This piece was very much influenced by the place where I was born and currently live – Mildura. On the banks of Murray River, Mildura is a food bowl region known for its grapes, oranges and being an oasis on the edge of the desert. The Chaffey family who settled in the area in 1887 and created the Mildura Irrigation Colony

The Murray River near Mildura

I grew up on a vineyard when it was mostly a dried fruit industry. Now it is mostly fresh fruit and wine grapes.

Rio Vista House - The original Chaffey family home

This tactile experience with the land, the Murray river combined with the history of Colonization to the area and my parents’ migration to Mildura were the inspiration behind this piece. The next process was getting one quarter of a cubic metre of dirt to cover the floor and finding an easy way to manage and carry the dirt. Buckets used for picking grapes were the best option. This was my return trip to Mildura Mini Mix to get the dirt for the Melbourne installation and everyone chipped in to help including my two fabulous friends Pam and Philip Shugg who drove the dirt to Melbourne!!

Getting the red loam and river sand for the installation

The dirt waiting to be turned into "art dirt" in Melbourne.

Almost there!! Pam Shugg and I installing the floor carpet of mildura dirt and river sand at Australian Galleries in Melbourne.

This was the blurb for Mildura Palimpsest #8. Two drawings based on segments of native Australian orchids, incorporating animal fur and presented on a repeated pattern of William Morris wallpaper design hang in a small cube like room in the basement of Rio Vista. On the floor is a carpet of Mildura dirt which has the William Morris design inlayed in Murray River Sand. Contained within the small cellar in the basement of Rio Vista (the original Chaffey home), the work draws on Mildura’s history of colonization, the introduction of irrigation and the subsequent migration of Italians to the area.

Installations views at Rio Vista House in Mildura and Australian Galleries, Melbourne

Wallflower - Mirror, rorriM, floor detail for Mildura Palimpsest #8

Wallflower - Mirror, rorriM Installation View at Australian Galleries in Melbourne.

Wallflower - Mirror, rorriM, Pastel on paper, 107h x 215w, 2011

The comprehensive footage of the festival is now live on their website. Follow this link http://www.studiotv.com.au/arts-news/mildura-palimpsest/

Follow the link to watch seven minutes of coverage which includes Ken and Julia Yonetani’s Still Life: The Food Bowl, my piece Wallflower – Mirror, rorriM which were both exhibited at Rio Vista. Great coverage of the Karama Motel Project and a fantasic interview with Helen Vivian, Co-curator of Mildura Palimpsest #8

This month’s Art Monthly includes a review of Mildura Palimpsest #8 – Collaborators and Saboteurs by Merryn Gates. Merryn was in Mildura last September for the event – which was a full weekend of formal talks, artist talks and great exhibitions. Curated by Helen Vivian and Kristian Haggblom, over 50 artists were involved in the weekend event including Ken and Julia Yonetani, Paul Carter, Kate Cotching, Chim Pom, Tuomas Laitinen and Maree Clarke.

Included in her review is paragraph about my installation piece Wallflower – Mirror, rorriM.

Merryn writes …. “also within Rio Vista was a beautifully resolved installation by Filomena Coppola, dealing with the transplantation of a European decorative tradition into the Mallee’s sandy soil. One was prevented from a close viewing of her drawings by an ornate sand work on the floor of the tiny basement room. On the opening night, one could enter the room, but many found that trangression difficult. From the distance fo the doorway, Coppola’s illusionistic rendering of fur remained ambiguous, a meditation on the limitations of vision that I really responded to.”

Wallflower - Mirror, rorriM 2011 Pastel on paper (108h x 216w cm) Mildura Red Loam and Sand, Rio Vista (Basement)

Fish out of Water - March Installation whitecubemildura Gouache on River Pebbles

This piece continues my exploration into my parents’ migration from Italy to Australian in the 1950’s. Three sardines are drawn on river pebbles and as the title suggests they are out of context. Sardines are native to the Mediterranean waters near Sardinia – these are the waters that my parent’s boats would have navigated as they left Italy on their journey to Australia. This works continues  my visual exploration of being caught between the Italian culture of my parents and the Australian culture that I was born into.

Fish out of Water - March Installation whitecubemildura

Fish out of Water - March Installation whitecubemildura (detail)

Fish out of Water - March Installation whitecubemildura (detail)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

whitecubemildura is an Artist Run Initiative in Mildura, Victoria. Three small spaces located in business windows in the CBD will showcase innovative work by artists, makers and other creative people who live locally or have a strong connection to the area. To read more about whitecubemildura visit http://whitecubemildura.blogspot.com.au/

In the window, Wallflower - Animal instinct #2

L-R: Wallflower - Scratch my belly, Wallflower - A naughty tale

L-R: Wallflower - Precious blossom, Wallflower - Tickle me pink, Wallflower - A monumental implication and Wallflower - A tickle and a giggle

L-R: Wallflower - Meow, make me purr, Wallflower - Bub a boo

L-R: Wallflower – meow, make me purr, Wallflower – Speaking tongues, Wallflower – Mirror, rorriM (Installation)

L-R: Wallflower - Mirror, rorriM (Installation), Wallflower - Can't you see me, Wallflower - The last belle, Wallflower - A lick and a slurp #1 and #2, Wallflower - Hold out your hand #1 and #2

I have been busy in the studio during the holiday break working on my exhibition at Australian Galleries – Smith Street Gallery Melbourne which opens on Thursday 2nd February at 6pm. Graeme Drendel will be making the opening speech at 7pm.

Stuart Purves invited his artists to participate in this exhibition with a selection of small works that will be shown in Melbourne and Sydney.

This is my first group exhibition with Australian Galleries and I exhibited three small etchings. These etchings although a little different from my drawings refer directly to the botanical studies that influence my work. These pieces are drawn directly from botanical illustrations even though they are morphing into other forms. The William Morris influences is strongly referenced in the backgrounds.

The print are all two plate etchings and are editioned to 15