New website

You may have noticed it's been a while since I've posted on this site,
the reason being............................I've developed a new website!!

www.geoffharrisonarts.com

The Outback At Night

Moonlight Near Roxby Downs           2014

Years ago I saw a daytime photo of this scene with a lightning strike being reflected off the water.  But I thought the scene lent itself more to a moonlit night time scene.  I was fascinated by the sheen on the water in the photo so I used this as the focal point for the work.  The vegetation in the foreground is imaginary.  There is a haunting alienation about the outback at night.  101 cm x 142 cm

Children's Author Maurice Sendak On Making Art

Pushing the boundaries with every work.

An art critic with soul

In their book "Art As Therapy" the authors Alain De Botton and John Armstrong sing the praises of Herbert Read who spent 40 years educating the British to appreciate contemporary art.  By the 1960's his job was done.  He understood that decent, well intentioned and educated people may not understand art, so rather than chastise them for their ignorance he began from a position of great sympathy for doubt and ignorance, and kindness was a key part of his educational strategy.  He wrote books and articles, traveled the country conducting lectures, held exhibitions and established London's ICA.  He appears to have been someone I would liked to have met.

Art As therapy

This book is a huge ego trip for all artists and architects regardless of discipline, and  it's a must read.
The authors have come up with a new way of interpreting art that relates to ordinary everyday existence.  They argue that art can provide powerful solutions to many of life's problems.
The authors are critical of the academic interpretation of art that appears in captions next to works in our galleries, whilst ignoring how these works might relate to our emotional functioning.
There is currently an exhibition at the NGV which is based around the teachings in this book.

A Day At The Races

Ivan Durrant has certainly attracted his fair share of controversy over the years but he is a wonderful painter of characters.  Back in the days when I had REALLY nothing better to do, I would occasionally go to the races ( if I could get access to a members guest ticket) and these were the characters I would see in the crowd.  The disdain of the rich was evident everywhere I looked.

This painting was included in an exhibition called "A Day At The Caulfield Races" staged at the Caulfield Arts Complex in 1994.