in.cube8r gallery

tell us about your background

I’ve survived working in office admin, the graphic design industry and being a mother of young children (thus far, at least!) but have always had a creative side. Over the years various crafty pursuits – anything from traditional knitting and sewing to lead lighting and cold glass – have kept the creative juices flowing but a long term interest in large, metal sculpture has begun as wire combined assemblage sculpture. Photography has always been there in the background and took a more serious turn once I purchased a macro lens — I love details.

tell us about what you create

I mostly make metal, assemblage sculpture owls from everyday items but have been known to also make elephants, butterflies and other creatures. My pieces are intended as decor items for interior or exterior decoration and, although they are also striking as individual pieces, work most effectively in groupings of 3 or 5. The benefit of an exterior position is the continuing evolution of the metal due to the elements: some parts will rust and become speckled or completely orange or rust coloured and others will retain their shine.

what made you start making your pieces?

My children’s school was preparing an art show and made requests for donations to auction off. I decided that if i didn’t make use of the opportunity to make something and see how my pieces would be received by the public that I probably would never ‘have a go’. I had started to collect various bits from op shops and garage sales and in fiddling with them put together my first owl using a stainless steel tooth brush holder lid, washers and springs.

what is your inspiration/influences?

The idea of found object sculpture had been floating around in my head for a while due to various fabulous artists here in Australia and around the globe (particularly Jean Tinguely — Swiss sculptor – and American, Brian Marshall).

what materials do you use?

All sorts of household items: saucepan lids, metal trays, vintage cupcake forms, tea strainers, colanders, washers, buttons, springs, curtain hooks. What items I use is only limited by my imagination.

tell us about your creative process?

Each of my assemblage pieces is born out of utter chaos. Once I choose an object to use as the body of my piece I select component parts from a plethora of pieces which I have spread around me, disregarding those that don’t ‘fit’ with the base. A wealth of eye and beak choices mean that even with the same or a similar body, no two sculptures end up the same.

why did you choose in.cube8r?

With my weekends being mainly devoted to family time, having a space where my pieces are able to be seen 6 days a week is vital to my business and in.cube8r Fitzroy is in such a great hub in which my quirky sculptures fit perfectly.

anything else you would like to add?

I love doing what I do. I am privileged to be able to be a full-time mum and creating is something that helps me to hold on to my identity whilst doing that. Someone once told me that the process of creating, be it playing/composing music, or crafting something, helps to get you in the same state of mind as meditation. It certainly works that way for me.

where else can we find you?

• The first sunday of each month I can be found at the vibrant Rose Street Artists’ Market in Fitzroy: http://www.rosestmarket.com.au/
• The third sunday of each month finds me in the hallowed halls of the Abbotsford Convent, indoors at the Makers’ Market: http://www.makersmarket.org.au/
• Photographs of my work can be seen in my facebook page albums: https://www.facebook.com/focusonart and on webshots http://good-times.webshots.com/album/575948722jeguic?start=540
• Stockists: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=274311239281656