who knows where the time goes

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time

For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes

Sandy Denny

when that foghorn blows, you know I will be coming home

In Memoriam, Sid Fleischman 1920-2010

Sid in Santa Monica Mall, Feb 2009

Sid Fleischman,

A gentleman at first; a well loved children's writer and a fast defender of humour; a professional magician with amazing tricks, a legend of a host who invited us to the one and only Magic Castle, and who still has cards glued to his ceiling … A Hollywood screen writer who worked with the brightest of stars; a boy at heart who fought in the Navy during WWII; the kindest person there ever was…

And a friend to me and my husband, I'm honoured to say. Rest in peace and keep up the mischief Sid! You are dearly missed.

I'll post more pictures & memories as soon as I get them up and into the computer.

xxx

Sid's official website

burned brooch

Blue and amber brooch (2010) 100 mm x 20 mm x 35 mm
found object, plastic, oil paint, silk, 925

For our first jewellery project at RMIT this semester, I've been playing with plastics, melting and combining them with bits and pieces of other materials, mainly found objects. I used to really resent plastic as a substance, for several reasons, mainly prejudice I guess, but have come to think that the recyclability, affordability, range of colours, and the "organic" accidents which can occur while moulding the pieces are quite interesting. The toxicity however still worries me, and it might be for a while yet before I run tests in the home oven again : /

I found the amber coloured translucent component in a burned house, late last year, and made the clear piece by subjecting laboratory grade acrylic to high heat (yes, our oven on 210+C!!), with silk and blue paint encapsulated. The pin is sterling silver, and as the images reveal, got lots to learn in this department still. But what I really love, and can never get tired of, is the surprise, beauty and inspiration that randomly picked up, seemingly worthless (abandoned, discarded, even partly destroyed) objects can provide, both as themselves, and together with unexpected others.

+ Click on the images for better detail +

blue wood

Silver linings. Found on the way home today, after a random decision to hop off the tram one stop early, to walk a bit. Normally I never look into the flower beds of the Coles front car park (do you?), but today I did. I love the worn paint and the chipped shapes. It's like these pieces somehow mysteriously shipwrecked all this way inland … landing under the scrawny bushes between Paul's Chinese Kitchen and Liquorland.

the little prisoners

"Ruudun takaa …"

a life-like drawing

beach combing for beginners

Here's further harvest from the archival photo sessions of late.

A personal favourite among all the "seriousness" of so called contemporary art, these children's utensils were my response to our Fork-project at RMIT last year. Simply, three variations on a shape to depict whimsical sea creatures, with soft-ended spikes for safe digging into the sand.

The inspiration for the project came from experimenting with laser cutting (which enables sharp, accurate lines and the production of multiples in a shorter time), and industrial design – the idea was to create a fun series which could be mass-produced.

Beach combing for beginners (2009)
laser cut 4 mm perspex, adhesive. The forks were sketched by hand, then cleaned up and turned into vector images (continuous outlines for cutting) in Adobe Illustrator.

storm

Brunswick West, March 6, 2010

hit the floor and crawl to daddy

white work

Amulets for Osiris (2009) 18 carat gold, electronic shrink wrap,
door bell buzzer parts, brass conductors, gold plated brass

Another archival photography moment, now when there's still ample sunshine outdoors. I made these earrings / objects as a part of our gold project (RMIT, Sarah Ross) mid last year, playfully interpreting ancient Egyptian jewellery in contemporary materials as my theme. Osiris lived in the darkness of the underworld – these were imagined amulets for bringing light in. The circular form which repeats through each piece is the oldest known symbol for the Sun.

Click on the images for more detail.

waiting

January 2010

summer, untitled

December 2009

Click on the images for detail

todo sobre mi madre – safe armour neck piece

todo sobre mi madre, 2008, safety pins, industrial catch * Inari Kiuru 2008

I've recently began to photograph my jewellery work, mostly for archival purposes. This is a neck piece inspired by the 1999 Pedro Almodovar film All About My Mother, made for the annual RMIT jewellery auction a couple of years ago. I like the graphic way safety pins weave together and form a strong yet light texture. One day I'll make a protective coat out of them. Armour for the city.

Thank you again Kiah Grace McIntyre for the long and patient loan of the piece.

Hello 2010, snow and ice

Hi again : )

While we're sweating in the humid heat of ripe Australian summer, in wintery Helsinki icicles are being removed from high gutters so that no-one will get pierced (into eternal summer?) by a falling sharp spike!

This year Finland, especially the south, has had a winter with exceptionally plentiful snow cover. My photographer sister, Kukka-Maria, sent these photos a few days ago.

"Look out for snow and ice falling from the roof (while boogeying in mid-air)."

Happy Holidays

Season's Greetings to friends and strangers,

from under the huge, blue skies of Western Australia.
Here the light is blindingly bright and the warm nights made of velvet ... and wine!
: )
Back online early January.

xx IK

I was amazed when I turned my head to look

I know how corny or worn this may sound, but …
Sometimes I can hardly breathe, realising how much beauty there is.
*
I was just walking away from the kitchen to do something else for a while, but turned back to for some reason, and saw the sink. I hadn't even realised while doing the dishes what was in front of me. This is the exact setting, I didn't touch or move anything – just almost started to cry and then got the camera : )

Perhaps this is life's way to compensate for the bad stuff that happens, to give us unlimited, stunning, amazing, breathtaking beauty, everywhere, if we choose to notice it.









- Click on the images for a more detailed (higher resolution) view -

heavinesst

Heavinesst / pencil, ink, digital / sketch c.2001

On a wing and a prayer

I love how the texture on the praying mantis' back is so similar to the pattern of human skin.
Or is it the other way round?
If you click on the image, you can see this in much better detail.

One reason why Finnish people drink

Part of the current introspection of identity and creative work: background.

Des Chansons Pop!

This is gold.
Please note the sublime choreography, and the mysterious sinking man in the beginning.
Enjoy!! : )

More older work: The Book of Changing Things, 2005

This year, and especially lately, I've felt an urge to gather, inspect and mull over the things created in the past. This includes graphic design projects from a good long decade, as well as a few illustration commissions and paintings realised before beginning jewellery studies at RMIT in 2008.

My plan is to collate all this work into a holistic website-archive ... one day ... but I think mostly, it's interesting to reflect on two-dimensional work in retrospect, in order to make mental space and to gain enough courage to finally begin talking about jewellery and silversmithing pieces here.

Venturing into a completely new area of making, after a career in all things flat (as in paper and digital screen), now playing with fire, metal and powertools, is at times daunting and very challenging. But mostly it is exhilarating, totally wonderful and totally addictive. This is it! So, I think of this, looking at past work now, almost as a ritual of moving into a new phase in life and creative thought, welcoming what ever may be around the corner. Mustering belief.

These images are from The Book of Changing Things, a story for children and young adults in Alice in Wonderland-ish way, by Odo Hirsch (aka David Kausmann), Allen & Unwin 2005. The pictures (pen, pencil and ink) are influenced by my memories of books from my own childhood, especially by the tradition of Eastern European story telling.

Click on the images, as per usual, to have a larger and more detailed view.