PORTUGAL Residency, PORTALS, PRIZES & A 2027 RETROSPECTIVE
If you are new here WELCOME!
I write monthly to share some of the behind the scenes in my practice and to keep you posted with what is new and where my energy is being directed. I live fully and so it is also a way for me to document my own experiences. I write to remember.
Portugal Residency
Being an artist is by nature a largely solitary pursuit and so I appreciate the opportunities to travel whenever I can. My recent sculptural residency in Portugal was an example of this. Via the web of creative connections I was invited to a Palace and resort by the name of Calipo in Vila Viçosa, Alentejo to create a stone portal sculpture. I arrived in sunny Portugal cold to my bones from the Victorian winter, but left feeling gratefully warm, reinvigorated and inspired, and with a whole new medium and skill set somewhat mastered.
When I first arrived at Calipo I spent the morning with the residency curator Sarah. Together we sourced marble from a nearby quarry. The process had me feeling quite emotional at times, as to me the stone feels very much alive. I then created two new sculptures using my portals to explore the RETURN TO LOVE concept. One is a small maquette that features my Dream Gazebo, this is now available for purchase in the Onira Collective catalogue, then there is a larger site-specific piece which will stay permanently on the Calipo grounds, catalogue requests welcome here.
I have travelled overseas to install sculptures a number of times now, most recently at the Chateau des Deaux Amants in Normandy. Rather than simply ship art from Australia. I am discovering that this way of working makes sense on a number of levels. My next sculpture is for La Briche in France in October, from material local to this location. If the idea of me creating for you in this way sings to you, please reach out to discuss.
Sacred stones and the kindness of strangers
I move through life very intuitively and did not quite understood when I accepted the invitation to the residency the significance of Portugal’s sacred stone sites and being able to see them turned out to be an unexpected bonus. I was so enthusiastic at the first site that my beautiful driver said; “you LOVE the stones, I will take you to see them all”, he kept his word and drove around the countryside to all the other sites in the area. Upon our parting I had a full heart and felt I had a new friend, his warm face, wrinkled with laughter and kindness needed no words to tell me that he felt the same. This experience was just another reminder that humans so often love and care for other humans for no reason at all, other than to just bring another human joy and that the world is full of wonderful people. When I travel I am again and again touched by the generosity of strangers and do my best to return the favour in my own country.
Chapel of Bones
I also had the opportunity to visit the incredible Capela dos Ossos in Évora, the literal Chapel of Bones. I will put some photographs below. It was created from numerous real human bones, statistics say from around 5000 people exhumed from monastic graveyards. It was both eerie and incredibly meditative and the unique trace smell of human dust I am sure to never forget. The Chapel was created to remind those in attendance of our brevity here on earth and the value of the life of the soul, the eternal. I am a person who over time and via the experience of many losses has become pretty comfortable to sit with uncomfortable things, but this I admit was somewhat overwhelming. The expanse of bones and the stark reality of the long departed they represented sent me straight to my own internal logbook of grief and the acknowledgment of my own mortality, the fleeting nature of life. The Chapel of Bones no doubt having this somber affect on visitors since its completion in the 15/16th century.
Pena Palace
I also must mention the colour and sun soaked Pena Palace in Sintra. Looking like something out of my own dream world and set atop a high hilltop with forest and gardens all around. It was so very beautiful and serene, despite the numerous tourists and I spent a magical day here happily alone amongst the crowds, recognising in myself how comfortable I have become solo travelling. A past version of me would been quietly longing to have someone to share the experience with, but instead I was secretly relieved when my phone went flat so my solitude could deepen. I sat writing and drawing until the sun had moved completely above me and my winter skin demanded I move.The architectural and design details and the colours were so good to absorb in person and no doubt there will be elements of my notes and sketches that day, that will subconsciously creep into new work.
SEEN Prize finalist
I was selected as a finalist in the SEEN Prize by the Internationally renowned curator Carrie Scott - it just felt very validating to have my work SEEN, no pun intended! Phew, thank you Carrie and yay for hard work and obsession making my work better and better over time.
UNIT gallery London open call
In the same week I was also named a finalist in UNIT gallery’s inaugural open call exhibition. Two pieces of good news in a short space of time, I put my hat in the ring for so many prizes, grants and opportunities over the years, knowing many come to naught, so both of these accolades within a short time felt good and have led to increased interest in my practise.
Rise Art
I recently shared COSMIC WOMB, a new three point portal painting on the RISE ART platform. This piece has since been featured on Rise Art as a work that is recieving a high number of views and drawing attention from collectors. This is the only portal painting I currently have available for purchase.
Postcards in Stone
There are only a couple of pieces left from my Postcards in Stone series, these are small original paintings and hand-carved Grampians sandstone maquettes. If you would like to collect from this series you can take a look here.
Portugal Travel paintings
Over the next few days I will be posting a small series of watercolour works over on my instagram. Before they go up publicly, I am happy to share the details and give my subscribers the first opportunity to collect. If you would like to see them just reply to this post and I will send them through.
Port Fairy Literary Weekend
I am part of the Port Fairy Literary Weekend event on Sunday the 13th of September where I will be part of an event at Blarney Books & Art from 11am to midday with my recently published book; POETRY BURIED IN GEOMETRY which you can purchase here
Hamilton Hamper
If you live nearby me in the Grampians you definitely need to put the 21st of August in the calendar, as to celebrate this absolutely beautiful local business Bridget and I are collaborating on something very special, with a physical launch on this date! To find out more be sure to jump on their mailing list here - note the images below are a hint!
Mentorship
Have you got a project keeping you awake at night, or would you like some ideas as to how to move forward with your own art career, or advise on how to create the life structures that would better sustain a creative practice? In 2016 I wrote THERE IS A PAINTBRUSH IN MY COFFEE a book about the day to day practicalities of my artistic life. I still find myself having so many conversations on this topic and so I have now begun to offer 1:1 mentorship sessions. They are a way to have some accountability around your practice, get out of your own head and become more intentional about the creative goals you want to achieve
I have spent decades now figuring out ways forward, hampered by many real limitations and potential excuses to give up on my dream of being an artist. The first 20 minute session is free, so that we can get a feel for whether or working with me would be a good fit for you. A minimum of three sessions is then recommended over a 12 month period so as to track your plans and progress. You can make a booking here.
A Retrospective Exhibition
Last but not least, opening in October 2027 with more specific details to come. I am incredibly excited to announce that I have finalised details for a retrospective exhibition which will cover the lifetime of my arts practice, going back to when I was 17. If you are one of those people who have followed along for some time and have supported me in all the ways I have needed it, a huge thank you to you.
I feel like this is enough from me for now. My inbox is always open, commission and collaboration enquiries welcome, if I can assist you to collect a work that will always make my day..
Have a wonderful week ahead !
Jasmine X