Wednesday 2 December 2009

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery

Seeds and Blocks

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
Seeds and Blocks: 2 December, 2009 to 17 January, 2010

Imagine my delight when I arrived in Bundaberg and found a town where breeze blocks have been used with gay abandon. Yes, breeze blocks lovingly laid in patterns to delight the eye. Some painted, some ceramic, to let the breeze and light through. I wasn't able to find any stipa seeds (grass seeds) to create blocks. Lots of widmill grass and sand flies. The animated grass seed work is projected in the dark Vault Space at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. The seeds are projected onto layers of gauze and create a block of moving seeds in the space. The Xanthorrhoea seed breeze blocks works 'Ordered' and 'Random' flank the viewing area in the vault. They are seen in the dim light from the projection or in the light which come into the space as the curtain on the door is moved. The contrast of the black and white remains in my sight repeating the pattern of the block.