Australian Spirit

Australian folk art has not had much attention payed to it probably because our history has been so short, the need to focus on the professional arts has been paramount to establish some sort of fine art culture in the far flung colony. There is in Australia an unfortunate and persistent myth that only elitists like art, and that to enjoy and participate in it is to be some how un-Australian?! I find this to be one of the saddest aspects of our culture as it is simply not true.

The painting above is a beautiful and lovingly Australian painting by the folk art painter, Irvine Homer, called The Birthday Party (1970, 55cm x 61 cm, oil on board). The father comes home, in through the old gate to be surprised by a big family party with games in the yard and dancing on the veranda decorated with balloons. While we only see the back of his hat his all-embracing arms express gladness and love. He seems to be embracing the whole landscape before him. I feel it expresses Irvine's love for the country he traveled over during his very difficult but rich life. After having been a drover, a shearer, a hole digger, a swagman during the Great Depression, worked on the railways, worked a little bush sawmill, been in the rodeo....etc he took to painting when illness struck him and he was no longer able to stand at the age of 35.

This is his description of his painting Summer by the Hawkesbury, "I used a magnifying glass when I painted the little fences around every house. The poultry farm, the oyster leases, all had something to do with me. Sometimes I'd get a job cracking and bagging oysters. In summer there was always a bushfire burning somewhere in the distance, so I put that in too. There's a petrol station with a shop in one corner, where I always bought my tobacco. I thought of how I'd put them together and make them into a real place. Not a real place. In my memory it's a real place, the mighty Hawkesbury (River) in all its glory. Brooklyn. And the poultry farm. I swiped one of his chooks (chickens)."

That doesn't sound un-Australian to me! :) He loved painting and he loved to study the works of other Australian painters too. His poetic nature seems very Australian to me, so I hope that Australians will joyfully embrace the lyrical nature that runs through our blood, and openly embrace the arts as that storehouse of the generational spirit of our nation.

I came across Irvine Homer and many other wonderful Australian folk art painters in a book I found from the last Life-Line Bookfair, called Australian Primitive Painters (Geoffrey Lehman, University of Queensland Press, 1977). I've had the painting above open in my studio for some months now, and I've been waiting for just the right time to share it with you.

On a recent visit to shibori artist Margaret Barnett's house I was struck by a piece of shibori she had made ready for future textile work (see the fabric above). It reminded me vividly of The Birthday Party in its character. Margaret explained to me how she had used rusted railway spikes she had collected from her travels to the Outback to dye with, leaving rich rust foxing over the antique handkerchief linen that had also been dyed with indigo. My mind was already dreaming away as I clutched the delicate cloth. She saw how overwhelmed I was with it and she generously gave me the only piece she had! I told her of the painting I was thinking of and how it was speaking to me to make some sort of doll, connected with the painting and this cloth....I just didn't know what it would be.


Looking around at all the treasures she had collected from amazing trips around the world, I saw a doll from Peru that had been roughly made with scraps of fabric over a base of bound grass. It must have struck me as when I went home, with a huge bag of textile goodies from Margaret, I made up a doll using mainly materials that Margaret had given me. Blending the primitive style of the Peruvian doll with the image of The Birthday Party had a very unusual result as you can see from the doll above. I've called it a spirit doll, and this one an Australian Spirit Doll. It will be a gift for Margaret to thank her for all the wonderful goodies she brings me...but shhh! don't tell her, it's going to be a surprise ;)

This week I want to leave you with a quote by William Blake who wrote, "Poetry Fettered, Fetters the Human Race. Nations are Destoy'd or Florish in proportion as Their Poetry, Painting and Music are Destoy'd or Florish! The Primeval State of Man was Wisdom, Art, and Science." Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion, 1804.

Tags: folk art, art, primitive art, Australia, Australian spirit, shibori, Margaret Barnett, Peurivan doll, Irvine Homer, The Birthday Party, doll, primitive doll, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

FlockA2s - birds of a feather

In my last post you had a little sneak peak at my new Flying Star Toy - FlockA2s. I though I had better tell you something about them now that the secret is out.

FlockA2s are a toy based on the famous Australian bird, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Around us here in Sandgate we have a large local flock of a smaller variety of cockatoo, the Little Corella. Twice a day they fly over our house making a big racket with their noisy screeching, but I don't mind as these are Australian sounds and I love them. It was while listening to an afternoon fly over when I suddenly conceived of the design for this toy, I went straight into the studio and started working on the prototype.

The body is made of a beautiful white cotton/linen, while its crest has a selection of five delicious colours made from some very select cotton and silk fabric. The blue rim around the eyes is a hand-dyed wool felt that my mother makes and sells, and the beak is also a wool blended felt. They are fully lined and they are weighted to stand independently. The wing detail is stitched all the way around the back of the body with four different coloured "Flower" threads to get just the right subtle combination and texture.


I've called them FlockA2s because corellas are always in big flocks and because parrots like cockatoos and galahs mate for life and always travel with their partner. I fondly remember how social and kind they are to other cockatoos, as my neighbour used to have one caged on their back veranda, every afternoon a group of wild cockatoo would come to visit their friend in the cage. They would whoop around, call out and put their beaks together and "talk" happily for ages before the sunset. I like to think that my FlockA2s are that way too.

Tags: FlockA2s, cockatoo, corella, toys, folk art, Flying star Toys, softies, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

Coastal Birds Under Glass

Ever since Lilli&Tom miniature had their year long tour of the Brisbane City Council libraries in 2006, I've had a great relationship with Sue the Sandgate librarian. Earlier this year we talked about another little project and I mentioned the Coastal Birds series I designed based on the collaboration with Brisbane artist/illustrator Rachel Arthur. Sue thought they would be a nifty display for the library too and booked me in for a display in April.

I installed them on Tuesday morning at the hideous hour of 8:30am. Anyone who knows me understands that I currently get up at around 10am and go to bed around 2am - these blogs don't write themselves you know ;). Sue pointed out that April also coincides with the annual Easter Bluewater festival here in Sandgate that kicks off this Good Friday with the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, it brings in heaps of spectators to Sandgate and Shorncliffe to watch the starting line in Moreton Bay. So it seems that it will be a good theme for the season after all.

Some of my beloved regular readers might notice a new toy that I have yet to show you...it's a sneak peak at a new Flying Star Toy called Flocka2s. They aren't technically coastal birds and don't belong to that series (which might be a bit misleading), but they are native to the area and neatly filled the space I'm calling the "sky" in this display. Stay tuned for more on Sandgate Flocka2s soon!

Coastal Birds Series of artist made designer toys can be seen at Sandgate BCCL from now until the end of April.

And wishing a Happy Easter/Chocolate Egg season to all :D

Tags: Sandgate, Queensland, Bluewater festival, Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race, Flying star Toys, toys, coastal birds, Rachel Arther, art, windbagandthunder, Windbag and Thunder, Florence Forrest

Inuit Intuit - Eskimo Art and Song

"I soon became melancholy. I would sometimes fall to weeping and feel unhappy without knowing why. Then for no reason all would suddenly be changed, and I felt a great, inexplicable joy, a joy so powerful that I could not restrain it, but had to break into song, a mighty song, with room for only one word: joy, joy! And I had to use the full strength of my voice. And then in the midst of such a fit of mysterious and overwhelming delight I became a shaman, not knowing myself how it came about. But I was a shaman. I could see and hear in a totally different way. I had gained my enlightenment, the shaman's light of brain and body, and this in such a manner that it was not only I who could see through the darkness of life, but the same bright light also shone out from me, imperceptible to human beings but visible to all spirits of earth and sky and sea, and these now came to me to become my helping spirits (Rasmussen, 1929, p. 119)." Ecstatic Religion: A Study of Shamanism, I. M.Lewis; Routledge, 2003 (1)


Thus the Inuit shaman, Aua, describes his transformation out on a lonely vigil in the wilderness. I came across this quote twice in the last month. The first was in a lovely book called Songs are Thoughts: Poems of the Inuit edited by Neil Philip and delightfully illustrated by Maryclare Foa (Orchard Books, New York, 1995)(2). I found it while thrifting and was ever so pleased with it when I got home. I dug out a small book on Inuit art I had (a strange little treasure found at the Lifeline Book Fair one year) and as I sat with them both I discovered that the book of Inuit art had some very interesting pictures and songs towards the back, some of which were in the book I had just found. With all these coincidences, I thought I might share some of these lovely poems and pictures with you.

Anerca is the Inuit word for both "breath" and "poetry". Songs are composed and sung as an integral part of community life. They convey deep feelings, observations about life and offer the opportunity to openly release personal grievances in a acceptable way. Knud Rusmussen, the Danish explorer, described the experience, "Words, music and dancing mingled into one great wave of feeling... The singer stands in the middle of the floor, with knees slightly bent, the upper part of the body bowed slightly forward, swaying from the hips, and rising and sinking from the knees with a rhythmic movement, keeping time throughout with his own beating of the drum. Then he begins to sing, keeping his eyes shut all the time; for a singer and a poet must always look inward in thought, concentrating on his own emotion." (2)


While the song might be a public expression, Inuit carving seems to be a more intimate art. These tiny stone or bone carvings are often kept wrapped up rather than displayed and are only shown if one where to visit your friend and ask if they had made any new cravings. Shyly brought forth, the artist would customarily be very self effacing about their work. They are, however, very beautiful; much modern sculpture could only hope to have both its minimal lines, intensity of expression and poetry of spirit. The image at the top of this post is so peculiar as it is a carving of trees based only upon descriptions of them, as the artist had never seen a tree in his life - a concept in itself we would have trouble imagining. It has a ghostly quality that seems to me to fit the visionary world of the shaman upon the ice. (Images and information from "Canadian Eskimo Art", Queen's Printer of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 1965)(3)

Maryclare Foa's illustrations are roughly worked but spare and heartfelt. They make a wonderful accompaniment with the songs of the Inuit. She spent several months living in a tent with an Inuit family on the banks of the Northwest passage and from her interpretations must have, in that time, shared something of their spiritual world. The one above faces a poem by Aua (the same shaman as mentioned previously):

Morning Prayer

I rise up from rest,
Moving swiftly as the raven's wing
I rise up to meet the day -
Wa-wa.

My face is turning from the dark of night
My gaze towards the dawn,
Towards the whitening dawn.

I'll leave you with these thoughts by another Inuit shaman, Orpingalik and another illustration by Maryclare Foa:

"Songs are thoughts, sung out with the breath when people are moved by great forces and ordinary speech no longer suffices. Man is moved just like the ice floe sailing here and there out in the current. His thoughts are driven by a flowing force when he feels joy, when he feels fear, when he feels sorrow. Thoughts can wash over him like a flood, making his breath come in gasps and his heart throb. Something like an abatement in the weather will keep him thawed up. And then it will happen that we, who think we are small, will feel still smaller. And we will fear to use words. When the words we want to use shoot up of themselves - we get a new song." (2)

Tags: Inuit, Eskimo, art, carving, sculpture, illustration, poetry, song, Canada, shaman, folk art, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

What I've been up to: New Blog

Some of you might remember I've been hinting about work I've been involved with with Frank Theatre, but up until now I haven't shown you any of it. I've finally set a up a new blog to record my work and exploration of a new field within the theatre that we have dubbed Design Dramaturgy. If you'd like to follow me along this very exciting road, I'd be pleased to have you join me there too.

Above are two plaster bandage masks of Frank Theatre actors, Lisa O'Neill and Michael Coughlan. These were used as the base for making latex masks which where then attached to special life-size bodies John Nobbs and I constructed. John named them "Selfers" and one of each of the ensemble are being made (currently there are six). I'm sure you'll see them soon as the work evolves on the Design Dramaturge blog.

Tags: Design Dramaturge, dramaturg, dramaturge, dramaturgy, masks, actors, Frank Theatre, theatre, art, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

Sky Kangaroos = Star Boomers

Over Christmas a few months ago, I had the opportunity to spend my free time designing (hooray!) One particular toy I'd been working to resolve was an idea of a kangaroo toy embroidered with stars. I had always loved the Australian Christmas song "Six White Boomers" and had long thought of the idea of the mythical kangaroos of the sky that came to help Santa on his hot Southern run.



Many of you might recall my close encounter with the grey Kangaroos on Mount Ainslie in Canberra on one of my poetry pilgrimages. From that time on I have always had a great fondness with the kangaroo. I wanted to bring into being a toy that captured this feeling and to give them an appropriate mythical linkage.


I made many drawing from photographs, I also made a wadding covered armature in 3d to get a sense of its bulk and made two very different toy prototypes in felt. But I wasn't happy with them. They seemed too ordinary, either too animal like or too strange cartoon-like. Then after a month or so I picked up my pencil and drew with one stroke the shapes that became Star Boomers. The rest fell neatly into place and I knew I had succeeded in bring into existence the toys that had teased me for so long.

Boomer is old Australian slang for an adult Kangaroo, its not used much today so I don't recommend using it casually the next time you speak to an Ozzie ;) The Star Boomer toy is a set, including both the mother Kangaroo and her joey. The hand embroidered stars on the front of each come together to form the Southern Cross constellation, which you can also find on the Australian Flag. The current fabric for Star Boomers is silver flecked wool suiting with a backing of wide-waled white corduroy. An interesting detail is the eyelashes of the mother Boomer, which are made using the selvage of the suiting fabric.

I hope that next time you look up into the night sky you might imagine a mob of Star Boomers traversing the heavens, bounding over the Milky Way in search of green starry pastures.

Tags: Flying Star Toys, toys, Kangaroos, joey, Boomers, Star Boomers, Australia, Southern Cross, handmade, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, craft, Florence Forrest

New tale on Crackle Mountain - The Elves and the Envious Neighbour

I have finally adapted this tale for Crackle Mountain. I have had the images ready of a few weeks but have not found the time to sit down and write it. But I'm glad to say that I have now published this very funny Japanese folktale. If you have a few minuites to spare pop over to my Asian Folktale blog and read The Elves and The Envious Neighbour - Japanese Folktale.

The image above is a woodblock print by Ando Hiroshigi, 1830-1844, Japan. This camp fire scene title is listed as No. 33 Motoyama.

Tags: Japanese folktales, folktales, Japan, camp fire, woodblock print, story telling, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

Good after Bad - The Museum of Bad Art

Today, Rebecca the Wrecker sent me a link that she thought I might enjoy, I did and I asked her if I might have the dibs on sharing it with you. She said she was "totally" OK with that :) So without further ado I can share with you the wonderful world of The Museum of Bad Art or MOBA as it is called.

In their own words:

As the only museum dedicated to bringing the worst of art to the widest of audiences we felt morally compelled to explore new, more creative ways of bringing this priceless collection of quality bad art to a global audience. Another Boston-area cultural institution, Dedham Community Theater, generously allowed MOBA the use of their basement. Our permanent gallery is now conveniently located just outside the men’s room in a 1927 movie theater.

I thoroughly enjoyed the featured works in the three online collections. I've selected one piece from each for you here.

The first is from the Portraiture collection: Peter the Kitty by Mrs Jackson, the accompanying text reads, "Stirring in its portrayal of feline angst. Is Peter hungry or contemplating his place in a hungry world? The artist has evoked both hopelessness and glee with his irrational use of negative space."

The second picture is from the Landscape collection: Dog by an unknown artist reads, "A remarkable fusion of ski resort and wolf puppy -- stoical in his yellow-eyed silence, frozen beneath the ice-capped peak, Dog eloquently challenges the viewer to re-examine old concepts of landscape. " I recommend reading the additional information that accompany each piece as it often contains amusing anecdotes and sagas involving the work.

And finally, from the Unseen Forces collection, In The Cat's Mouth attributed to Pangorda reads, "A comment on issues of power as experienced by those who dwell with feline pets. Is the artist consumed with or consumed by his love for this cat? Does he identify with the personality of the startling animal? Does the similarity between these inseparable cohabitants stop short at the nose? Or is he simply trying to observe a tree-lined avenue through a cat's eyes?"

There is so much to love about the MOBA, whether it's the art, the descriptions, the amusing stories, the free newsletter and membership (I joined!), even the possibility of purchasing postcards of "Peter the Kitty" , if I was in Boston I would enjoy attending the exhibition openings of the MOBA. But failing that, whenever the stresses of confronting the hydra-headed Gorgon that is the art world, I think I'll head over to the MOBA online gallery, enjoy a laugh or two and a quiet smile of appreciation for that crazy muse I love so much.

Tags: bad art, art, Museum of Bad Art, MOBA, animals, paintings, cats, dog, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

A day in the life of Button Metro

Well, after seeing this great film on Pasadena Mansions I had to blog it immediately. It shows a day in the life of the Moscow(?) Metro animated with buttons. I know you'll love it as much as I did.

run time approx. 5 mins

Tags: buttons, animation, Russian, Metro, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

The Paintings of Katy Horan

After much anticipation I finally received my Painting "Owl #2" by Katy Horan from her Life and Death series. I discovered her work last year on Flickr and ever since I have coveted every one of her painting in her contemporary Folk Art style. I managed to put a down payment on "owl #2" before it went to be exhibitioned at Paperboat Boutique in Milwaukee and waited for its return to her in New York before it was sent to me. It was worth the wait as it is beautifully crafted. Painted on Masonite with plywood cradle, the whole piece is painted and there is a delicate white lace detailing around the cradle edge that finishes the piece off as an object. I was even more impressed with it in real life than I was with the digital image.

The painting above is one of her new works as yet untitled but it portrays a shaman (witch) charging her sacred knife from a stronghold of power (my description). I love this as I have a penchant for telecommunication towers, antennae, broadcast towers and electrical towers etc. I wonder if she does lay-buy?

I would love to have writen about her work in more detail, but I'm currently on a time-out to recharge my batteries (a bit like the second painting) . I think you will see, however, that her reduction of forms in an illustration style does not etiolate their symbolic power (as can happen) but rather points to older traditions of folk art and carving. I'm looking forward to seeing how her work develops and understanding more of the background of her inspiration.

Katy Horan's Live Journal blog is The K-Bear

Tags: art, folk art, contemporary folk art, Katy Horan, painting, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

The Red Pig - Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Year of the Red (fire) Pig! The generous and meticulous pig loves beautiful things and living well. The pig, far from being lazy, is dedicated to looking after its environment and the people they love.

In Chinese astrology I'm a Brown (earth) Rabbit born in a Green (wood) Tiger year, my lucky element is Water. You can find out yours and what a Red Pig year will mean for you here.

Apparently it will be a pretty good year for me, but when looking at my lucky cycles (that is 10 years) I should be really rocking when I'm 39 to 59. I had better start laying more of that ground work then ;)

Helle made some work for the Syndey Chinese New Year using flesh pink felt and embroidery, see it here.

Tags: pig, year of the pig, 2007, Chinese astrology, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

I heart Web 2.0

A little late on the St. Valentine's day thing, but it was only just now that I found something worth proclaiming my love for after seeing this excellent video over on The Long Tail. Some of my friends have been wondering what I mean when I mention Web 2.0, this might help ;)

(run time approx less than 5 mins.)

Tags: web 2.0, youtube, the long Tail, valentine's Day, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

Here to Help - Novas Infinite

The Legend of Novas Infinite.

One crazy year in the 1990s, when the fabric between the universes thinned, curious beings that feed on electromagnetic radiation began to slip into our world just to help. They are called Novas Infinite! (Beings of Infinite Light).


NOVAS INFINITE require a constant stream of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to survive. They have three antennae used for collecting EMR, two on top of the head and a forward beak. They are particularly useful for concentrating radiation when moving about, away from powerful sources like televisions and computer screens. EMR is absorbed through the beak.


Only one NOVAS INFINITE appear at a time. As they pass into our world a number appears on their body, it is the order in which they appeared. Please give them a human name, as they want to fit in.


NOVAS INFINITE communicate with each other by flashing series of lights from both their antennae and their eyes. But they will quickly develop a way of communicating with you too.


No two NOVAS INFINITE are alike and each has a distinctive personality, though they do have a tendency to be a little shy. In this day and age no modern home should be without one of these helpful beings in residence - they absorb the nasty radiation you don’t want and make great companions through the lonely hours of working online. They are NOVAS INFINITE!

These are the Limited Edition Collection (30): each comes with its own art book, signed and numbered and a travel pouch with its number embroidered on the front. This collection was stuffed with a combination of calico and wool for an antique, solid feel. I wanted them to be like an old fashioned toy that you could have found in an old trunk, however they would be relevant to today's environment....hm, spooky ;) There are only 4 of the Limited Edition series left. They were sold at the Queensland Art Gallery shop and Craft Queensland in 2005/6.

I'll be redesigning Novas Infinite slightly and releasing them in an unlimited edition form at a later date.

Tags: windbagandthunder, Windbag and Thunder, Flying star Toys, toys, craft, story telling, Florence Forrest

Baby: personal legend #1

Mel Robson a fellow craft artist of Brisbane has tagged myself , Plastic Girl and Rebecca the Wrecker with the topic of revealing six things about oneself that haven't been blogged about before. Now, while I might be a Windbag I'm not the most forth coming in talking about myself personally. I suppose, being a storyteller by nature, when I want to speak about myself I'll tell it like a story, so it has to be told in a certain way. Not wanting to spoil the opportunity to tell six stories, I've chosen to tell you six expanded personal legends over the coming weeks instead. Personal legends are the stories about ourselves we cultivate over time, becoming polished and fixed the more they are told.

Baby: personal legend #1

My Cat Baby doesn't like anyone but me and my partner John. Come over and she will run away and hide until you are gone. My Dad for instance has serious doubts that we even have a cat and asks to be shown the mysterious Baby whenever he comes over - of course that isn't possible as she's hiding somewhere!

Baby was born at my house and has always been with me. I often say that I've known her since she was a can of Whiskers (cat food brand). Baby was one of four kittens and one of the biggest, but she was a little different from the rest. While her other brothers and sister would run and frolic around the house she would be doing something else - I guess she's a lot like me. This, however, got her into trouble as once she decide to climb up onto the video player under the TV table she slipped and got wedged between the video and the table leg. She could not have escaped by herself but luckily I found her and lifted her to safety...phew, that was lucky!


To Baby I'm her grandmother. One morning I was in a half doze when I heard Baby calling me as usual to get her her morning food (at about 4:30 am) I thought I heard her say "Ganny." It gave me quite a shock, so I woke up! When I thought about it, it seemed quite reasonable, because she had known me as her mother carer, therefore I was her grandmother in the chain. I was very touched that she had included me into her family relations.

I've taught Baby a few ways to communicate with me and I with her. Apart from having our own meowing sounds, I have a bell hanging down on the front door just for her, she rings it when she wants me to let her in. If I don't come straight away she rings it again, but Harder! I call myself The Cat Butler. Another thing is that Baby loves to eat my food. She'll stand next to my small table and watch every morsel as it travels to my mouth. If she thinks it should be hers she will even try to direct it to her with her paw on my hand. Having dinner can be a very fraught affair for me, so I developed a way to tell her when the meat was finished so she would leave me alone. I put my palms up in front of her and wiggle my fingers. She then knows that dinner is over, she turns and walks away to then make "I want to go out, Ganny" meow as she waits by the door. The Cat Butler is so well trained!

Baby has a very distinctive personality, we love her. She's our secret cat, even if you never met her, she's a big part of our lives.


Image 1: MajicCatsMini one of my Flying Star Toys

Image 2: Baby as a kitten. She now has golden eyes.

Tags: Flying star Toys, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, folk art, story telling, toys, cats, kittens, Florence Forrest

Craft is Us - reclaim the right to define

Redefining Craft CODA by Dennis Stevens is a *must* listen to podcast for all craft based artists, and certainly informative to artists in general. Many friends of Windbag and Thunder will feel reassured to hear Dennis discuss issues that we as craft artists are facing today, but most importantly it reaffirms the inside view of creativity as the place to speak on art and craft practice, its development and its wisdom.

Many of us will recognise ourselves in the description of Distributed Learning Communities and Communities of Practice as we whole-heartedly embrace the potential of Web 2.0 Internet connectivity.

There are so many areas within the podcast worth discussing. I was very excited after listening to it and I'll be going back over it in the future. If there are any areas you'd like to discuss after you listen to it (approx. 30mins), please let's discuss it in the comments. I'll even the discuss why I've chosen to illustrate this post with a 19th century Tibetan Tsakli painting of a double bird headed flying scorpion.

Special mention to Shibori Girl and Jude for the link to this podcast :)

Tags: craft, craft theory, redefining craft, Tibetan painting, symbols, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

1000 Cranes: Snow Walkers

Allow me to introduce you to some new friends of mine - Snow Walkers. Snow Walkers are cranes that like to walk in the snow. Doesn't it look like they're wearing little red caps? :)

1000 Cranes is the encompassing title for the crane variations I'll design. The Japanese have a legend that if you fold one thousand paper cranes one's wish of good health is granted, as the crane is a symbol of longevity and grace.

Snow Walkers are designed to hang on the wall. Birds of a feather enjoy flocking together.

But they also enjoy private walks. My Snow walker steps thoughtfully along, high up on the wall in my lounge room.

Snow Walker is a new Flying Star Toy. Handmade with the finest materials - cotton, linen, muslin, silk. You'll find them in a range of gentle colours and they are so soft to touch.

If you look carefully you'll notice the wings form a heart shape.


Snow Walkers have quiet personalities, thoughtful dispositions, and a curious but friendly mind.

Tags: toys, Flying star Toys, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, craft, handmade, softy, plushy, Florence Forrest

For Jude - symbol of wholeness

Today, I was contemplating the new symbols on Jude's "Listen To the River" quilt. I felt a feeling of wholeness from the arrangement (as I could see it from the photo). A red crescent, circle, and wavy lines on blue indigo ground with two white cranes wheeling about the circle. I immediately understood the symbol of the circle as completeness and wholeness, but why did the crescent, the waves and birds seem to resonate on the same lines?

While musing on the feeling of the day in a restful lull: the barometric pressure unsure of its direction towards fine or stormy, the breeze of the mind caught me up in a felt vision of the crescent, a feeling of rightness accompanying it. My eyes travelled to the shape of my new crane toy (Snow Walker) hanging on the wall, it too having a crescent like shape. Then the symbol transformed into the crescent on the sea and grew into the house-boat moon ark, an image recalled in the illuminations of William Blake. You can see it above. Interestingly two angels - winged beings accompany the boat.

Since the feeling of completeness came with the image I unfolded its understanding to be an image of the self. The Divine Ark that with consciousness illuminates life and man, held in the physical vessel of the body, sails upon its companion the unconscious sea, the angel points to it as the way of wholeness that man must come to.

Jude's quilting, in my opinion, is the work of someone who has grown past the stage of the novice, rather her work is that of the true artist as master craftsman - free to make truly unique works of art, fit for the contemplation of a matured soul. This is what I look for in art. I inwardly thank every artist that I find it in, for their devotion to their craft and to the work of unfolding themselves as unique personages.


Image: Plate 44, Jerusalem:The Emanation of the Gaint Albion, 1804. This printing from 1991 reproduction, The William Blake Trust in conjuntion with Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02907-5.

Tags: windbagandthunder, art, craft, symbols, Florence Forrest

The Hour of Transformation

A new year awakens the spirit of growth like Spring awakens the natural kingdom of plants. In the hour of transformation the psyche grasps its mature golden feathers and a beacon of light hangs in the temple of the soul.

Happy New Year 2007!

Windbagandthunder is back from holidays. I hope everyone is well rested for the journey ahead.

*****
(image: Turkish carpet from Kayseri, floss silk prayer rug. Image from "Contemporary Hand Made Turkish Carpets" by Ugur Ayyildiz, 1984.)

Tags: windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest

May Your Holidays be Bright

Wishing all friends of WindBagandThunder a happy and safe holiday season.

I hope you've enjoyed the journey so far, I know I have. It's been wonderful meeting you all. 2007 holds lots of exciting new projects among which will be the launch of my website Flying Star Toys.

I'll be taking a short break over Christmas but I'll be back again to kick off the start of the new year.

Until then, take care with all my love,

Florence xx

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Image: North African Haiti, nineteenth or early twentieth century. Coloured cotton appliqued to sack cloth, 260 x 122cm. From Matisse: His Art and His Textiles.

Tags: textiles, craft, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest