Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

As promised, to celebrate and thank you for over 500 likes on the Empress Wu Designs Facebook Page  , here is a giveaway of some of my art - three giveaways, in fact. I have chosen three sets of art gift tags as prizes because they are easily posted worldwide... These tags make great small gifts themselves or as an accompaniment to a gift, or you can even use them as bookmarks. All you need to do  to win a set is leave a comment here or on the Facebook page (or both) and next week on Monday, 6 October, 5pm Australian Eastern Summer Time, I will randomly choose three winners. The first person will have first choice (one of three sets of tags) ; the second person will have a choice of the remaining two sets, and I am afraid the third person will have whatever set has not been chosen before. Here they are:  Art Tags Set A - Marie Antoinette series  (mixed media tags) Marie Antoinette series - 1 Beehive tag( line drawing on tea bag paper, digital image with embellishment),

"Leaves of Distinction" - a textile and media art exhibition  opened  at Timeless Textiles Gallery, 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle on 18 September. The exhibition was officially opened by Yvette Griggs to a happy crowd who enjoyed a nice cuppa while looking at the art works inspired by and created with teas and tea bags. The exhibition remains open until 12 October or take a virtual tour, by clicking on the "Exhibitions"at tag  on the header panel of this blog or click on this  link  http://empresswu.blogspot.com.au/p/exhibitions_18.htm l

Tomorrow is the opening of "Leaves of Distinction" an exhibition of textile and mixed media art at Timeless Textile Gallery. Yesterday (Tuesday) was setting up/hanging day. As this is a new and unfamiliar gallery space, it took a little longer then usual, but by about 3pm, it was all looking good. Five hours later , I was  at the GP Access after hours service. What had appeared to be an innocuous insect bite on my foot  a few days ago was turning into something a little more sinister. The doctor took one look, declared a staph infection and armed me with anti biotics. This morning, my foot is at least half the size it was last night so I think that's a good omen that the diagnosis was correct.   Today, Henk Tobbe and his wife and assistant, Anjes took photos. I am so grateful to Henk who is a great photographer whom I met through Rotary. Henk took so much care and was so enthusiastic about the work and about taking photos - and he has very expensive equipment! I

Three days before opening and only one day before hanging... so now we are packing.  At this very moment, the grumpy old men are awaiting the rolls of bubble wrap.  The last couple of days have been checking lists, proofreading the catalogue descriptions and gallery labels, checking and readjusting prices and other associated administrative tasks, so this is really now the "pointy" end. I could have used  some extra time to do some finishing touches, but I took Sunday off to attend a celebration of  a sesquicentenary of public education in Wingham. ( a two hour drive from our place).  It was great to catch up with former colleagues and students and their families, some of whom I hadn't seen for 20 years -  the perfect de-stressing activity. It is really great to have my family so supportive and helpful. Jim has been cooking and cleaning solo for at least the last month, and helping with backing the canvases and of course, packing everything up.  During the week,

          YOU ARE INVITED TO:   exhibition inspired by tea   A simple cup of tea was the inspiration for an exhibition by fibre artist Wilma Simmons that will open at the new Newcastle East premises of Timeless Textiles Gallery in September. After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and crosses all cultures. Well-loved local artist Wilma, who is presenting her second exhibition at Timeless Textiles Gallery, loves everything about tea and drinks it every day. She was inspired to create the pieces for her exhibition, entitled  Leaves of Distinction , by the experience of drinking tea, as well as by literature about the comforting beverage. “I love the smell, taste and experience of tea – all types of tea,” she explains. “In most of the world, drinking and offering tea signifies trust and friendship. Drinking a cup of tea means warmth, peace and comfort to me and obviously to many others who write lyrically about their tea experiences

The weather is beautiful today - warm and  sunny, so it is a perfect day for finishing off some canvases and putting the backs on others near a window, with the morning sun streaming in. Most of these are photos printed on organza and transferred to stretched canvases, with  tea bags, stitching or writing  in layers. Only three more to do in one of the series... And of course, I am having a cup of tea to keep up my strength!

 Yesterday, I went to the new location of Timeless Textiles Gallery to have a look at the exhibition space.The New Timeless Textiles will be located in the eastern side of the The Lock-Up Cultural Centre  I think I can fill the two exhibition rooms. I loved the fireplace mantles - perfect for a couple of my pieces. The area is still being renovated, but I can see that it will be beautiful. Gallery Owner, Anne Kempton has been working extremely hard to get the new venue ready as well as continuing to keep Timeless Textiles current exhibition still open in Islington. Here is a bit more about the exhibition venue...  Located in the heart of Newcastle's heritage precinct, The Lock-Up combines an art gallery, Artist in Residence program and museum to create a unique destination with a range of cultural activity not offered anywhere else in the Hunter Valley. The Lock-Up was Newcastle's Police Station from 1861 until its closure in 1982. In that time the cells