Local Historian, Sue Smith has a sneek preview of Mimi’s work

Local Historian Sue Smith, who is a guest speaker at Mimi’s exhibition opening was treated to a sneek preview of Mimi’s 6 metre long drawing of the shore line of Princess Royal Harbour. When Mimi first visited Albany – November09 first half of her IASKA residency, she found inspiration in the historic c1814 drawings of the Albany coast line. Following this creative thread Mimi found herself on the water aboard the George Vancouver Pilot Boat, viewing the shoreline from a different perspective. She returned to Sydney with her impressions, memories and photographs and produced a beautiful hard-bound book that elegantly captures the panoramic views of Princess Royal Harbour.

The much loved Albany Public Library is centrally located in the CBD area of the city and frequently accessed by the general public – a well known meeting place.  Whilst these facts were prime considerations for the Library as the venue of choice, Mimi also felt the Library and the local History Collection (coordinated by Sue and located on the first floor of the library) were both conceptually relevant to the work.

24 June 2010 Mimi catches up with Kate Campbell-Pope & Chrissy King

Mimi was at the Albany Public Library for the pre-installation of the display unit for her exhibition when she caught up with Kate Campbell-Pope, a contact made from the first half of her residency last November.  Kate and Chrissy, both local artists take the opportunity to refresh their friendship with Mimi. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the residency for Mimi, is about meeting the people, engaging with them. Through the medium of art, Mimi has found many ways to relate to a totally different community and form new friendships.

25 June 2010: Relaxing at Liberte’s with the girls on a Friday afternoon.

Mimi took time out on Friday afternoon to meet with the ‘locals’ to chat about art and life. Informal studio visits have been an enjoyable and important aspect of  Mimi’s residency. Keen to interact on a personal level with artists in their own studios. Often Regional artists are isolated in terms  of gaining valuable feedback from their peers in regards to their direction and where they fit in the art-world. It  is to IASKA’s credit by obtaining funding which provides the placement of various artists to engage with the community. Mimi has enthusiastically made herself available to  local artists and the senior high school arts students.  Mimi has already met with  7 artists individually and has a few more planned before the end of next week. Ranging far and wide  Mimi is travelling between Kendenup, Denmark and Albany . Mimi is also facilitating two workshops with North Albany Senior High School and Denmark Senior High School art students. Mt Barker College will be sending their art teacher Debbie Cheeseman along to the Denmark workshop so that she can glean some ideas from Mimi to inspire her students.

25 June 2010: Mimi enjoys working with the North Albany Senior High School students

Helen and Mimi chatting after the workshop

North Albany Senior High School Principal Sharon Doohan and art teacher Helen Parry were delighted to have Mimi interact with their senior art students. The theme of the workshop linked in with Mimi’s current IASKA project – the Albany harbour environment. Helen asked the students to bring photographs of the harbour and architectural images. Mimi then walked them through a process of deconstructing the images, removing elements before reconstructing them using a collage methodolgy. They were then encouraged to extend their imagery by adding a drawn element.  The students extended the architectural lines or made use of the organic shapes of the reconstructed images thinking about the balance of the positive and negative spaces. The students and Mimi were totally engaged for the 2 hour workshop.

Helen, Sharon and Mimi discussing Mimi's engagement with the students

Mimi returns to Albany

Mimi returns to Albany this week to complete her IASKA project. Mimi’s art work, a six metre long drawing of the Albany coast from the harbour, will be on display at the Albany Library from Tuesday June 29 to Saturday  July 10.

Mimi will give a talk on her art practice and the development of her work in Albany at the Vancouver Arts Centre on Saturday 3^rd July 1pm – 2pm.

Mimi Tong: 'View of Albany from Princess Royal Harbour, Western Australia, c. December 2009'