a trapdoor has opened

What a journey, what an amazingly busy couple of months and what a race for the finish.

A big sigh of relief can be heard from me because Gracia and my exhibition, A trapdoor in every room, is all set up, catalogue and all.

The last two weeks before the show were spent frantically trying to complete the work we both had our hearts set on making. So many late nights were spent gluing, folding, painting, cutting, drawing and planning.

Last Sunday night we packed up all our prints, watercolours, artists’ books and collages, and made a final count of the work. The final tally stands at:
107 collages by Gracia, 66 of my watercolours and 52 thaumatropes, 7 collaborative watercolours/collages, a collaborative four colour lithographic offset print, a set of printed cards by me and four artists’ books by Gracia.

And if I may brag for just a second I’d like to say just how beautiful Gracia’s two books are. Entitled If all the stars go out, I’ll follow my nose home and All the discarded things, mended, I’ll be able to show you them in detail just as soon as our website is updated. Until then, I hope these installation photos give you an idea of how things look upstairs at Imp.

So thank-you dear blog buddies for putting up with my blogging slackness over the past month or so. I should be back to normal now. There is one little snag though, our house is experiencing temperamental electrical problems and as a result only one light and appliance can be on at any one time. I’m typing up this posting by the light of a scented candle, with a rug wrapped around me for warmth. As soon as I can have the computer on without fear of a blackout, I will be back to normal. Back to visiting all my favourite blogs and seeing what you are all up to.

Comments

[gracia]

It's done! It's all up... why, it's even level too! oh, the relief.

[risa]

wow! blogging to candelight. what a funny juxtaposition of modern and old. the exhibit looks wonderful. oh, how i wish i could be there. i'm still searching for the trapdoor in our apartment that leads directly to australia. :)

[julie]

Louise, i am speechless - such a beautiful display - it looks simply AMAZING altogether!!!
I think i LOVE your collaborative pieces the most!!!!

Enjoy the exhibition and i love all the photos youve both taken by the way!! xxx

[Briana]

What a fabulous installation - it's wonderful how the two of you play off each other's creativity... that sort of electricity, it's rare.

Speaking of electricity, the image of you blogging by candlelight had me in stitches. Fun for you, funny for me.

xo,

Briana

[alyssa]

Wow! Everything looks incredible. You two are amazing. I love the space and the wall with the thaumatropes looks so beautiful. Here is to your show and opening, you two are an inspiration!

[Tiffany]

Congrats! Congrats! What a wonderful exhibition! I wish I could see it in person.

I hope it's a HUGE success (rather, I know it will be a huge success!)

Good luck with the electrical problems,
Tiff*

[cruststation]

That's a lot of work! Congrats to you and gracia for a great looking installation, I so wish I could be there to see everything in person. Loving your thaumatropes in the last picture louise, they look so serene.

[*Terramia*]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Whimsy, fun, and oh so lovely!!
You are sooo talented, my dear. Fab work!

[shari]

i am SO excited by these photos! wow. such hard work and such beautiful results. the thaumatropes look so cool displayed in a circle. love the photos of you two and your collaborative pieces are a-ma-zing! i just wish i worked at imp and could be surrounded by this beauty for awhile. lots of love and congrats! xoxo

[lisa s]

gasping... i wish i had a trapdoor that took me there!
XO

[sue ramirez]

Such beautiful work you two. I can not wait to see the show in person. Wonderful!!

[Brydie]

I feel so guilty as all these poor other comments seem to regret the fact they can't come to see "trapdoor"... i am so excited, and am coming to see it on my next day off!
Well done Louise and Gracia. You should be proud, and probably quite relieved.

[Maditi]

the exhibit set-up looks amazing - just love that last polaroid in particular!!

[comfies]

glad there is such a thing as an internet so i get to enjoy all this beautiful work!!

[bugheart]

if only
you and g
made
that porthole
so we
could all
come...
it looks
so amazing!

[amisha]

louise, it is looking *wonderful*! i love all the thumpatropes displayed together... your + gracia's incredible collaborative work... dizzy from the total numbers of pieces in the show, what an intense amount of work! congratulations on having it all finished and looking so so good. xo

[comfies]

p.s. do you feel ok about being tagged i hope??? because i've tagged you on my blog...

[Marieke]

All too gorgeous... I wish the lottery outcome would allow me to buy a ticket to Australia straight away! Look out for G's book x

[louise]

Dearest Gracia, Risa, Julie, Briana, Alyssa, Tiff, Crust station, Terramia, Shari, Lisa, Sue, Brydie, Maditi, Comfies, Bugheart, Amisha and Marieke,

Thank-you all, for your kind words and support and all round ace friendship. I wish that the trapdoor really did work and that you could all come along to the show, but I know you were all there in spirit. Except Brydie of course who lives a little closer and made a trip along.

Thanks again
xoxo lj

[mav]

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. your work makes my heart sing. can i purchase a piece? xo

[louise]

Thanks Mav,
An email is flying your direction. Plenty of digital photos and a list of works for navigation.

Thanks again,
lj

[mina]

Your work makes me so happy. It is beautiful and I wish I could se it in person.

;-)

[jenny]

louise! i've been scrolling happy...this last picture of the works on the wall especially has me captivated...:D