Media Whore

It's official, Virginia will put it out anywhere anyhow. Check Ginny out on the ABC website (click on ABC) to see Sharon Kennedy's savvy snaps of Ginny's minions at work in the studio at Mullalyup. Also included is a meandering drone by Naomie about her inspiration for Spin Cycle. Listen carefully for in amongst the ambient sound is the occasional squirt of the ironing spray - lovely!

Also recent Cunning Stunt by Virginia (our resident Granny Guerrilla) delivered a purple sparkly bra to the Maidens of Bunbury (Rusty Sheridan's creations) in support of Breast Cancer awareness. Featured briefly on GWN news, the Maidens were treated to a modesty-makeover concealing her bare nipples with the mere suggestion of a sparkler in honour of purple bra day on Friday June 18, 2010.

As you can see - hard at work we measure up the Maidens for their modesty-enhancement makeover. A final floral embellishment was just the touch.

Slit Slot Slat

This slit is unzipped. Does this make it a slot? Virginia brings out the best and worst in us all by highlighting the hidden... A dirty old worn teatowel has been used and abused yet retains something of it's pastel pink purity making it seem vulnerable and slight, in need of protection and nurturing. Or should she be able to be dirty and pure at the same time? Is it a physicality that determines this? Tony Abbott says we must bring back the chastity belt for our fillettes. Are our boys not worthy of such attention to their developing sexuality?

this slit is zippered. You may not be able to read but the text adorned by floral buttons says 'cuisine'. Something keeps reappearing lately, a theme that suggests the humble teatowel may be occasionally gendered. Orifices of various types have been appearing in old and new teatowels alike suggesting that the orifice may have something to do with the domestic zones...the souvenir trade...or cultural positioning....could this be possible?

Tea Towel Makeover - 10 years Younger in 10 Days!!!!

Yes, it actually seems as though Ginny might be getting somewhere ('something's really happening Reg!' - Monty Python's Life of Brian) as the production cycle moves into full creative swing. Juices are flowing as the teatowels fly thick and fast, ever more brave and adventurous paving a new life, a new incarnation for the teatowel as you once though you knew her to be. She might wipe, clean, polish and rub - but she is also precious, occasionally broken, thin or layered by her experience - bearing her history on her sleeve (if she had a sleeve, Naomie thinks it would be a lacy red one).

D

DO NOT IRON

Printing is almost done (sighs of relief heaved all round, as you see, Virginia discovered the print process is far too anal and tight for our messy creativity, hence creative/painterly prints...). Virginia is now finding her true creative forte moving to the fore: collage, applique, patchwork, layering, assemblage, stitching, ripping and adorning anything that bears the remotest resemblance to a teatowel from a previous incarnation.

Layering begins in earnest as we each scrounge our studio hoardes for embellishments called for by a certain aura emmitted by each teatowel.  We have all found a strong preference for teatowels with a past life, especially stained and loved beyond recognition. The smell is most treasured by Jean who has cunning ideas about conjuring old Sunday roast smells from the kitchen to infuse the works.

Fresh talks emerge with each gathering about video possibilities. If you know a Virginia you may well be victim of her latest cunning stunt to secure your teatowel saga (or third drawer down philosophy as it may well be) on film for the exhibition. 15 minutes of fame awaits you...or your teatowels.

Helen has been working like a madwoman in the attic scratching at the yellowed wallpaper to finish her quota before she is seconded to a remote North West community school as artist in residence over May. And we, envious Ginny's, shivver away in the chilly south in time with the linglingling of our sewing machines attaching teatowels.

LingLingLingLingLin Ling ling ling...ling

Studio Shots from Hel

Thought you might like that title Hele, given our recent conversation about why your name shouldn't be shortened and in light of your recent blog troubles.

Here are the images from Hel: Some of our teatowels on our studio line-up, lovingly adorned with all manner of artistic embellishment or intervention...

Those luscious lips belong to Clifton Bieundurry, a souvenir teatowel from a NOMAD (click on link to see) exhibition dinner in New York. The photograph was taken of Cliffy by photographer Russell James. In the Nomad exhibition Cliffy imparts a layer of traditional Bieundurry-style Kimberley dot painting over Rusty's photographs on a massive scale. On the teatowel, Virginia - so inspired by Mr Bieundurry - has domesticated Cliffy's dots (interpreted here as buttons) forming the word 'c l e a n s e' in historical reference to ugly past policies brushed under the carpet. Not to forget the role of the teatowel - wet, dry, wet, dry =  cleanliness is next to Godliness!

FROM THE V.C. ARCHIVES: Here you can see a sample of  Leonardo DaVinci's Vitruvian Man Virginia Da Cunningham's Vitruvian Bratz doll sacred tea towel manuscript. Naturally she is in absolute perfect proportion - no feet to run away, massive head to hold such intellectual ponderings as what one might wear to the mall tomorrow (what else is there to ponder in life????) AND not to mention the zones of special importance neatly squared away for future slut-virginity fetishizers. NOTE: she is neatly encapsulated (one might say 'packaged') in the egg, ready to hatch fully formed and is celebrated in accompanying mirror-left script to the chorus of our staunch radical feminist lady Gaga 'I wanna take a ride on your disco stick'.

Germaine Greer would be proud of this Female Eunuch. Virginia thinks it is quite a spectacularly cunning stunt disguised as 'empowerment' especially since this limited edition archival tea towel manuscript is used in the rare and sacred ritual of dish-wiping.

It didn't!!!

Where oh where is the photo uploading symbol? Is there anyone out there who can tell me. I have photos waiting to go and no where to send them!

UP LOADING PICTURES

Why does everything to do with computer technology have to be so difficult with a 60 year old brain!! I can't see the photo symbol on my toolbar! Perhaps if I post then it will appear???????????????????????????

TEAT OWLING

I heard a really lousy joke the other day and I think I will treat you all to it.
here goes:

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON OWL IN AUSTRALIA?

THE TEAT (OWL)

he he he he he......................told you it was lousy!


My teat owls are coming along quite quickly now. I have finished 33 of my (100) share of Virginia's 300. It is quite challenging doing 100 small art works in such a short time and also a challenge working on the other virginia's designs. With my own I know where I am coming from (then again, not always) but with the others my brain has to travel to distant places not known before. Always tricky!!