Gosford Regional Gallery: Stealth installation

Kath Fries, Stealth, 2012, gallery view,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Stealth is my new body of work resulting from the 2012 Gosford artists-in-residence project. Responding to my experiences of the Gosford CBD during the residency, Stealth explores cycles of nature that I observed in the abandoned shopping centres and vacant spaces of the city. I found weeds, insects and erosion stealthily taking over these previously bustling consumer domains. Through found materials, sculpture, installation and drawing my resulting works evoke narratives and histories relating to the fragility of life and transience of existence. The process of readdressing, relocating and reinterpreting such overlooked everyday elements, (taking them from the street to the studio and then into the gallery), invites the audience to look at them with new eyes and explore imaginative connotations.

Dispersal
Kath Fries, Dispersal, 2012, dimensions 370x320x40cm
locally found yellow trumpet bush seeds and charcoal on wall and floor,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Dispersal, 2012, (detail view),
locally found yellow trumpet bush seeds and charcoal on wall and floor,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Dispersal, 2012, (detail view),
locally found yellow trumpet bush seeds and charcoal on wall and floor,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Fee-fi-fo-fum
Kath Fries, Fee-fi-fo-fum, 2012, dimensions 280x160x60cm
locally found weeds and wasp nest, thread, dutch gold leaf and shadows 
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Fee-fi-fo-fum, 2012, (detail view)
locally found weeds and wasp nest, thread, dutch gold leaf and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Fee-fi-fo-fum, 2012, (detail view)
locally found weeds and wasp nest, thread, dutch gold leaf and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Chrysalises
Kath Fries, Chrysalises, 2012, dimensions 320x280x40cm
locally found twigs, with nylon and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition 
Kath Fries, Chrysalises, 2012, (detail view),
locally found twigs, with nylon and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Chrysalises, 2012, (detail view),
locally found twigs, with nylon and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Incubate 
Kath Fries, Incubate, 2012, dimensions 80x270x18cm,
used light bulbs, locally found yellow trumpet bush pods, nylon and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Incubate, 2012, (detail view),
used light bulbs, locally found yellow trumpet bush pods, nylon and shadows  
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Ground beneath our feet i
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet i, 2012,
dimensions 120x420cm, charcoal on paper
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet i, 2012,
(detail view), charcoal on paper,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

Ground beneath our feet ii
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet ii, 2012,
dimensions 350x280cm, graphite on tracing paper,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet ii, 2012,
(detail view), graphite on tracing paper,
Gosford Regional Gallery, SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition

These works are currently being shown in
SHOP 153: artists-in-residence group exhibition
Gosford Regional Gallery 
until 9 September 2012

Kath Fries artist talk 2pm, Saturday 11 August, 2012

Gosford Regional Gallery: 36 Webb Street, East Gosford, NSW 2250 
Open 10am-4pm daily 

To read more about my experiences during the Gosford CBD artists-in-residence project please see

Gosford Regional Gallery - SHOP 153 exhibition


An exhibition by Wendy Abel Campbell, Kath Fries, Kylie Rose McLean and Janet Meaney who shared a vacant shop in the Imperial Shopping Centre from 18 - 29 June. During this residency each artist developed work in response to the Gosford CBD: its people, places, past, present and future. The exhibition includes mixed media installation, printmaking, textiles and performance.

SHOP 153
Gosford Artist Residency 2012
Opening Event : Friday 20 July 6.30pm

Exhibition Dates: 21 July to 16 September 2012
Gosford Regional Gallery, 36 Webb Street, East Gosford
www.gosfordregionalgallery.com

SHOP 153 exhibition invitation - Gosford Regional Gallery
Images: Wendy Abel Campbell, Janet Meaney, Kath Fries 

Artist talk : Kath Fries
Saturday 11 August 2-3pm

Kath Fries will talk about her artworks that were produced during the Gosford CBD Artist Residency 2012. During the residency Kath closely observed the area, then collected everyday materials to create soft sculptures and site-responsive installations. The resulting artworks poetically allude to the transience of existence - particularly human relationships with nature and our aversions to that which is naturally difficult for us to control. Nature is stealthily creeping back into the abandoned consumer domains and derelict areas of Gosford CBD. Weeds and insects are subversively reclaiming space and territory - escaping unnoticed. But, when re-examined and re-interpreted in a different context, narrative insights are revealed that expand beyond our superficial assumptions and usual dismissive attitudes.

2012 Gosford Residency - final shop/studio days

Kath Fries, Gosford CBD studio space, 29 June 2012
Nature is stealthily creeping back in to the abandoned consumer domains and derelict spaces in the Gosford CBD. Quietly, subtly and subversively weeds and insects are reclaiming space and territory. Amongst the apparently uninhabited human structures, life forms continue to grow, incubate and survive. Much that interests me and inspires my practice involves our human relationships with nature and aversion to things that are naturally difficult for us to control. Often these natural occurrences are overlooked; common and everyday, or too discrete to notice. But when re-examined and re-interpreted in a different context, they can offer insights and narratives that expand beyond our superficial assumptions and usual dismissive attitudes.
Kath Fries, Gosford CBD studio space, 29 June 2012
A colony of Saunder’s Case Moths have taken up residence on the outside walls of the deserted Gosford Town Centre building. These fascinating little creatures and their intricate chrysalises have promoted me to explore incubation and germination in this series of site-responsive sculptures and installations. 
Kath Fries, Sander's Case Moth Chrysalis - found object, 2012
Kath Fries, Chrysalises, 2012, branches and stockings, dimensions variable
Kath Fries, Chrysalis, 2012, (detail view), branches and stockings
On the ground, weeds have similarly been quick to take over and occupy seemingly insignificant, neglected patches of dirt. Their prolific seeds spread almost invisibly on the wind and rain, as well as on clothes and shoes - unbeknownst to their oblivious human traffickers. Although weeds and insects have relatively short lifespans, their existence leaves a trace and contribution to nature’s continuous cycles of adjustment and regeneration.
Kath Fries, Gosford CBD studio space, 29 June 2012
Humans also leave traces of their movements and a sense of history in the patterns and remnants of their ordinary everyday activities. The textures of the old shop floor (which became our ten day studio space) fascinated me with their unspoken stories of footfalls, construction and revamping. I used charcoal and graphite to create rubbings (frottage) of concrete swirling patterns revealed beneath peeling layers of paint.
The 2012 Gosford CBD Artists-in-residency studio space
I would like to thank the three talented, friendly and generous artists Wendy Abel Campbell, Kylie Rose McLean and Janet Meaney, with whom I shared the artists-in-residence project and shop/studio space. Working in a "goldfish bowl" under florescent lights was not only made endurable but also enjoyable because of your company. Thanks also to Sarah Samild and Tim Braham from the Gosford Regional Gallery - your flexibility and enthusiasm for our projects was refreshing and encouraging. Additionally to the Imperial Shopping Centre for the studio space and people of the Gosford local community who visited us and contributed to our projects.

 Alicia McCumstie, It's a shop full of creativity in Gosford,
Express Advocate, 24 June, pg 50

The Gosford Artists Residency is organised by Gosford Regional Gallery and the Imperial Arcade. Artists: Wendy Abel Campbell, Kath Fries, Kylie Rose McLean and Janet Meaney. Our resulting work will be exhibited at Gosford Regional Gallery from 21 July to 16 September  2012 www.gosfordregionalgallery.com

2012 Gosford residency - ground beneath our feet

Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
graphite on tracing paper frottage  
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
photograph of the studio floor
The textures of the old shop floor - our temporary studio space - fascinated me with their unspoken stories of footfalls, construction and revamping. I used charcoal and graphite to create rubbings (a "frottage" drawing technique) of concrete swirling patterns revealed beneath peeling layers of paint - ground down over time. Traces of movement and a sense of history can be found in the patterns and remnants of our ordinary everyday activities. These semi-transparent paper panels form a record, like an archeological dig into the recent past, finding subtle beauty in details that are usually overlooked or dismissed.
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
graphite on tracing paper frottage, installed on the studio glass wall
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
graphite on tracing paper frottage and studio floor
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
graphite on tracing paper frottage and studio floor
Kath Fries, Ground beneath our feet, 2012,
photograph of the studio floor
The Gosford Artists Residency is organised by Gosford Regional Gallery and the Imperial Arcade. Artists: Wendy Abel Campbell, Kath Fries, Kylie Rose McLean and Janet Meaney. Our resulting work will be exhibited at Gosford Regional Gallery from 21 July to 16 September  2012 www.gosfordregionalgallery.com

2012 Gosford Residency - filaments

Working in the middle of a shopping centre has thrown up a number of challenges, particularly the absence of natural light and instead operating under a flood of flattening florescent lights that completely obliterate all shadow. Noticing and photographing changing details and shadows is always an important part of my process. So I quietly sort out a more dimly lit corner in the back corner of our studio/empty-shop to record the delicate filaments and shadows of this particular work-in-progress.
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow.
Throughout my practice focusing on everyday and found materials often leads to a prolonged engagement with their substance and limitations. Developing my artworks is about pushing materials as far as they can go, testing elasticity and flexibility, as well as how the they can be pulled apart and interconnected. 
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow
I continuously photograph my work-in-progress, especially as my materials are often fragile or ephemeral and don't withstand contorted positions for a prolonged time - adding to the  important of capturing the moment. Cropped detail views are often more interesting than the overall whole, and sometimes shadows are more intriguing than the object itself.
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow
To stop, look and notice a shadow is to acknowledge a unique moment in time, like the shadow on a sundial - a way of pausing to be present in the moment.
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow
"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." 
(Junichiro Tanizaki, 1933)
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow
In ancient Egypt it was believed that a person could not exist without a shadow, nor a shadow without a person, therefore, Egyptians surmised that a shadow contained something of the person it represents. For this reason statues and artworks were sometimes referred to as shadows.
Kath Fries, filaments, 2012, stick, laddered stocking and shadow
“Everything that is, casts a shadow” 
(Neil Gaiman, 2001)

The Gosford Artists Residency is organised by Gosford Regional Gallery and the Imperial Arcade. Artists: Wendy Abel Campbell, Kath Fries, Kylie Rose McLean and Janet Meaney. Visitors are welcome 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday 18-29 June and our resulting work will be exhibited at Gosford Regional Gallery from 21 July to 16 September. www.gosfordregionalgallery.com
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