Good Evening

During the sunset

When the sky is its most anguished.

I found some shards of broken glass and, with my camera, zoomed in on the reflected colours and silhouettes of the bush around me.

The images themselves are intriguing...

Yen Magazine Love Story (Short Version)

http://www.yenmag.net/artaward/entry.php?n=138

I love Yen. 
Ever since my -now ex-boyfriend started reading it, I have had a lot of respect for their enduring unique attitude to culture. 

He might be gay or dead or somethin' else now, but the mag is still there for me.
Now they are loving me back by placing me as a finalist in their comp - So if you can make it into Sydney, Gaffa Gallery on the 12th June -  we can party :)

Well Done Matey

There are exciting things bubbling away, I know because every now and then I can hear it.

I heard word today that a great friend of mine, GREAT in the awesome sense, and great in fondness, has been deemed a finalist in the iconic 'Sculpture By The Sea', an Arts and cultural event in Sydney next summer. A Competition at best, a high traffic exhibition space at worst, this fantastic opportunity is not just exciting, it is justice.
This friend of mine works harder than anyone I have known, and to hear that it is beginning to be recognized is thrilling. Hard work can go unnoticed in the art world. Year of skill can be disregarded if without concept, and years of thought development shrinks in the face of an unweilded media. Its an interesting threshold, because the opposite is true as well, depending upon the era and location.

It is not impossible to remants of a time when skill was art, and art was skill. Perhaps it is portrait Artists who continue the trade?
Oh what do i know, this is only the beginning of a thought, Im sure there is someone who has spent hours considering the 'balance of thought/skill' in what constitutes art.

All I know for sure is I am proud of this one, I will keep his name a secret yet, because he himself deserves to share the good news first... I can wait, from writing it at least.

the sad truth in a joke

My dad said something today, while I tackled him with a hug of sporadic joy, that is still nagging. 
I was hugging him because I had reason to celebrate, but he was in the middle of sorting out the dishwasher. So I demanded attention and celebrated with him by squeezing him - mildly annoying and inconvenient,  I'm sure.

And he laughed,  then he sighed. it was a considerable hold-up and after a while he said "I just have to wait until the chemicals in your brain relax before you will let go and I can finish this up". ...and it is so true.

There I am thinking I am reacting to good news,  but really, clinically, I am experiencing a rush of enzymes or whatever that make me feel good. and they last as long as the hug would. ... direct correlation.  He didn't mean to shut me down, but the realization that everything I think is a chemical formula in some way - shut me up into contemplating mode.

What an idea! its not the first time I have thought about it,  but so often I associate it with depression or lethargy. ... happiness is a drug is a weird thought. .

Obviously I have never tried a drug to reallt know, but what I do know is that my internal chemistry is a roller coaster itself. ... so I  don't really need it.

When people joke,  there is always some element of truth.

Thats a worry,

I'm not going to pretend to be politically oriented. But the events in the past few months, even I can see, will have a detrimental effect on art in Australia. Not the quality of it, or the passion from the artisan side of things, but the market which can indulge in it's purchase and support will shrink all the more. From a general position, art is a luxury, a decadence for the conscientious with vision and understanding. I'm concerned that it will become much harder before it gets any better for artists with talent and potential to get their voices heard. Maybe that's a good thing, a phase of metamorphosis. Maybe not, another obstacle in the lost road. 


Its a worry, and if I'm worried, I am sure many other people are too.


But what can we do with this worry!?    transform it into an opportunity ?
Anything is possible...

the only human skeleton

back to the table, happenings...

'Back to the Table' is a problem. 

Its an excellent idea for a ceramics-focused emerging artist exhibition. 
So maybe I should rephrase that, Its my problem. My ceramics dont respect the table the way tableware does...

So my tactic is to re-present the table.

The table space, a place of spatial arrangements, of meaning and traditions.... so naturally I got the whole lot - made cups and plates, and made my own arrangements ! 

The exquisite skills necessary to make tableware are developed over years of practice and study. I am happy to say, mine are not anywhere in that league of skill.... mine are far more superficial in intention and function. 

Here are some action photos, of what is developing; I found some kitchen benches and tabletops..... and have prepped them for hanging ;)

there are some things I just cant say

Its true.
Sometimes I need to keep my big mouth shut.
But not about art. lets put it out there.... whatever it is. Ive started a forum on rachaelmccallum.com/the-future-forum

Which is set up to be a free place where you can say what YOU like, and even go back on your word haha, there is so mich to know about art there are bound to be mistakes,  the best thing about art is that your not meant to know anything to read the language presented. ... its jist sometimes deeper and more fun if you have it in your noggin'.

So feel free to vent or winge or complement or praise whatever your heart desires, about the situation of being an emerging artist is very interesting,  but the human condition itself is complex and intriguing....

i cannot press you enough - to let your instincts rule