Weaving shadows

We are in the last week of preparations for our upcoming group show 'Shadow Weave' at Western Plains Cultural Centre's Regional Art Space.

My work for this exhibition is called Hope Chest - a collection of old drawers, found on the side of the road, that I have arranged in an oversized cabinet. The drawers take their inspiration from  museum collections where specimens are carefully laid out in neat rows behind glass. However, in these drawers there is no sense of order or cohesion; they are variously empty, overflowing, closed or jammed half-open. Littered throughout are 'object remnants' made from clay and other materials -  moths in various stages of decay; rusting pins, dust, curling paper - like fragments of memory, gathered together as if by chance.

Part of my statement for the exhibition reads:

"We associate moths with twilight, when light fades and the shadowy world envelops us. In this in-between space, the real and the imaginary slip past each other, and dreams and memories merge. The drawers reflect on the imprecise nature of memory and our conflicting desire to pin down our knowledge and experience."

Shadow Weave opens at 2pm on Sat 6 December with a talk by the curator, Caroline Edwards. The exhibition runs until 1 February 2015 at the Western Plains Cultural Centre's Regional Art Space.

Thanks to the talented Georgina Donivan who made the cabinet for my drawers to sit in. It's really beautiful...talented woman!