Barcaldine

I came up with the working title “Full Circle” a while ago and it’s no suprise that covid and border closures have postponed plans. It began with the concept of my journey as a graffiti artist to exhibiting fine art in a gallery. I soon realised the notion of full circle adapts to many meanings and experiences both within ourselves and external elements amongst nature. I began responding full circle literally, the sphere that sustains us and the beauty provided amongst natural environment. For me this is something that puts life into perspective and is a reminder that we’re only here because of a string of events, circumstances in time and space.

Spending so much of my time travelling around painting in towns all over I have been lucky enough to see some epic landscapes and stay at memorable locations. I realised I had quite a few photos that were calling to be painted. Photos are a great way to capture an image however a painting is produced taking in the feeling that made the memory. Using these original photos as reference I produced a new body of work.

I had a venue in mind in Barcaldine, an old pub called The Globe that council had renovated. The buiding has many original heritage features and some cool modern touches, with a great exhibition space and facilities for functions. It was a short time later it clicked that of course Full Circle was destined to take place at the Globe! After working on 14 canvasses towards the show and booking the venue I called in to take another look keen to see if I was on track to fill the main gallery. I was not surprised to see there is exactly 14 perfectly spaced spots to hang work. More recently a circular viewing tower has been added to the building.

Searching beyond a curved horizon we decipher moments in time. exchanging energies. Connected by a sphere orbiting between day and night in an expanding universe. Just the seasons change our experiences often rotate Full Circle. See the gallery or purchase artwork direct from Sauce.

Tweed Valley

On my last adventure I had the pleasure of delivering canvasses to new homes. I haven’t had a lot of time in my Tweed Valley studio this year but have managed to complete some new work between projects interstate.

One of the commissions was on behalf of the community of Aramac who sought a leaving gift for a much loved family. It was challenging to apply to four stepped canvasses but it turned out great capturing everything in the brief and I hope it sparks great memories for the owners.

I also caught up with some friends in the area for some barn shenanigans and live music on pretty much my only day off between woking on new projects…Beers & beats in the barn to sooth the soul for a Sunday session.

Mundubbera

I had a quick visit to complete a small section of a group mural and deliver a painting for Mundubbera Regional Art Galleries 10 year celebrations. Since having an exhibition The Dark Ages last year I am excited to be a part of the group exhibition opening on January 26th.

Three Sixty Five

Three Sixty Five explores the highs and lows of an aerosol artist over a one year period. During the Wet Season of 2012/13 Sauce and Ainslie Rose spent too many days cooped up inside and spent long mornings talking over coffee about ‘what would be really cool’. It was from these heartfelt conversations the pair decided they needed to be the change and not the problem, and thus, The Sauce Studio was created. The Sauce Studio was meant to be the catalyst Murwillumbah and the Northern Rivers needed in regards to aerosol and contemporary art.

 

Still Lifeless, oil on canvas, 122cm x 91.5cm. Sauce, 2014.

Since opening last March, Sauce and Ainslie Rose have used the workshop and showcase to meet new friends and create new artworks, but it hasn’t been all beer and skittles for the creative couple. A large part of the challenge has been navigating through the bureaucracy associated with public art and murals. Sauce has worked with over eighty schools and has over a decade of professional experience, but he is still dictated to by public servants who know little if anything about public art. The bureaucracy isn’t usually site specific, that is, most large scale organizations and councils have the same level of paperwork and inane demands, however recent experiences with councils have taken the bureaucracy and flagrant stupidity to a new level.

#exhibitionthreesixtyfive, aerosol on found object. Sauce 2014.

This paper-trail full of maintenance schedules, risk management plans, design briefs, and selection criteria may be a part of everyday life for the myriad of Cultural Development Officers, but it doesn’t denote high quality art, nor extrapolate cultural innovation; except when this is used as inspiration for an exhibition. It is these experiences of tribulation and encumbrance which has fueled this creative output. This exhibition serves as a metaphor for the challenges faced by a professional aerosol artist. The Sauce Studio arose out of dissatisfaction for the hegemonic demands of traditional gallery expectations and tokenistic public art projects and this celebration one year of operations in Murwillumbah exemplifies the positivity and success.  

Retrospective Self-portrait, acrylic on canvas, 76cm x 30cm. Sauce 2014.

From the Wreck, acrylic on canvas, 183cm x 91.5cm. Sauce, 2014.

Overcast Enlightenment, oil on canvas, 70cm x 50cm. Sauce 2014.

Friend or Foe?

Acrylic on printed canvas, 105cm X 82cm framed.

Update on 2012-11-28 06:57 by sauce

I managed to completed this piece in time to enter the Border Art Prize. I am excited as it has been selected and I will be amongst the finalists at the opening this Friday evening 6:30pm, Tweed River Art Gallery.

Emerging Technologies

Emerging Technologies is a an artwork which uses acrylic on printed canvas created by Sauce to express the artist’s inner most thoughts and insights towards technologies, modernity and art. The graffiti styled lettering created by paintbrush could be viewed as an artwork alone. The photography of the old farm utility could also be a stand alone art work, however combining the two art forms is the embodiment of the themes which are expressed in this piece. The sharp, crisp and colourful edges of the lettering, bursting out of the old and now defunct water tank depicts how newer technologies are overlapping and outsmarting the outdated and ostracized cumbersome equipment. The futuristic technology is slightly smeared with mould which is indicative of  the age of both the lettering and the water tank. It suggests, this piece may have been slowly emerging over time, waiting for the right moment to strike out against civilization.  

The terms used to title this artwork are words which are now ubiquitous due to Think Tanks and Focus Groups. These have now become a part of our lexicon to express the newness and modern focus of our insatiable appetite for the latest toy. What Emerging Technologies  explains and depicts to the viewer is how these terms can be elevated beyond rhetoric and  explored in real and tangible terms. Specifically, the use of a pre-mediated photo and the planned lettering formations is an example of how graffiti can not only lift off the page due to an artistic effect, but also by contextulizing it within the two dimensional photographic form. Emerging Technologies aims to raise more questions than it answers by creating an artwork which expresses images which may be alien but yet have a certain relevance by depicting images of the known and familiar.

Update on 2012-09-02 21:18 by sauce

I am very excited to be selected for the Caldera Artfest with my entry Emerging Technoligies.

Final Glow

The correlation between graffiti art and the natural environment may be difficult to grasp immediately as graffiti art is typically linked with the inner-urban city environment, however this creation could be seen as a parallel universe where the ultimate mystery bursts from the earth in one final glow. This landscape concept is easily recognised however the abstract element asks us to look further, to question reality and see what may or may not coexist.  

Acrylic on canvas 76cm X 30.5cm 

Update on 2011-09-27 01:51 by sauce

I am pleased two works (Final Glow and Cabarita) will be a part of the Caldera Artfest at Murwillumbah Civic Centre and Final Glow will be exhibited at Caldera Artfest at O’Reilly’s. Looking forward to seeing you there!

A glimpse

A glimpse of polished futuristic forms emerges to inquire about the old and present the new. The three dimensional piece brings vibrancy to the dull brickwork and interacts with the viewer. Original printed photo and acrylic on canvas 57 X 42cm.

Rock and Roland

Mt Roland captures some of Tasmania’s inspiring natural beauty. During my stay in Sheffield the mountain spoke to me, it compelled to create an artwork feeding from the energy of rock formations existing amongst the rolling hills. I envisage this scenery evolving over time continually moulded by the forces of nature in action. Maybe new rocks will emerge from this dynamic sculptural expanse. 

Acrylic on canvas 80 X 40cm.

The Manor

A commission for the owner of  the Toowoomba residence. Acrylic on canvas 122 X 60.5cm.