{studio archive}: 2011 unfolds...

Friday, February 4, 2011

2011 unfolds...

January 2011 has come & gone with out a sign of life here at
   this studio archives blog!
   Not to worry ... things have been      happening!
The website has been added to ... a   Tumblr blog  (ok...thats the archives link..just click on any image to open ! )
was started ... paintings came along ... Homage to the Seed blog started to get busy again , and of course there is always the first blog which is

   coming up for its second birthday in a while......................................................................................
and for the speedy i finally sorted out   twitter ..... phew!
....
.. ..

Culture is reverence of Light. Culture is love of humanity. Culture is fragrance, the unity of light and beauty. Culture is a synthesis of uplifting, and sensitive attainment. Culture is the armour of Light. Culture is salvation. Culture is the motivating power. Culture is the Heart.

from Culture and Peace - Nicholas Roerich 1932

Cyclone Yasi approaching the northeast coast of Australia

we've had so much weather of the extreme sort that I wrote a post here and called it "a most difficult summer in this part of the world"
The Residency at Mt Coot-tha has concluded but the Homage to the Seed blog will continue... so much happening around the globe impacting on our seed heritage... a story thats not diminishing Im sad to say! So watch the homage blog for updates.
Recently I found some lovely followers were watching this space... and I thought I'd better fly the flag for followers... thank you to anyone who comes by here ...love to hear from you... so if you wish ... do pop me a message...

A very wonderful year to all ... and as its Chinese New Year as I write ... double happiness and prosperity to all !
Sophie

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS STUDIO ARCHIVE BLOG OF SOPHIE MUNNS

COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS:

Public Collections:

. Newcastle Community Art Centre

. Maitland Regional Gallery

. John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle

. R.S.L.CARE Fortitude Valley, QLD

. Victoria University Library Collection

. Victoria University Alumni collection

. QEII Hospital, Brisbane

. KEW Gardens Millennium Seedbank, UK

. Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ, QLD

. Cairns Botanic Gardens -Tanks Artist's Residence

Private Collections from 1990 onwards in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, NZ, UK and the U.S.

Commercial commissions to produce Textile designs for Domestic Textile Corporation, Melbourne from early 1997 through to 1999.

Private Commissioned work since 1992 in Australia.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Sophie Munns is currently living in Brisbane, QLD, Australia having relocated from Newcastle, NSW in May 2008, her base for 8 years.

Born in Grafton, Northern NSW, Sophie studied for a B ED (Art) in Newcastle before teaching in various secondary schools on the NSW coast for the following 6 years. A 2 year stint working in London and travelling abroad was the catalyst for Sophie to consider taking her passion for Art further on her return to live in Melbourne.

Comfortably ensconced in leafy Kew, (Melb) Sophie set up a studio from home, 2 years later starting a small design business and within 2 years of that opening a shopfront studio in Collingwood - 'Themata Studio' - effectively an artist-run-space operating as a multi-purpose facility providing classes and workshops for adults, works by commission and a lively cross-roads for conversation and exchange between diverse participants and visitors to the space.

4 years later freelance work and commissioned work was continuing although the shopfront venture closed in 1998 and in 2000 Sophie returned to study painting at Victoria University.

This plan was short-lived when, 4 months into studies, a housefire necessitated changes and relocation to Newcastle ensued. A studio from home was once again established, classes for adults offered, artwork picked up and gradually shifted its focus. Sophie returned to teaching in secondary schools virtually full time, exhibiting work quite frequently, entering art awards and by 2005 showing work in Sydney as well as the Hunter.

After a prize and commendations in the annual Maitland Art Award in 2006 Post Grad study was commenced the following year with a large mid year exhibition of work from 2 solid years painting in the University's student gallery. Unexpected changes, once again, occured at the close of that year due to complications of a medical nature. Uni was left behind and Sophie made the shift to Brisbane and family ties.

Sophie's art practice has continued to evolve and deepen over the past 2 decades through embracing significant changes and challenges with courage and enthusiasm, curiosity and perseverence.

Energy may flag at times and life can interfere with plans but for Sophie there is something perrenially life-giving about continuing to produce artworks and explore ideas. That the unexpected can and does happen is a lesson well learnt...but perhaps the greater lesson is in finding the poetic, the transcendant in all that comes along. And that is worth striving for Sophie believes...always!

Friday, February 4, 2011

2011 unfolds...

About Me