Artists – Page 4 – June Paisa Perkins

Hidden Brisbane: Chainsaw Sculptures

Sculpture Matty G – photograph June Perkins

When you look up
you will see
attached to the trunk
a giant gecko.

When you look around
carved in a tree stump
a kangaroo;
hours of chainsaw artistry
not to take a tree down
but to adorn or transform it
to art about nature;
to make you want to connect
with the creatures
that live there;
leave the world of your phone
as you walk
with nature converse.

Now look
there’s a real possum hiding there
bounding out when you notice it
saying, ‘remember you saw me
you don’t need to take
a photo of me with your phone.’

Thankyou Matty G
for your clever artistry;
Thankyou Far North Queensland
for making me always want to look up
down and out…

2/05/2015

(c) June Perkins

Research reveals that the two chainsaw sculptures above are done by Matthew George, a Queensland creative chainsaw artist.

You can find out more about the reasoning behind the project here Chainsaw Art at QUT’s Kelvin Grove.

The main idea of the sculptures is to connect the viewer (most likely a student) back with nature, and to encourage them to look up, and at the ground, rather than stick to their mobile phone.

They certaintly captured my eye. After seeing two I knew there should be more and my curiousity was lit and I went off on a web search.

I love making discoveries of real animals, but these art ones were also intriguing. Some even looked freshly done.

The other day when I was looking around QUT, I noticed a real live possum! It was staring at people wandering past, and was a gingery colour.

So far I have just found two chainsaw sculptures, but there are a few more hanging around the campus.

For even more information see Matty G Inc.

First published as Hidden Brisbane: Chainsaw Sculptures at Ripple Poetry

For celebration of the ‘glory’ and ‘to make a better world’

JunePerkins_Tully_Glory172 — Glory – (c) June Perkins

The realm of glory is not something I can depict in a realist photographic approach. It is something, unknowable, untouchable, and so my focus is more to the essence of the shape of things, the abstract.

“Verily His Call will draw thee nigh unto the realm of glory and will cause thee to extol His praise in such wise that every created thing will be enraptured, and to magnify His glory in such manner as to influence the entire creation. Truly thy Lord is the Protector, the Gracious, the All-Informed.”
-Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah

This year I’ve joined the wonderful team of photographers over at nineteen months. Each Baha’i Month, we post a photograph we’ve taken and quote that inspires us.

Check out some of the other inspiring contributions HERE

It’s a super busy time as I’m about to begin tutoring, doing an online course on crowd funding, half way through the first draft of my novel, have a number of works I am editing and keen to begin writing, as well the usual family joys and challenges. My household has three teenagers all embarking on their dreams (one’s at university) and vision for future life. Sometimes I am not sure how I’m going to balance it all. Reflecting on a spiritual theme each month in this way helps to put it all into perspective.

Why create art? Why write? Why live? It all seems to be a process of finding balance and a spiritual centering.

So few writers make it in financial and ‘being known’ terms, but does that mean they should give up working on their craft, telling their stories, polishing, sharing and finding joy in that process? Of course that was a rhetorical question.

Whilst it is true having a wide audience gives authors and artists a sense of validation, and being listened to, yet it is those who write for the way it allows them to connect with the glory in existence itself and build community that will never ever give it up.

This week I have been particularly inspired by Maya Angelou. I find myself watching many videos where she tells stories and shares her thoughts. This one truly sums up why I do art – ‘to satisfy my soul’ and ‘to make a better world.’

Wishing you all the best for your week of creativity, and a special thank you to the team of people mentoring and editing my work at the moment. Your support means so much.

June Perkins

Beading – Grandmother’s Lessons

Those of you reading my memoir blog will know this week I am fascinated with beading.

I’m doing research into beading around the world to deepen poems and short stories I have in progress.

How I long to travel to meet beaders the world over, but without the finances at least I can visit them on youtube.

These were two of my favourite videos in my online journey today.

I thank the makers of these videos for sharing these stories. It makes me miss the Elders of Murray Upper I can tell you. They taught me how to make a small basket, a different handicraft, with its own intricacies.

One thing that intrigues me is that grandmothers rather than mothers pass culture on – and there may be many reasons for this, some practical and some cultural. Another thread of thought develops from the cyberjourney.

I have never found handicraft to come easily, but immensely respect those that are good at it – my mother is one of them.

Two of the things I am intrigued by at the moment are techniques and materials.

The beading journey is sure to continue for a while on my blog.

Perhaps I’ll write it better than I can do it. Or who knows I may find myself learning it. Perhaps I have the patience now.

(Note I am not Indigenous to the Americas, but am keen to learn from many cultures who do beading and would be very proud to be if I was. My mother is Papua New Guinean Indigenous and I have enjoyed the friendships of people from many backgrounds in Australia.)

Pollination – October 10th 2014

“POLLINATION was an exhibition that explored the powers and potentialities associated with springtime: both in the natural world and in the realm of hearts and minds. The exhibition showcased individual and collaborative works by five creatives:”

1. Temily – a visual artist whose work draws on a richness of experiences from living in numerous communities throughout the world (including recent travels around Queensland).

Temily with young fan – Kaitlyn in background posting about the exhibition on line 😉

2. Minaira Fifita – a visual and performing artist whose artwork is grounded in her Polynesian and Celtic roots and nurtured by her faith in the unity and diversity of human relationships and it’s connection to the environment.

3. Sheida Vazir-Zadeh – an Iranian writer raised in Australia who is currently exploring how the art of filmmaking can be used as a tool for the empowerment of young people.

4. Kaitlyn Plyley – an American-Australian spoken word artist, broadcaster and writer whose solo show ‘Not Much To Tell You’ appeared at the 2014 Queensland Poetry Festival.

5. Ruha Fifita – is a visual and performing artist of Tongan/European descent whose work reflects on nature and the physical environment, exploring the insights it offers into processes framing mankind’s spiritual and material progress.

(From the Exhibition Facebook Information Page.)

It was an amazing night full of energy, vibrance, colour and joy. People were packed into every spare piece of available floor, and overflowing out onto the streets.

There was music, dancing, poetry – and lots of people mingling to celebrate the themes of the art exhibition.

The exhibition spaced was provided by Box Vintage.

For more photographs of click Pollination

Off line, wised up and loving those that show respect

A lot more of my creative work is happening off line.

I can’t share it with you yet.

It’s secret creative business.

The people who are seeing it are reading mentors, otherwise known as beta readers.

They are making suggestions and asking me questions.

They are people who like my ideas, but are skilled at seeing what can make it even more effective. I am growing so much through their mentorship. They are so honest and constructive. Writers if you don’t have beta readers, find them!

Soon I am to send work off to traditional publishers, now knowing that it is the best I can possibly do.

As for my art, when someone told me they printed one of my pictures and put it up on their wall, without asking me, I was a little upset they didn’t buy a copy of it from Red Bubble to help support my creative work.

I was also extremely upset when I did some volunteer work using video and photography as a favour for a friend, for some unnamed group and they then later freely used it without attributing it to me or linking to any of my sites and showed an absolute disrespect for my creative rights and a lack of understanding of the creative process.

The friend was wonderful their organisation was not! That said I have done volunteer work for many organisations who have treated me well, later given me paid work and have trusted, respected and thanked me. I love supporting others, and supporting causes I believe in, but can I continue to do it when some act this way and when I need to pay for the education of my children and my paper, printing, internet, etc. Being altruistic I don’t do it to be thanked, but because of my love of humanity, but people being incredibly rude and using you now that’s not justice!

Over the years I have noticed that often volunteers are treated badly! People who work with volunteers, especially when you are a volunteer yourself, ask yourself why do you do this? They are people who are putting their heart into supporting your organisation when they may be doing lots of other things, looking for a full time job, raising their children, retired, unemployed, and want experience and they should be treated at least as well as normal employees.

My advice to others always gets written aggreements before undertaking voluntary photography/video work and make sure they communicate with you clearly, respect your rights and creativity and understand what you are wanting to do and if not DO NOT DO IT, even as a favour. Read through their guidelines for their volunteers and if anything seems off, don’t work with them. See how other volunteers have enjoyed working with them or for them.

Reflecting on my many years of voluntary work, for all those who make use of artists, photographers and musicians, you have to not take advantage of us and stop expecting us to give without respecting us, understanding the time, skill and love involved in our work , thanking us, and the fact that many artists do not make their full time living from art because of such attitudes.

People fund raising with art, rather than asking for a donation of art for an auction, purchase it for its cost price, with a small profit to the artist and then add costs above that.

If you have the opportunity to pay us when you hire us, even if it is extra work for you do it! Better still build a project with us, build a bridging relationship that can grow over time.

Copyright, is such an issue for artists and writers online, bloggers, memers, make sure you have permission for your images and words! I nearly always use my own photographs on this blog.

Watermarks, putting up images at low resolution, not putting it on line if wanting to fully protect it, these are just some of the options. Respect for artists who willingly work in the community is another.

I was really concerned when I read a beautiful meme without the poet’s name on the work. Just great-quotes, actually she had a name and that wasn’t it – and so many people liked her work, I wonder if she even knew. I punched the words in and found out the name of the poet, and attributed her to her meme. I hope people support her to write more. Sometimes I don’t know about pinterest. How many memes might not be properly attributed? I love the concept, but can I be really sure of the copyright on all the pins.

I can’t reiterate enough for people reading this blog to respect the copyright and imagination of those generous (some would call us naive) to share our world with you online.

Why do we do it? Because we love connection, growing as artists, reaching out to others, developing an audience through online means, overcoming isolation, reflecting on our creative processes.

So please new or quiet readers of this blog, be of that group who respect the writers and artists who share online, When you love our work look at ways you can financially support us, we often give you hints of how to do that.

And to all those who do any of the suggestions here already, bless you and your sincere hearts. I will be posting my wishlist soon.

All those that know me personally know I have a big heart, but I also want to stand up as an artist and writer and say please show us some love and respect.

(c) June Perkins