What is the hidden phrase in Wordhouse?  Is it a secret?

The hidden phrase is ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ but it is a secret….

Sally, do you have any questions or comments I can respond to?

Hannah: How did you make Housewarming

General comment from the public: Was the wool unravelled for Housewarmingthe Onkaparinga Woollen Mills in South Australai before it shut down. This wool came off the ends of blankets after the end tassels were twisted. They were all short lengths of different colours. I used our broken clothes drying rack made into the shape of a house as a frame. I think the car stands look like the supports needed under some houses.

Grace:        How did you manage with that many people in your family?

Grace, that is an excellent question….I don’t know! But they also were very helpful to me…some did sound recording, some did computer work, some painted or carried art for me. Everyone cleaned the house for me. Family is hard work but if they are considerate, it can work out so everyone does what they have to do….and still have fun.

Dakota:        How did you make fencing?

I laid out the fence palings [taken from my old yard fence] in an uneven pattern and drew shapes connecting the panels. Then several women from a conference I was leading painted them in the colours they chose. If you line them up a certain way, they will reform the complete pattern. The pattern can from my imagination.

Sasha:        How did you make Soundchecking?

Sasha, I think you are asking about SOUNDPACKING. These are things that I sent to myself from Canada when I got rid of things in my parent’s house. My Dad had made the wooden cassette holders in his workshop. I made it by ‘playing’ with the shapes until it looked like a skyscraper. Then I drew a pattern of how it should look and the gallery staff in Wangaratta put it together from the drawing I sent along. They did a good job.

Amy:        Do you like sewing?
Pearl:        I hope you have a lovely time here!

Hi Amy,

I do like sewing when I have the time and quiet to think. I don’t like to mend things…like all the pants needing patches on the knees when my boys were little! This green and red cotton was leftover from mending my children’s school uniforms. I used it in my art to try to make good use of it now that I don’t need these colours anymore.

and general questions/comments from the visit:

Do the extra items on the chairs in Eight Unseated correspond with particular members of the family or does it reflect the overall experience of being in a large family?
I will forward your blog address to the teachers and they will review the answers in class.  What a lovely touch to have this interaction!

Dear Sally,

The green things on the cahirs represent the partylike atmosphere of living in close quarters with so many people, as you suggest, but I did find most of these things in their wardrobes!

Comments from the students:

Grace:         How long would it take to make the painting All For One?

ALL FOR ONE was painted by 30 years ten (10) students at Bayside Secondary College in Williamstown, Victoria. I visited them with the canvases already designed and drawn and they carefully painted the shapes the colours set out to be used but chose where to place the particular colours. I had worked with these students and their teacher before so I knew they would do an excellent job.

Hi again Flossie,

We had 14  Grade 1/2’s come through, and for many it was their first visit to the gallery.  They were very interested in the artworks, in particular Haustafeln and Table Eight.  One little boy said of Haustafeln “it looks like raindrops”.  “Jolly Roger” was suggested as a name for your small pet (Guinea Pig?) in Table Eight.  When we were talking about Housewarming, one little girl used the description “snuggly” which I thought was gorgeous.

cheers, Sally

Thanks for these, Sally. School groups are great! Pass them the blog sheets (are they available for visitors?) and tell them I will reply to their question directly as well as on the blog if they wish to give me their email address which won’t be used for any other purpose. If they take notes, give them my blog address…as below.

General comments from the public:

The figures in Table Eight would look lovely pinned up around the space.

“Flossie, I agree that the routine of the eating ritual around a table is becoming a rare event in homes. Is there a reason your scarf people are folded at the table on their seat? Should we be unfolding them to view their full extent? ”

We’ve got our first school group coming this morning so will let you know how they enjoy it.  Will look forward to meeting you in May,

cheers, Sally

Exhibitions Officer
Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery

Hi Sally, I just thought…There are pictures of most of the SCARF PEOPLE in the book ‘Art and Soul’ which is the official catalogue. You can point these out to visitors or open one up for interested folks.

Part of the reason the scarves are folded up is to add to ‘the mystery’ of the person, as found in real life. We all have hidden parts to ourselves. The folding also echoes Wendy’s holding of Peter Pan’s shadow when it got caught in her room, set away for posterity.

Related website: www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au

Hi Flossie,

Here are some entries for your blog from the first week …

“Once again Flossie you touch us deeply. Nerida
cheers, Sally

Sally Huguenin
Exhibitions Officer
Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery

Thanks, Sally,

This comment is from Nerida…there can only be one Nerida who knows my work! How is it that she was in Wangaratta? How wonderful! Nerida’s husband is a minister like mine. I have admired her for years and she has taken a supportive role considering my art. Nerida knows the work I am involved in and the Church too. I am thrilled to have her as a fan!
Related website: www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au

On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 9:28 AM, wrote:

One question came from the Vic State Gov Minister for the Arts the
honourable Peter Batchelor when he visited on Friday. He wanted to know the
significance of the names on the chairs…
Cheers
Di

Dianne Mangan
Director
Wangaratta  Exhibitions Gallery

Thanks, Di. Good question! The chairs are named to represent my six children, my husband and myself who all are in the freefall called ‘ family’. This random launching is the same for everyone whether in their birth family or extended family…only the names change but the challenges stay the same…hoping we all land on our feet! This applies to parents, children and those who support others.

Many thanks,

Flossie