Artist in Residence 2 – 22 July

This exhibition surveys John Parkes work over a twenty-year period. It demonstrates the range of his practice with works made from recycled material, dyed, printed, layered and stitched, as well as artist books, limited edition prints and quirky little mixed media pieces. Included also are works by Stephen Eastaugh, Eveline Kotai, Nalda Searles, Holly Story, Elsje Van Keppel, Anne Walmsley and Judy Watson.

For the last ten years John Parkes’ art practice has been predominantly cloth and stitch based, using recycled cloth, machine piecing (quilts tops) and hand stitch (quilting). The cloth might be clothing or bedding, from OP shops or gifted. He hasn’t bought new cloth for eight years.

This extract from the catalogue essay reveals much about John’s process –

He is at home in the intimate space of seconds, minutes and hours. That is where he works, making things with his hands ‘to slow time down’. The chaotic world may be speeding by, ever faster and ever changing, but our needs have not changed. Reflection, nearness, care and love are found in slowness. Slowness is where we are renewed, where we sense ourselves in the world and find the boundaries of our own existence. The needle’s point and the lines of stitching that flow from it are, stitch by stitch, a very real measure of time. They follow lines of thought and trace the flow of feelings, exploring the spaciousness of the mind and the restfulness of working till things are fully resolved.

Philippa O’Brien 2012

John will be in residence in the gallery on the ‘studio’ floor for three weeks in July where he will be working and talking with visitors.

For sales and enquiries re John Parkes and Stephen Eastaugh works please contact Sharon Tassicker on 0439 392 635 or email [email protected]

Price Lists available : John Parkes | Stephen Eastaugh