Repose, 2012

Recently exhibited in the 2012 Fishers Ghost Contemporary Art Award at Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Kath Fries, Repose, 2012, bronze and sandstone

Repose - a bronze magnolia branch reclines against a piece of sandstone; simultaneously fragile, rigid and languid. Frozen in time these bronze magnolia buds will never grow, bloom or complete their full cycle. Traditional materials of bronze and stone sit together in an anamorphic wistful pose as nostalgic mementos, echoing our fallible human endeavors to render permanent that which is impermanent. I often reference organic forms in my work, to suggest poetic commentaries on our human struggles to accept what is natural and uncontrollable in our lives.

Kath Fries, Repose, 2012, (detail view) bronze and sandstone

Gunyah artist-in-residence program

Gunyah artist-in-residence program (North Arm Cove, Port Stephens NSW) provides short term, low cost, self-contained accommodation and studio space for artists. Gunyah AIR is open to applications from visual artists, writers, composers, performance artists, curators, new media and arts administrators; and is suitable for solo, collaborative and group projects. Artists are welcome to bring their families. Gunyah AIR is an artist-run-initative, coordinated by Kath Fries. 

Applications for the 2013 Gunyah artist-in-residence program are now open and close on 30 November. The 2013 program will feature a one or two week residency each month from March to October, with eight artists-in-residence in total. 

More information and instructions on how to apply can be found at www.gunyah.blogspot.com.au

Gunyah, North Arm Cove, Port Stephens NSW

4A Annual Members Exhibition 2012


4A members exhibition invitation 2012

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
181-187 Hay Street, Haymarket, Sydney
22 November - 1 December 2012

Kath Fries, Scorch, 2012, bronze, twine and charcoal

I'm exhibiting four pieces from my Scorch series in the 4A Members Exhibition. 
These bronze cast magnolia twigs have sections bound with twine and suspend lumps of charcoal, like pendulum weights marking the wall in a swinging motion. More about Scorch series 2012.

Kath Fries, Scorch, 2012, bronze, twine and charcoal

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Bundanon artists in residence, spring 2012
www.bundanon.com.au/category/residencies/current-residencies
Kath Fries, Bundanon early morning landscape, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon early morning landscape, 2012
Thank you Bundanon Trust artist-in-residence program for the gift of time and space. 

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Thistledown work in progress, Bundanon, 2012

A threaded strand of thistledown... such a fragile light natural material. Ephemeral - floating away even whilst anchored down, held in place for only just a little while.

Kath Fries, Thistledown work in progress, Bundanon, 2012

Thank you to the Bundanon Trust artist-in-residence program for gift of time and space to develop these new works.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Roo i - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo i - Bundanon work in progress, 2012

I collected tuffs of kangaroo fur from where it had been wrapped around and cushioning the barbed fences, small traces of the roos daily dusk migration across the paddocks. Why did the kangaroo cross the road? The fur was then spun, felted and wrapped around discarded pieces of fencing wire, twisted into forms based on the kangaroos motions climbing through the fences.


Kath Fries, Roo series - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo ii - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo ii - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo iii - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo i - Bundanon work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Roo i - Bundanon work in progress, 2012

Thank you to the Bundanon Trust artist-in-residence program for gift of time and space to develop these new works.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio work in progress, 2012

On one of my walks around the Bundanon property I spotted this broken tree branch and took it back to my studio. I've been fascinated by its twisting shapes and dark textured bark patched with moss and lichen, but during most of my residency this branch sat alone in a corner of my studio. It seemed so complete on its own, it took me a long time to find a way that I could use it in an installation without undermining its original integrity.  

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio work in progress, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio work in progress, 2012

Then on my second last day, as I was untangling a clump of moss, I noticed that the tiny stems and leaves of moss echoed the shape of the branch, creating a micro-marco link and tangental narrative.

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio work in progress, 2012

This branch, mounted on a wall towing a wistful trail of moss fragments, seemed reminiscent of cooler climate traditions of deer antlers displayed as interior decoration. The first non-indigenous people to live in this area were the McKenzie family who were originally from Scotland - they nostalgically named the property Bundanon. They lived here from 1838 to 1968, like all colonial settlers they cleared, fenced and farmed this land, permanently changing its appearance and altering the natural environment. In 1866 they built a grand sandstone homestead now preserved in pristine condition, just a few meters down the hill from my studio. 

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio work in progress, 2012

Thank you Bundanon Trust for hosting me as one of your artists-in-residence.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

During my four weeks at Bundanon, I often heard scuffling noises in the studio roof... I assumed it was a possum. Although I was intrigued by the sounds of my unseen upstairs neighbour, I wasn't able to investigate it further. But then on my last day, I spotted this cheeky goanna in the gutter of my studio roof. Perhaps it was him I was listening to all along.

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Thank you Bundanon Trust for hosting me as one of your artists-in-residence, it was a wonderful experience.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

A work in progress with found materials: thistledown and creeper installation in my Bundanon studio, with afternoon sunlight and shadows.

Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
I'm currently one of several artists-in-residence at Bundanon TrustThis artist-in-residence diary traces my process as I get to know the site and begin making work in response to my experience of being here.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012

early morning observations
riverbank discovery
temporal soft damp sandy surface

tracks by the river
from thirsty nighttime visitors
soon to be erased by tidal currents

kangaroo 
nose to the ground
front paws imprinted first - like tiny hands
rear legs thump forward 
landing heavily
forming deeper impressions either side 
tail gently drags behind


Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012

I'm currently one of several artists-in-residence at Bundanon TrustThis artist-in-residence diary traces my process as I get to know the site and begin making work in response to my experience of being here.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012

dandelion seed-parachutes
micro collection
static electricity 
defying gravity 
hindering motion
clinging to a plastic roof
dusk at my studio window
silhouetted Bundanon landscape
magical moment
unfurling narrative possibilities 
minute fragile forms

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
I'm currently one of several artists-in-residence at Bundanon TrustThis artist-in-residence diary traces my process as I get to know the site and begin making work in response to my experience of being here.

Bundanon artist-in-residence diary

Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012

One of the materials I've collected on site at Bundanon are leaves and branches from the Bunya Pines, growing a few hundred metres down the road from my studio, at the Trust's historic homestead. Bunya Pines have tough spiky leaves that coil around their stems, somewhat like a DNA spiral. 

Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012

This type of natural helix relates to the mathematical golden ratio which has been used for centuries to analyse proportions and patterns in nature and in man-made systems.

Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012

While examining these spirals of Bunya leaves in my studio, I dismantled some by pulling the leaves off the the twigs. The spiky points and individual curves and characters of each leaf, prompted me to look at them in a different manner. This process of separating the singular from the mass, then going back to reconsider my accumulation of materials in a different light, is a frequent method in my art practice. 

Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012
Kath Fries, Work in progress Bundanon studio, 2012

When considering a site to create an installation in, I often work with obscure traces inadvertently left behind by other people. Here, I've been drawn to the numerous pin holes in the walls, left by previous artists who have worked in this studio. I pushed the  needle sharp points of the Bunya leaves into the tiny pin holes; finding that the leaves are strong enough to hook into the wall and remain in place, sticking out at perpendicular angles and curving away. My resulting wall installation suggests a gust of dry wind, like the recent ones around here that have been stirring up dust and tossing around tree branches. 

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012
Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012

The Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii), is a large evergreen coniferous tree, native to south-east Queensland. Such grandiose trees were planted around homesteads in New South Wales in the mid to late 1800sThe Bundanon historic house built in 1866, has a few of these tall, impressive old specimens growing in its garden. They are magnificent from a distance however up close they become much less inviting. Not only are their spiky leaves unfriendly to touch but the trees produce seed cones over 40cm in diameter, weighing 5-10kg each. When ripe, such a cone has been known to knock unconscious a person standing beneath the tree. Fortunately for me, Bunya cones fall in Autumn not Spring - so I'm fairly safe at this time of year to forage beneath their branches, except for occasionally jabbing my fingers on the spiky leaves. 

Kath Fries, Bundanon studio diary, 2012

I'm currently one of several artists-in-residence at Bundanon TrustThis artist-in-residence diary traces an important aspect of my process as I get to know the site and begin making work in response to my experience of being here.