“COLLECTIONS” A unique collection of art based on iPhone photos of moving water in a spa. By Phillipa Frederiksen
The concept for “Collections” had its roots in another project that I did before this. Both portfolios were based on the photos that I had taken of the moving water in our spa. I was in my spa thinking about applying for the Gold Level of the Conceptual Art Portfolio Awards (CAPA), with the Australian Photographic Society APS. I had successfully completed the Bronze and Silver levels (for the Bronze level I had taken photos of the reflections of the spa water on the pool cover then had them printed onto Clear Perspex. I was hoping that I would be able to mix and match the colours, creating new colours and effects by placing the Perspex stands in front of each other. In the end I had discarded that idea as the colours were not strong enough. While thinking about this I thought I might take photos of the actual moving water in the spa and then see what I could do with that. On my iPhone, I took the photos into an App. called “iColorama” and changed the colours of the water. I printed a series of coloured rectangles, then tried to place them together so that the colours seemed to go from one rectangle to another. This then led to printing the same images, but smaller, on glossy paper, intending to place them on top of each other. I started with a layer of white water colour paper, tearing the edges then added the other layers. When I took this finished work, the framer re-arranged the series but it still looked quite effective. “EBB”
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At this stage I learnt that you could make 3D looking balls in the App. iColorama. Suddenly I knew what I would like to do for the next stage of my Gold Application. I had enjoyed making “Ebb” but felt that it wasn’t quite enough for the Gold Level by itself. Firstly, I asked a friend to make me a box that would fit into an alcove in our hallway wall, leaving a hole at the top so that the existing light could shine through, I asked him to put hooks all around the inside of the frame. It was all painted black. I had one lot of different sized circles printed onto back glossy paper and we stuck this to the back of the box. Next began a very steep learning curve. I wanted the Circles (water drops) to be translucent, smaller at the top then getting bigger further down. I found that the printer could get the translucent media and I sent him a sample of the drops to be printed so that we could discuss sizing etc. Unfortunately, he printed 2 sheets straight from this sample without any discussion. The quality was not as good as I would have liked but I decided to continue on. I acquired a wonderful hole punch (sturdy and it made the small holes that I needed) and a multi measurement circle maker at “Spotllight”. The next problem was how to connect the “water drops” without them falling apart when a breeze moved the installation. I looked at various fishing gear, bought small “S” hooks from an internet site. In the end I bought silver earrings from Spotlight. When I had completed what I now call “Flow” my Mentor, Lisa Kurtz, came to have a look at the work. Because I had written in my Artist Statement that, if I could afford it, I would like to see this as a room sized exhibition with a video of the spa water playing over the discs and the walls, Lisa brought a projector and we experimented with that and then added some white shear fabric to see what that would also look like. It was quite fascinating to see the projected water as it projected on to the backs of the discs and the different walls.
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“Ebb” and “Flow”
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“FLOW”
My concept for the Platinum CAPA stemmed from Ebb and Flow. I have called the new work “COLLECTIONS” because it as a collection of ideas and experiments that follow on from each other. I wanted to see if I could have my images printed onto fabric and then make art from that fabric. Some years ago, I had done some spinning, weaving, printing, dying and machine embroidery when completing an Associate Diploma in Visual Arts at Kelvin Grove so using fabric seemed a natural progression of my ideas. 5
“COLLECTIONS” The fabric (I chose Chiffon for it translucency and softness) was printed at “Emerald Dreams”, Slacks Creek, Brisbane. I was able to send big files and when I arrived to pick the 13 meters up, was astounded at the light, colour and quality in the chiffon.
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My next adventure was to decide what to do with each of the designs. Firstly, I cut then took each piece to a dressmaker who hemmed each piece. 1. 2 of the pieces I kept as scarves. The pattern on them was too beautiful to cut into.
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2. Another piece I have kept as a wall hanging. “Flash of Sunset�. The brilliant colours were obtained in the App. iColorama.
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3. I was determined to make a wave sculpture as I had a very nice shell that would like good under the wave! “At the Beach�
I had many attempts at trying to make the fabric of the wave self-supporting as it went over the shell. I had a beautiful piece of water printed chiffon and I wanted the end of it to fall from the tabletop towards the floor. I tried all types of glue. My first attempts were a complete disaster and part of it was thrown out. That left me with a very short piece of fabric but eventually I managed to find a fairly good fabric sculpture glue from the internet. In the end I found that the wave in this and my next attempt simply could not be self- supporting so both of them have a Small piece of wire mesh covered with more fabric, inserted into the under part of the wave.
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“The Wave” (My third attempt).
05. “On My Coat hanger (Soft Sculpture on Canvas)
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06. “Conundrum”.
Photo taken with iPhone on “slow shutter”. Photos printed on Chiffon then sewn to cubes and set onto box with sand and shells (a “fun” piece!).
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07. “Nymph Emerging”. Chiffon glued to mask and board, gold glitter, gold tape, gold ball. “Flutes represent rushing water as she emerges. This is now boxed, framed and covered with glass.
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08. “Sunset on Waves� Chiffon stiffened into waves then gold alcohol inks painted across the waves. Boxed, framed, covered with glass.
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09. “From the Depths” One Length of water printed chiffon cut in half then each half cut into strips before being woven back together. Pearls added to some of the “pockets”. framed, with glass.
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10.� Moon Shining on Waves through a porthole�. Collage of torn and cut water printed chiffon with netting and painted with gold alcohol ink. Framed, With glass. (Second image is a detail).
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11. Purple Dreaming One length of water printed chiffon torn into 4 strips then reassembled to create another image. Pearls added. Framed, Glass.
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12. “Seascape in a Briefcase” Painter’s painting case, padded then covered in one piece of water printed chiffon that has been cut to the size of each division. Pearls and coloured stones cover the sea bottom. Little sea treasures hang from silver earrings. Box unhinged and laid flat within another box, framed and with glass.
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13. “Children Playing� Photo taken with slow shutter, printed onto chiffon. Glued to Perspex stand. Silver glitter added to wave. Shell at the base.
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14. “Out too Far� Water printed chiffon, netting, photo of the children playing. Framed with glass.
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15. Landscape (Triptych) Strips of water printed chiffon placed over 3 boards. Boxed, Framed, Glass.
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“COLLECTIONS” is a body of work completed for my application for the “Platinum Conceptual Art Portfolio Awards” (Australian Photographic Society) 2019 Phillipa Frederiksen EFIAP MAPS CAPA/g SAPS SSAPS QPSA PLATINUM REQUIREMENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Unique concept well developed with evidence of research/justifications of outcome The Portfolio is ready as for a solo Exhibition in a gallerywith12-15 major works that relate to each other as prints (2D or 3D) or a visual projection or sound projection or combinations of images & sound, or sculptures with some kind of projection. The Portfolio of 12 – 15 NEW images can include works previously presented for other CAPA levels (but they do not count as the 12-15 works required for Platinum level). A Concept Statement of approximately 150 - 500 words An Artist Statement of approximately 150 - 500 words An Artist Biography of approximately 150 words At least 5 references to other works/artists that have influenced or inspired you with the preparation of this present portfolio. All works must be prepared as though for sale: The Applicant has devised an advertisement for the imagined or real exhibition. The Applicant a has devised a catalogue showing the works and (a) the artist statements for each item if they are separate OR (b) one Artist Statement if the work is an installation. Has the applicant also considered cards, placemats, mini prints calendars etc? Copyright acknowledgement All documentation has been placed in an orderly fashion in the Dropbox provided for the Assessors to access. The Applicant was prepared either get their work to the Assessors or arrange for the Assessors to come to them either at home, APSCON or elsewhere for a physical assessment.
Concept Statement for “Collections” With this portfolio I would like to connect my past textile experiences (weaving and applied textiles) with my photographic experiences of today. For my Gold CAPA Application I used photos that I had taken with my iPhone, of the moving spa water in our pool, then I coloured them in the iPhone App. iColorama, finally having them printed onto translucent media, watercolour paper and glossy paper. For “Collections” I would like to have the same photos printed onto fabric and see what I could make with the fabric. I have a strong attachment to colour, see-through media and 3D structures. I am also interested in the accidental combinations of colour and movement in print and audio-visual presentations. It seems that swimming in a warm spa has been therapeutic for not only for my body but also for my mind. It gives me time to relax and think creatively I am hoping that working on this portfolio will be the same!
Artist Statement: For this portfolio I have continued with the photos taken of our moving spa water. The photos have been coloured in the iPhone app. iColorama. The images were printed by the factory “Emerald Dreams”, South Brisbane, on to 13 metres of Chiffon. I began by exploring the different patterns, trying them out side by side and separately. I had most of the pieces edged with a rolled hem. My first effort started out by cutting strips of a multi coloured piece of chiffon then tying them to a lamp so that the light could shine through it. This was not successful and in the end those strips became the “Landscape” triptych. One experiment led onto another. Having the waves self-supporting was most problematic but eventually I had to compromise with internal supports to achieve my goal. Working on this portfolio was exciting, often waking me during the night with an idea or the need to go and add or take away something to a work. I wanted to show that there is a viable alternative to printing your photos onto paper or presenting a digital slide show. I have become passionate about presenting photos in other dimensions, about extending our creativity, about exploring the space around us. Large Installations excite me, especially when one can walk up to them and become one with them.
Artist Biography: • •
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Before I retired as an Early Childhood Teacher/Consultant in 1995, I completed an Associate Diploma of Visual Arts majoring in Applied Textiles at Kelvin Grove. Most of my photographic awards came at the beginning of the digital “revolution” (the images were different and mostly creative).
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Since becoming interested in photography I have been on the committees of the Australian Photographic Society, The Photographic Society of the Queensland and the Gold Coast Photographic Society and the Queensland Judge’s Executive. Became interested in the smart phone for photo editing when sitting at the computer became problematical. In 2017 I spent 3 months touring QLD giving talks at different country clubs In 2018 I was Chairperson of “APSCON 2018” on the Gold Coast (the annual convention of the Australian Photographic Society). My passion is to have fun with photography and editing and not to take myself or photography too seriously. Other media and experimenting with the combining of that media, including photography, continue to interest me.
Exemplars: For inspiration I have downloaded items taken from various Pintrest Sites and added them to my own Pintrest folder, “Phillfoto: Conceptual art”. 1. Benjamin Shine: https://www.benjaminshine.com/?s= is absolutely inspiring. He is using an iron and stitching to mould tulle into amazing sculptures, some of them free standing. He has also used steel mesh for outdoor sculptures. 2. Caroline Cox: http://carolinecox.weebly.com/ Caroline uses multiple media to construct her artwork. She is constantly experimenting with anything that comes to hand and often uses linework to delineate parts of her images. 3. Daniel Wurtzel: http://www.danielwurtzel.com/ Large free moving, free-standing fabric moved by fans to keep it in place. Spot lights accent the action. Sometimes a human dancer interacts with the moving fabric. 4. Art Junkie (Sommer Kibbee) : http://www.artjunkiestudio.com/meet-the-artist Sommer has a studio in Newton, Iowa which she shares (and teaches) with others, encouraging them to make murals and other artwork using acrylics and available junk. I find her views and actions quite inspiring. She also takes her mobile studio to groups of people who cannot come into her own studio (a bit like my travels around QLD!). 5. Canadian Art Junkie (Arts from around Canada): https://canadianartjunkie.com/2012/02/29/jannick-deslauriers-fragile-sculptures-in-thread/ I particularly like the “Battlefield Series: Poppies. 2008-2009”. Textile installation of various dimensions. I love the way people can walk through the field of giant poppies that have been made of red, black and yellow netting that have been held up from the ceiling but appear to be self-supporting from the ground!
6. Denise Romecki: https://mymodernmet.com/denise-romecki-ocean-wave-sculptures/ My Chiffon “Wave” was inspired by seeing some ceramic waves curling over and then, in Denmark I saw a timber sculpted wave in the process of being carved by a German Sculptor (Unfortunately I did not get his name).
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