Sticky post
Art

Ray Monde: finalist in the Blacktown Art Prize 2020

When I was 12, my older brothers moved from the Burrell Creek in rural NSW to the Western Suburbs of Sydney to live and work, eventually settling in South Wentworthville. As a country kid, I thought Parramatta Westfield was the Sydney’s CBD. I thought Sydney was Parramatta. So Parramatta and Blacktown for me were glimpses into a wider world. A world that wasn’t focused on … Continue reading Ray Monde: finalist in the Blacktown Art Prize 2020

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Art

Who is Jinny Wright? You need to know.

A woman walks into a commercial gallery that she passes on her lunch break. There’s an artwork by an new artist called Rothko that she really likes. The price tag, $1360, is beyond her reach but she really wants it. So she talks to the gallery owner about paying it off in instalments. But there’s another hurdle. The artist wants to approve whoever buys his … Continue reading Who is Jinny Wright? You need to know.

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Pop up book of forest fires and burning fires
Art

Your tongue is a sock: three of my favorite things at Bainbridge Island Art Museum.

After 6 months in COVID-19-induced mothballs, our local Bainbridge Island art museum opened its doors again. It was like walking in the front door of a good friend you haven’t seen for an age. The exhibition Fiber 2020 which has been in suspended animation for half-a-year is finally open to the public and what a crazy, wild diverse exhibition it is. Margaret Chodos-Irvine stitches together … Continue reading Your tongue is a sock: three of my favorite things at Bainbridge Island Art Museum.

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Humpty on a wall, From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
Art

Nothing will ever be the same again.

“All the king’s horses and all the king’s menCouldn’t put Humpty together again.” It’s been a year of upheaval. Flux and change. Things will never be the same again. Just like humpty dumpty, we can’t put the pieces of this year together in a way that resemble a normal year. And there is no going back to what was. We read the news about change … Continue reading Nothing will ever be the same again.

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Paper and wood sculpture of mountains
Art

Ray Monde: a finalist in the 2020 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.

There are some art prizes that you dream of being finalist in and for me and the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is one of them. Working with cherry and walnut wood, card and overpainted paper, this work is called The Impossible Journey Home. Essentially it’s our home in Braidwood, Australia and my brother-in-law’s and his wife’s house in Seattle, USA, separated by impassable mountains. I … Continue reading Ray Monde: a finalist in the 2020 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Art

How Chicago stole my art heart: Ramiro Gomez, Paul Heyer, Eva Hesse and André Derain.

Maybe what I am feeling is a COVID-induced high. After six months of being denied access to galleries and museums, they are finally open to us again. It’s like walking into a room where all your favourite people are waiting to embrace you. You know those nights where the evenings just flow? A gentle common choreography, where conversations roll you around the room, like eddies … Continue reading How Chicago stole my art heart: Ramiro Gomez, Paul Heyer, Eva Hesse and André Derain.

Ray MondeLeave a comment
sketch in charcoal of glacial lake by Ray Monde
Art

Painting with soot and glacial water 水墨

Thousands of years after the glaciers melt, we ride up the waters of Lake Chelan. The Stehekin River flows in at the top of the lake at Stehekin, still fed by mountain glaciers. We’re learning to fly fish. Beneath the water of the river are thousands of Kokanee Salmon, getting ready to spawn and die. They’re a brilliant orange. I’ve never seen so many fish … Continue reading Painting with soot and glacial water 水墨

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Pink embroidery on blue fabric with the name DAISY
Art

Stitching a tribute to Nanna: join the NELL ANNE Quilt Project

There’s an incredible project that’s been on my radar for some time. And because of COVID-19, we can all now take part. The artist NELL was scheduled for a residency at McCahon House in New Zealand. But the pandemic got in the way. So NELL put the word out for everyone to get involved and decorate a piece of fabric with the name of a … Continue reading Stitching a tribute to Nanna: join the NELL ANNE Quilt Project

Ray MondeLeave a comment
Art

Finalist in the 2020 National Works on Paper Prize

I’m totally stoked to say that I’m one of 76 artists who have been shortlisted from over 1,100 entries for the 2020 National Works on Paper (NWOP) prize. The prize is one of the most prestigious acquisitive prizes and exhibitions of its type in Australia. It supports and promotes contemporary Australian artists working on or with paper with up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards (including … Continue reading Finalist in the 2020 National Works on Paper Prize

Ray MondeLeave a comment