At Bundanon, near the banks of the Shaolhaven River, I've collected quite a lot of thistledown, but can't always avoid the sharp needle-like thistle thorns. An interesting textural contrast - but when I'm not paying enough attention it can also be a little bit painful!
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| Kath Fries, Thistledown studies, Bundanon studio, 2012 |
Thistledown is so light and fragile, it floats on the breeze, parachuting the thistle seeds to disperse them far and wide. Very successfully - thistles are growing everywhere here. Although they are a noxious weed, every part of the plant can apparently be safely eaten by humans - once the thorns are removed and the plant is prepared properly, and thistle seeds are traditionally used to treat liver aliments.
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| Kath Fries, Thistledown studies, Bundanon studio, 2012 |
The strong afternoon sunlight in my studio clarifies the shadows of the thistledown, so much so that the shadows became easier to see than the thistledown itself.
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| Kath Fries, Thistledown studies, Bundanon studio, 2012 |
"... He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!..."
(Twas the night before Christmas,
written by Clement Clarke Moore, 1779 - 1863)
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| Kath Fries, Thistledown studies, Bundanon studio, 2012 |
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| Kath Fries, Thistledown studies, Bundanon studio, 2012 |
I'm currently one of several artists-in-residence at Bundanon Trust. My artist-in-residence blog 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.
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