Winter input (what am I reading and listening to)

I have books, websites and podcasts I return to often. My aim here is to share what I am finding helpful each season.

As this is my first in this new rhythm, I have a few gems to share.

1. The writings of Makoto Fujimura have been very inspiring for me. I have read several of his books and have another waiting to be delved into. My latest read of his was Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life. https://makotofujimura.com/about

   Some quotes I resonate with :

   • “as his (Christ) follower, I needed to acknowledge Christ’s claims, to hold them up in this public sphere as something we can test. I wanted to reclaim beauty and to frame it for our time as a gift given to use by the creator. I wanted to help recover a view of beauty as a gift we discover, receive and steward.” pg26

   • “Beauty is notoriously hard to pin down, and it is often spoken of together with other ultimate concerns, particularly the true and the good. Dallas Willard has even defined beauty as ‘goodness made manifest to the senses’. How deeply intertwined these three core qualities are is debated but experience shows that alack of either truth or goodness (whether in quality of workmanship or in the moral sense) detracts from the beauty of a given artifact. Similarly, a lack of attention to beauty in presenting a truth hampers its appeal and adoption."“ pg 48

   • “Art is ultimately not ‘useful’. it serves no practical function. this is why it is indispensable, especially in the modern age. Dana Gioa has rightly said that we ‘do not provide arts education to create artists, though that it is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society’ …. Arts are not a luxury but a path to educate the whole individual toward thriving.“ pg 81

   • “I see God as the ultimate Artist and us, still bearing God’s image even in our fall, as artist writ small. The Bible is a book written by the creator God, spoken through God’s creative if sometimes broken people. It is designed to recalibrate our worldview and reconnect us with God. Only then can God’s power work through us as we fill-creatively and lovingly- roles that contribute to God’s work toward new creation, which is a part of the purpose for which we were made and by which we thrive.” pg95

2. When I discovered this book it became a focus in my classroom, and it continues to be one that I recommend and discuss with regularity. Why Art Matters: A Call for Christians to Create has been written in 10 readable, relatable chapters and I connect with so much of it. https://www.alastairjohngordon.com/

   I am currently working through each chapter with a small group of artist friends, to think redemptiveley about how our Christian faith connects with our artmaking.

   Gordon’s premise is that creativity is a fundamental aspect of being made in God's image, designed to reveal His beauty and punch holes in the darkness of the world's grief.
   

3. I listen to the podcast “Be Make Do” from Soulmakers in my studio, or when driving. https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo It is casual, encouraging listening that I have found gives me real food for thought in the area of how to work and grow as an artist. I often listen when I am alone creating in the studio.

   Become who you were created to be. Make what you were created to make. Do what you were created to do.

Reflecting on exhibiting

As I look back at the exhibition I was part of in March and April this year, I am very grateful. Not just for sharing ideas and exhibiting space with Louise, but also for the positive response from friends and visitors. Seeing artwork leave the gallery for new homes and receiving photos of the hung work was a treat.

Preparing an exhibition is highly motivating, and like opportunities in the past, I began many more works than were exhibited. The support of many also gave me cause to work on new pieces. Not that I need an excuse to create, it is part of my very being. I went on to complete a painted work for a new art prize, and have begun a lino cut I began years ago.

As often happens post exhibition, I look back at the organisational activity with a sigh of relief. Framing, titles, notations, invitations, advertising, bio. catalogue, cards, opening arrangements and (the dreaded) setting of prices all take time and emotional energy disconnected with the art itself.

Reflecting now that time has past, the experience of exhibiting is a positive one, yet not one I’d leap to straight away. So to all who supported me, visited the exhibition, and enaged with my artwork for Intangible Legacies, thank you.

Time for a new season

I finished my high school teaching career in 2025, and as I prepare for an upcoming exhibition I am finding ways to think of this new season with purpose. Some call it ‘flow’ or ‘passion’ and returning to painting in these ways has been very energising for me.

At the same time I am working to use this website more effectively. So hopefully if you see this, you’ll visit again.

2023 - Art to spark conversations.

I had the privilege of working on a couple of new pieces for an Easter Exhibition at a local Church. It was an opportunity to explore a theme, and allowed me to deliberately focus on the way art can spark conversation. Here is one of those works.

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2023  Dimensions  96/40/27cm. Handmade paper, pages from a vintage Atlas, stencilling and watercolour with silver gouache.

When l think of the question, who do you think l am? I think firstly of Colin McMahon's "I Am" painting, so majestic and powerful in the National Gallery Canberra. For me that links well to the concept of an eternal trinity. It is impossible to separate Jesus from Father and Holy Spirit. Throughout the Bible God is revealed as trinity, using pronouns of us, we and our. Jesus is referred to as the alpha and omega in Revelations 21:13 so in this I envisaged an eternal infinity symbol, how Jesus was always and always is.

So I encompassed my formative home landscape of the far Riverina, with the horizon going on forever, rendered in handmade paper pulp painting and backed with Altas index pages of countries represented by each letter of the alphabet a - z. Overlaying this are tissue papers and streaks of blue watercolour representing the sky and stencilled text. I have included metallic gouache of silver and gold, representing the kingdom of God, and sprinklings of earth from Wiradjuri country, representing my life which is bound in this eternal Jesus.

The blessing of commissions

When accepting a commission it is an honour as well as a time for uncertainly. I start to question my ability to fulfil the brief. It is more about the way I create than the ability to complete it.

Recently I was completing a commission that came to me via my 2021 exhibition. The friends wanted it as a gift for their son’s significant birthday so there was no rush to complete it. When I began, I started 3 or 4 versions. It involved sheet music that i shoed my friend before hand and i knew the kinds of qualities she was looking for. Once completed they were delighted and chose to organise framing themselves.

However, the moment it was given to the recipient, this beautiful photo reassured me that my nerves were ill-founded, and I need to trust in my own creative efforts.

So, I will work on the other pieces I began in the process of this commission to share in the future.

"1st Violin Flora" 2022

I'm a little more than nervous!

The Works on Paper Prize opens tonight and I am a finalist, so I am more than a little nervous.

When I entered my recently completed work 'Lyrical Afternoon (Mutawindji)’ in the Blackstone Gallery’s Works on Paper Prize I was hopeful, yet unsure of how it might be received. Visiting the gallery late in October I was delighted to meet Marguerite and seeing what a lovely space it is I am excited to revisit tonight as a finalist.

Having my work hung and judged by such an esteemed trio is quite overwhelming as this work is the most substantial I have attempted in many years. There were several interruptions to its completion, since 2019 when I first began with mapping out the landscape and prepping. for rust printing. Every time I lay out the multi page vintage sheet music work, I went into a creating zone that made time stop. Then part way through 2022 I decided I needed to complete it, the focus was to join the pages, add the touches required to finish it and layer the rice paper backing. Now it will be in a Blackstone Gallery, viewed by many and my vision and brushstrokes will be on display. I might even get to meet Wendy Sharpe (a wow from me).

Whatever the outcome of tonight my heart is very grateful.

Blue Mountains Print Prize

I entered some student work and a couple of my own into the Blue Mountains Print Prize and just as it opened we all went into lockdown for 2 weeks.

It just so happens that Nationwide Curating had already partnered with the exhibition so it is all online for people to see. Some stunning work is on show, so check it out.

https://nationwidecurating.com/products/current-exhibition-blue-mountains-print-prize-2021

What's next?

As a teacher there is a natural rhythm to work. Each new year begins afresh, there are new beginnings with each term and even semester courses. My times with amateur musical theatre and past art shows was a cycle of busyness and an emotional after slump too.

However, I am looking forward to a new focus after this one, plus avenues for the artwork that returned home.

I have a couple of commissions, which is wonderful, an artwork I want to finish for a particular art prize plus it is time to go out into the landscape to refocus on plein air with my painting buddies.

These two friends and I encourage and challenge each other. We are talking about a goal of exhibiting together so that is exciting.

So in answer to ‘what’s next?’ I say - creating, a bit of marketing, and reflecting on the encouragement of ‘Moments Observed’.

Moments Observed

Opening in May the exhibition I have working towards with my niece Anna.

Making art for May

May 13th will be the start of a 4 week exhibition where my own artwork, and that of my lovely niece Anna, will be on show in Springwood, NSW. So In between my school teaching days I will be focusing my efforts on completing specific works for the show.

I find it at times challenging to know when a work is finished and this has been a point of discussion with fellow artist Toni Jessop. I found a comment by a painter who felt artists need 2 friends: one to encourage you to keep going and one to smack you over the head when you need to stop. Maybe, we don’t want to smack each other over the head, but fellow artists can help us step outside of our own judgement to see things clearly. It is something I do daily with my senior students and treasure having a few artist friends I trust with such a task.

So as I observe the building and completion of art works for May I will be looking forward to sharing these with you here as well.

New year and fresh possibilities

2020 was unexpected in many ways, not in the least the postponement of my joint exhibition with my niece Anna. Now rescheduled for May/June 2021 I have been spending time in the studio, mostly finishing off this begun in 2019 and 2020. It is a new year and still uncertain for many, so I am hesitant to launch into early announcements, however, I am planning to relaunch Sketch Club and later in the year more paint a posy events. So stepping forward into 2021 I am looking forward to a year of flourishing.

A simple Posy for a friend

During my Paint-a-posy workshops I mostly helped others and enjoyed the stories, however, once or twice I also painted. This one worked out nicely so I gifted it to my friend Vivian. That is what I like about my casual and social workshops they are for enjoying and connecting not stressing.

Paint a posy to learn, engage and connect

During September and October 2020 I have been running workshops to “Paint a Posy” .

Linking in with WomenCan funding cancer research I spend 2 hours with a group of ladies, painting a posy of flowers on a deconstructed cardboard box and sharing stories to raise awareness of gynaecological cancer.

My first events were lovely, joining with friends and having a creative time. We also shared stories that kept us in touch with not only ladies travelling the cancer journey, but also how to care for our own health.

You can find out more at https://www.womencan.org.au/fundraiser/jennifergardiner/paint-a-posy

Some upcoming events are already full but check out the dates I have put up on the workshops page.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions and to keep the time relational places our limited, however, it also gives me joy to think of planning future workshops with themes.

Faith and Art

I am delighted to extend my artwork through Zenosmedia and thank Matt and Jenny for the opportunity. My faith in Jesus and desire to glorify God is not only my motivation but my impetus. When working in my studio or out in the landscape I see it as an act of worship.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

https://www.zenosmedia.com/author/jennifer-gardiner/

From my paintbox - out into the world

Mark Rothko once said "It is a risky business to send a painting out into the world." and for me this is a big world. Starting a website and putting my artwork out into the global world is new and seemingly risky. It is me, my work my creativity and hard not to be personal about it.

Yet, from my paintbox comes many things. many images that don’t get finished and colours that can clash or fade, then moments of joy.

I have my arty fingers in many boxes and try my hand at many things so from my paintbox I send images out into the world for others to see.