Litmus

Henry Jock Walker

03.06.2015 - 26.06.2015
Opening 03.06.15 6-8pm
Artist Talks 25.06.15 6-7pm

There are three collaborations that began while I was in Sydney in October 2013, based around surfing as a connection and catalyst for creative action.

One was with a surfboard maker, Grant Carverley, he makes a living creating very colourful experimental boards in a little shed behind a big recording studio in Cronulla. One with Gregory Hodge, Greg and I have a common interest in surfing and making paintings. The final one is Team Surfing Painting is making small acrylic paintings on canvas while surfing on a wave with someone.

Carverley Collab- I met grant out in the water at Cronulla. I was making a painting. He asked if the canvas was a new water proof ipad. I stopped for a quick squiz in Grants board making shed and stayed for half a week. What excited me most about Grants operation was his creative use of leftover resin, he had some raw wild evolving structures covered in all sorts of colourful resins. Grant is a character and so are many of the shed regulars, he is born a bred in the area and has been shaping boards there for over twenty five years.

Henry and Hodge- We planned to meet and surf when I was travelling around Aus but ended up making about fifty paintings instead. Greg and I plan to spend a week in his studio south of Sydney making paintings, surfing and developing a new outcome for First Draft.

Team Surfing Painting- In the six week period I plan to make as many surfing paintings and team surfing paintings as possible at as many beaches as possible. I also propose to hold some surfing painting lessons at a low cost (to cover board and wetsuit hire) while the exhibition is running!

Litmus- is a reference Grant mentioned in conversation about our work, Litmus- a surfing Odyssey - is a surf film that highlighted some exciting figures on the periphery of the surf industry bubble, exposing and laying foundation to some exciting experimental pathways.

This project was made possible as a collaboration by the generous support of Gregory Hodge and Grant Carverley.