the shadows

Every year photography magazine Capture Mag seeks submissions from photographers which then becomes The Annual.  I submitted some work and as I got them together I realised there's a lack of faces and how dark all my work is!  Which also makes me think how it's the opposite of wedding photography...

 

These images are from the following series - #currentmood, thisplace., This Wild Song and onefourfour.

Good luck to all the photographers that have entered, can't wait to see what gets selected for the mag!

pushed.

I've always loved returning to where I grew up in the bush outside of Bendigo, the kids get to throw sticks and rocks and run wild without me having to make sure they don't run on the road or tell them off.  Plus I usually get to shoot some photos just for me, just for fun.  But unfortunately the last 3 trips haven't been fruitful...

The pic above is of my youngest patting me to sleep in my creek bed.  The creek was completely dry and I found the perfect grooves to nestle in and it was absolute bliss, I totally could've had a nap, literally two minutes later - cue crying, someone's got something in their eye and we have to go.  We try again later then the other one gets something in his eye and screams the place down so we have to go.

Another day I do manage to get a photo done with them which was the media pic for a friend's theater production.  I spot a couple of great locations and return the next day to shoot some stuff while the boys play.

We get out there and I'm dancing around forever and just can't get the right composition, it's not happening.  The boys are throwing sticks into the creek and one of them accidentally throws my remote in as well.  No pictures are going to be made today.

Another day we return to the dry creek bed yet again and I'm trying to make something out of a great location in the blazing midday sun, I wanted to get out there in the morning for the nice light but it takes some serious tantrums before my youngest agrees to get in the car...  I do actually shoot some stuff and all I manage to get out of it is this;

Which I don't mind, it's got some grunt which is the kind of work I want to make more of.  More grunt and grit, less pretty.

On the same day we return yet again to the forest where there's been controlled fires and the trees are regrowing and it's so beautiful, the black with the silver blue hues.  LOVE.  I dance around for a bit, pick my spot, take out my tripod aaaaaand - someone needs the toilet so we have to go.

 Which brings us to today.  It's my last bush trip before my op so I probably won't be back for a few months.  And of course I have a million ideas I want to get out, especially as I won't be able to use my arms for a while, so the pressure is on.  My youngest was up from the wee hours so we're all tired, it's a crazy wintery day but the sun breaks in the afternoon so out to the bush we go!  The boys finally go into their own world and are happily playing a game they've made up, I've found a perch on a beautiful big rock jutting out of the land in the sunshine.  Today I was starting small, my aim was to make two text based photos from some messages popping up in meditation.  This was as far as I got as one of the kids managed to slip into the only puddle of water in the creek bed and get completely drenched on a 10c day!  So we had to go.

My plan for this year was to do less paid more and more of my work as my ideas list is getting out of control, I just want to bunker down and MAKE.  And somehow life is still insanely busy like last year, I'm forever rushing and I need it to STOP.  There's so much to do before my surgery in 2 weeks - getting my paid work up to date, making sure onefourfour still runs while I'm out of action, cooking and baking my head off so I have a stash of vegan food ready for when I get home from hospital, making sure the kids are sorted, and OH LORDY does the house need a serious declutter and clean.  Did I mention it's school holidays?  Oh yea, and my arts practice.  That need some attention too.

Anyhoo what is the point of this ramble?  Is the universe putting up barriers to teach me something?  To remind me how much I need my practice?  Or do I just need some child free time?!  I'm not really sure.  I'm tired.  I'll definitely be doing some serious planning while I'm sitting around recovering, I see it as a chance to evaluate how I've been existing and how I want to start living.  Post surgery will see my practice go from the bottom to the top of the ladder that's for sure.

I've also been text-whinging while writing this.  Apparently multitasking is bad so I better stop that too.  Onwards and upwards my friends!! xx

Oh and I bought a new remote today.

thisplace. opening

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the opening of thisplace!  It was a brilliant turn out and I really appreciate everyone's support.  And thank you to Town Hall Gallery who are brilliant to work with and put on awesome openings!  I lugged my camera to the opening but of course didn't take a single photo, luckily THG took some photos on the day.

There's still plenty of time to see the work and contribute to the installation as the show is on until the 22nd.  Plus I'll be in the gallery doing an artist talk on Saturday 14th February from 1pm.  Following the talk there will be an Art Hunt where the audience will be invited to hunt for art treasure in the building it's going to be fun!

thisplace. exhibition opening this Saturday!

Well, the day is almost here!!  I'm so excited to see the show finally come together!  

thisplace. has been an ambitious project for me as I've created so many elements for the show; a photographic series, two performance films, an interactive installation, an Art Hunt, and activities for the children.  The exhibition breaks the barriers of the traditional white cube gallery and embraces the chaos of being a parent.   

I've definitely experienced first hand how difficult it can be to attend exhibitions and experience art with young children so it was imperative to create interactive art in a family friendly space.  And, hopefully, we can open an honest and non-judgmental conversation about what it’s really like to be a mother.  To encourage the conversation to continue after attending the exhibition, the audience is welcome to photograph how they’ve experienced the show and share on social media using the tags #thisplace #townhallgallery #ilonanelson

thisplace.

opens Saturday 10th January 2-4pm

Town Hall Gallery

360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122

www.townhallgallery.com.au

performance piece for thisplace.

We recorded a performance piece for my solo show thisplace. which I'll write more about soon, but in the meantime here's a write up of the experience by participant and artist Siobhan Kelley http://siobhankelley.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/girls-can-do-anything.html.  Thanks Siobhan!! x

onefourfour interview

One of the many parts of onefourfour that I love is interviewing the artists to learn more about their practice, and this month I had to interview myself!  Kinda awkward.  And really, really hard to answer my own questions!!  If you'd like a squiz it is here.

thisplace. exhibition

 Climbing the mountain © Ilona Nelson

thisplace.

opens Saturday 10th January 2-4pm

exhibition runs 13th January - 22nd February 2015

360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122

www.townhallgallery.com.au

That's not funny © Ilona Nelson

Well, it's been almost three years in the making... but it's nearly time for my solo show thispace.!  It's a new media series featuring photography, film, interactive installations, plus colouring-in and a giant blackboard for the kids.

thisplace. explores the realities and complexities of motherhood, questions what is left unsaid, and aims to start an honest conversation (without judgement!).  I've found it difficult to see exhibitions with my children and this show will definitely be kid friendly!  I want you to feel welcome to come in and hang out (it'd be great if mum groups used the space to catch up), to make noise, interact with the work, contribute to an installation with any thoughts about motherhood and what maternal means to you - you don't have to be a mum.  There'll also be an open studio happening next door so you'll be able to see art being made which I think is very, very cool.

I've got the whole room pictured in my head and it looks so awesome.  I hope I can pull it off.

onefourfour: April

Our onefourfour theme for April was FORM and this is my piece.  I put on as many dresses as possible, was pretty hot under there.  Plus I forgot my remote so lucky Erika was there to press the shutter!  Check out the other eleven awesome works at http://onefourfour.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/april-form.html

I've realised that my three projects (onefourfour, This Wild Song, and my upcoming show thisplace.  about motherhood) seem to be overlapping with themes of camoflague throughout...

conversations on motherhood and dropper drive!

Since becoming a mother, I've discovered there's so much left unsaid about the realities of motherhood such as the loss of identity and the complexities of continuing an art practice after having children.  To explore this subject further I'm developing a new media project entitled 'thisplace.' which will be exhibited in January 2015.  I'm requesting honest feedback from mothers to help me understand what is unspoken about motherhood and why?

To continue my research into I am hosting a morning chat and cuppa at The Art Room for mums and artist mums to come along and contribute to an honest conversation about motherhood.  Everyone's welcome to come along (with or without kids) and contribute to the conversation, and help me brainstorm ideas.

I'm also seeking donations of medicine droppers and syringes to create a costume for one of the portraits based on this research.  I will need hundreds of them so please bring along any spares you have!  To RSVP please join the facebook page.

Thursday 20th March

9:30-11am

The Art Room, studio 7 at the Cotton Mills

91 Moreland Road, Footscray