Exciting to be featured in the latest Arts Manningham eNews.
Art e-facts
We asked our Arts Manningham Fellowship recipient Denise Keele-Bedford to let us in on some of her “art e-facts”…
What is your most memorable art experience?
With just on 30 years of art practice and many exciting art experiences along the way, like my first solo show and international artist-in residencies, the one significant and influential experience was my time at Arthur Boyd’s, Bundanon.
The residency was the first time that I had a studio to myself, where I only had to consider one entity, myself.
It was an opportunity that taught me how to operate in future residency situations.
Sixteen years later I still follow the principles of discipline and process that I learnt at Bundanon.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
The future, we know is an unknown.
However, to follow an arts practice pathway, five years is not too far ahead.
Within the next five years I intend to finalise shipment of my artwork from China to Melbourne, complete and exhibit current unfinished artworks. By 2025 I will have had at least two solo exhibitions and undertaken at least two Artist-in Residence programs.
I am interested in mentorship and believe by 2025 I will have enough experience to mentor younger emerging artists.
I will also continue with public and community projects, where relevant and continue my studio art practice.
Why do the arts matter?
Arts matter, because life matters.
Since time immemorial humans have wanted to express themselves and record the ebb and flow of life in a visual form.
Art is a language for communication. Like learning a foreign language art gives an opportunity to study and engage with ‘the other’.
Due to diversity in the arts, there is always an art form that one can connect with at all levels of interest.
Between February 22 – March 23, I will be Artist-in-Residence at Manningham Arts.
What a fabulous, refreshing feeling to be engaging in 2021 Art based activities.
Current and upcoming activities for Stony Creek Studio:
Waste Not Want Not – Geelong ArSpace 89 Ryrie Street Geelong
A Year of Wonders – Photographic exhibition and Projection event – Opens Saturday 6 February at 6pm
@ Taffy’s Hut, Lions Park Warrandyte – Featuring Denise Keele-bedford
AT SEA – Melbourne and Victorian Artists Group Exhibition – Until February 2 Featuring Denise Keele-bedford
@ Southern Buoy Studios 1/19 Carbine Way, Mornington – https://www.southernbuoystudios.com.au/atsea-mava
9 by 5 Exhibition – Until January 23 Featuring Denise Keele-bedford
@ Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre Cnr. Walker and Robinson Streets, Dandenong https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/9-5-exhibition
Of Colour and Light – Women abstract Artists Biennial – Until February 28
@ Westend Art Space 112 Adderley Street, West Melbourne -Featuring Denise Keele-bedford
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uBA4loQYF8peyHxzO9bYZenLj0Vu4xkM
Denise is a Recipient of a Manningham Creative Industries Small Fellowship Phase 1, 2020 – ongoing
Denise is a Recipient of a Manningham Artist-in-Residence Feb/March 2021 – Feb 22 until March 21
BLUETHUMB
A variety of my artworks are currently available for viewing on this platform.
Founded in 2012, Bluethumb are Australian based and offer an immense of information to artists on promotion and selling their artworks.
It is free to set up a profile and add images to their online Gallery of artists and images.
In addition to the artworks seen on the Stony Creek Studio website my artwork can be viewed at: https://bluethumb.com.au/denise-keele-bedford
Bluethumb state: We represent over 11,000 emerging and established artists from Australia and work with 20 of Australia’s most remote Aboriginal Art Centres to give you access to more Australian artists and their art than anywhere else in the world.
We have sold over 30,000 original Australian artworks to everyone; from first time art buyers to established collectors and Australia’s finest architecture firms.
But this is just the first chapter in our story.
As a Member of the Melbourne Society of Women painters and Sculptors, I am happy to say that I am participating in the 111th Exhibition. Changing Perspectives is our Inaugural Online Virtual Exhibition.
All are invited to view the exhibition when it goes ‘LIVE’ at 8pm on Friday 6th November.
Copy and past into your search engine to Open the Exhibition:
https://mswps.com.au/changing-perspectives-2020
2020 has been a remarkably different year for our society. The Annual General Meeting in March was the only opportunity for members to meet before the pandemic lockdown. This meeting took place at The Ola Cohn Centre, the former home and studio of the sculptor Ola Cohn, now MSWPS regular meeting place. Ola Cohn was President of the Society for fifteen years until her death in 1964. On Thursdays, Life Drawing and other activities are usually held at the Centre, but all has been quiet this year with no art gallery or studio visits, paint outs, artist’s talks, workshops, bus or train trips. Yet despite COVID 19 restrictions, the society has provided camaraderie and support to members as in the past. Although not being able to meet in person, General Meetings and Committee Meetings via Zoom have become the norm. They have kept us in touch and informed, as have the comprehensive e-Bulletins. Many members have used this time of fewer interruptions in creative productivity. Works created before our world changed last year will be shown online as well as the diverse isolation works.
Early in our isolation I had read statements that ‘we are all in this together’ and ‘we are all in the same boat’. Perhaps we are in the same boat, OR not. In that respect I created an artwork particularly relevant to COVID-19. This restrictive time has had many ups for some and many downs for others. As we ride the waves of our life journey it is encouraging to know that whatever type of vessel or deck that we are placed, our friends and family are supportive along the way. Thanks to the Beatles for the artwork title. And all our friends are aboard. The artwork will participate in the AT SEA exhibition 5 – 18 August at Southern Buoy Studios, Mornington. Denise Keele-bedford
POSTPONED TO JANUARY 2021
Today is World Environment Day, Friday 5th June. During our isolation time much of our Earth has been celebrating, undertaking some healing showing us the outcomes. Clear waters in the Canals of Venice, Views to the Himalayas that had been hidden in smog, a decline in Greenhouse gases and wild animals roaming city streets are just some of the positive results of us staying indoors.
As the sun shines outside, though, it is difficult to not want to be out there engaging with nature.
I reminisce about making artwork in the great outdoors and celebrate today with posting an artwork from Flinders Island. One day I walked to a rise and stood overlooking a vast stretch of white sand. The stunning view was like and immense canvas just waiting for interaction.
Spiral from the Sea is the result of spending time on that vast canvas of sand, walking barefoot and feeling the coolness under my feet.
After much consideration and discussion I have come to the conclusion that it would be wise to cease art classes forthwith. To say the least this is a great disappointment but we all are living in unusual times.
Term 2 was due to commence on April 20/21 but this may not happen. We will keep you informed.
Those of you who had paid for a full term will have your money held over and adjusted when we recommence.
A few of you may wish to call in for advice or to pick up work, you are most welcome but please ring beforehand.
Please keep painting!
Until we meet again,
Walter.
We are currently living in a world where self preservation has taken on an urgency not seen in my lifetime.
The toilet roll saga has lead to empty shelves of anything related to soft papers for delicate body areas.
It has expanded to a hunter gatherer mode where shelves that once held pasta, rice, flour, sugar and other deemed staples are emptying at express rates.
Over one hundred countries checking their options to lock down in self preservation against a microscopic bug.
All major venues closing until further notice and/or one month at the minimum.
World renowned museums and galleries are in shut down and most importantly YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Art at St. Francis is closed until further notice. The current significant exhibition namely: Marks in Time – my exhibition on a world scale cannot be viewed. it is with SINCERE APOLOGIES that I advise all that the best way to see my work is via the attached images.
On Page 27 of the February issue of the Warrandyte Diary read Sandi Miller’s write up on Montsalvat Arts & Events current exhibition: Destruction, Beauty and Hope. Featuring works by both Denise Keele-bedford and Walter Magilton, money from art sold at the exhibition goes to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
Walter was interviewed on site at the exhibition: “Walter was a member of the North Warrandyte Fire Brigade and fought the Ash Wednesday Bushfires and his family have been caught up in the recent fires.”
