (indigo mushroom, indigo bird, indigo plant) and abstract works and portraits printed in vivid or subtly muted indigo ink.

This is the third display of The Press Gang, resident printmakers for over two years at the wonderful venue, Wallarobba. The group, from many different creative backgrounds and walks of life, share their mutual interest and collaborative endeavours.

Selecting Indigo as the group's 2013 theme, has conjured up many cultural, exotic design and artistic possibilities. The resulting concepts are a multi-layered and rich vision.

The Indigo exhibition is to be held at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, a beautiful heritage mansion located at  21 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby, rear of Willow Park

Open Monday 9th December 12 noon to 4pm
Tuesday 10th December to Saturday 21st December 2013,  10am to 4pm daily.

Official Opening by Printmaker Roslyn Kean on Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 7pm.  All welcome.

Free Admission. Parking, wheelchair access and lift.

Judith Miller (2013) Untitled, monoprint

From the artists.....

I was inspired by the elements of wind and water. The continuous flow of waves, and the depth in colour of the oceans with the wind blowing was the perfect choice for my Indigo project.  Marianne Vidal Potts

The colour of royalty and of fading blue jeans; its uses span centuries and continents. Indigo is all this and more - a rich source of inspiration for artists.  Judith Miller

My printmaking is a spontaneous reaction to the process, where the risks promote further investigation. But mostly, it is the collaboration within a group of people with mutual interests and endeavours.  June Lord

For my relief printmaking I have used wood, lino and vinyl.  I have chosen birds that I have observed along the Myall River and in the deserts of Central Australia. The colour indigo is in my desert birds and in the river.   Helen Sillar

My work is a multi-layered print made with a woodcut, collagraph and drypoint inspired by the ancient silk route and maps made by the early scholars such as Cresques Abraham.  Lisa McArthur-Edwards

Indigo!  A colour seeped in history over thousands of years. A colour to inspire any artistic endeavour.  Ann Condon

The form and colour of Snow Gums has inspired my Japanese woodblock printing - Indigo colour seems to suit the images.  John Crawford

What I love about printmaking is that there are endless possibilities of method and experimentation. For our next exhibition, the colour Indigo conjours up so many cultural and historical design elements. Our group experience is a wonderful melting-pot of trial and inspiration.  Michelle Mabbott

I have always thought of Indigo as a somewhat magical colour - appearing on the spectrum between blue and violet, yet neither one nor the other. I have used the interesting form of the Australian indigo plant, and also the swirling patterns of an antique vase as my subjects for Indigo. Frances Brown

End of Term Lunch

The Press Gang's end of term lunch was very enjoyable.  We feasted on sushi, quiche, empanadas, and chicken & walnut sandwiches, followed by fresh strawberry muffins, lemon poppyseed friands, pistacio cake, chocolate cream cake, and a delicious pear tart.

The lunch also gave us an opportunity to discuss our upcoming exhibition which will be held from December 9 - 22.  

From the Studio - Last day of Term 3

Drypoint portraits by Louise

John continues with his "Snow Gum" series (reduction woodcuts) and starts another new work (above)

"Dandelions" linocut by Helen

Print in progress by Helen

June prepares leaves for monoprinting

Indigo monoprint by June (detail)

Vivien inks up for a monoprint

Monoprint by Vivien

"Indigo plant" reduction linocut, stage 2, by Frances

Local Printmaking Exhibition - "Alchemy"

Ann with her work "Mystical Waves" at the Open Studio Printmakers "Alchemy" Exhibition at the Hornsby TAFE Gallery September 12 -20 2013.

From the Studio

Lots happening at the studio on Friday, but not much of it recorded due to flat batteries on the camera :(

Lisa printed from her plastic templates (above). These will later be formed into 3D cubes.

Lisa's prints

Vivien has completed her reduction lino cut

Louise also printed an edition of drypoint portraits - photo next week.

Works in progress

Last Friday we had a special viewing when John brought in some of his "Snow gum" series - works in progress.

Artwork copyright 2013 John Crawford

The works above are reduction woodcuts using more than one plate. They're looking wonderful already so we're all keen to see the final results.

Also from Friday's studio were:

Bird drawing for monoprint by Michelle

Collagraph by Judith

Monoprint with collagraph by June

From the Studio today

Michelle printed her bird collagraph in Indigo ink with excellent results

Helen's linocut "Mini munchers" - great use of pattern here

Frances tried some leaf monoprints with maiden hair fern, wattle and jasmine

Lindsey printed her drypoint portrait of Woody Allen

and Vivien inked up a second plate, to add orange to her reduction linocut.

From the Studio

Collagraph plates by John Crawford

Last Friday saw a lot happening in the Studio. John brought in some collagraph plates (above). These plates are made from mountboard. The finished prints (below) show considerable detail and texture.

Artwork copyright 2013 John Crawford

The following three photos are from a demonstration of registration techniques by John earlier this year:

John demonstrates registration when several plates are used.

Judith prepares a plate for a monoprint

One of Judith's monoprints

June continues work on her dragonflies (collagraph)

Michelle considers the colour palette for her next series of birds

The background is printed with a woodblock, and the image printed with a drypoint plate

One of Michelle's collagraph plates (with carborundum)

Vivien adds another colour to her reduction linocut.