Artist in Residency

I have had the great privilege to be the Artist in Residence at the first Sunshine Coast Marine BioBlitz . I documented on the fly and in the moment as many of the wide range of citizen science projects that were running. The bioblitz is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all living species within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and adjacent waters. Recording animal and plant species above and below the water from inter-tidal zones, rock pools, estuaries, open ocean and reef. The event showcased community-driven conservation, scientific exploration, arts and culture for marine enthusiasts of all ages.

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/environment/get-involved-in-conservation/sunshine-coast-marine-bioblitz

A Sketchbook Practice

4th May – 7th July 2024

It was a lovely opening with many folk coming to The Condensery at Toogoolawah for the opening. Special thanks to Madeline Brewer and Jake for the care they took with my ‘spare brains’ and all the local artists who bravely shared what they had made from our workshops together.

Thanks also to arts writer Louise Martin-Chew for her studio visits and essay for the room brochure.

 

A SKETCHBOOK PRACTICE

DEB MOSTERT & SOMERSET ARTS COMMUNITY

opens May 4th at The Condensery, Toogoolawah

official opening 4-6 pm,

exhibition dates 4th May-7th July 2024

Deb Mostert has used sketchbooks over the decades as a scaffold for her contemporary art practice. A Sketchbook Practice shares pages from over ninety sketchbooks dating back twenty years to prompt: ‘What does it mean to keep a sketchbook?’ and ‘How does your perception of the world change through keeping one?’. In the words of the artist: “Sketchbooks serve as a spare brain, a record of my personality and my growth and they are gleefully imperfect.”

Shown alongside Deb’s sketchbooks are those from artists local to the Somerset region. This collection of community sketchbooks displays both the depth and diversity of local artists, but also the day-to-day character of the region.


THE REGIONAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT FUND IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT AND SOMERSET REGIONAL COUNCIL TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE IN REGIONAL QUEENSLAND. 

RADF logos

Book Launch

I was so delighted to have been asked to collaborate with the Women Writers Qld, and their latest anthology entitled ‘Stuffed’.

A taxidermy sketch from my ‘Animal as Object’ research sketchbooks chosen by author and editor Toni Risson to grace the covers, as the writers all took on the challenge to ‘stuff’ their story between the opening and closing lines of a popular novel (‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens)

It was so much fun with this lively bunch of authors as they joined in the spirit at the Brisbane Square Library launch bringing their own ‘animal objects’ and letting me chat about taxidermy and my arts practice and the crossover between arts, science and writing. A great morning .

Get a copy of ‘Stuffed’ from @tonirissonauthor

Projected sketches!

Over a week in July a selection of my brown paper portraits of ordinary humans were projected onto 143 Brisbane Street in Ipswich as part of the Spark Festival 2023. From Thursday 6 – Sunday 16 July 2023 d’Arcy Doyle Place was transformed into a visual spectacle that profiled local artists, architecture and the nooks and crannies of this popular Ipswich meeting place.

Projectionist James Muller from Earth Base Productions worked with all 10 artists including Jacob Sarra, Chenaya Bancroft-Davis, Donna Davis, Eulalia Martin, Kylie Stevens, Eva D San Miguel, Jason McNamara, Mieke Den Otter, Renee Yates and LeAnne Vincent to have their works projected onto the building.

It was a fun time to get out and see local artists works featured over the nights of the festival. Thanks to Ipswich Festivals and Ipswich City Council and the Spark Festival.

drone footage courtesy of Earth Base Productions and featuring my own work plus Jacob Serra on St Paul’s Church and photographer Jason McNamara

Bronze Trophies

This exciting commission was for the Brisbane Racing Club who wished to have a bronze thoroughbred racehorse head as a trophy for the Queensland Oaks Carnival Race, the richest race in the Brisbane Racing calender. I had no experience with racing or these sorts of horses, so I spent some time at the racetrack drawing and watching the horses in preparation for this sculptural challenge. A lot of the process pics in my sketchbook can be seen here at my virtual sketchbook project. If you click on the flashing white boxes you can see extra hidden audio visuals
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a0bbda9449.html#page/25

Bronze Sculptures – public art

These bronze sculptures were commissioned by TLCC (The Landscape Company) for Brisbane City Council to be part of George Clayton Park at Manly. I made the orginal sculptures from oil based clay and then made molds which I gave to Chalkos Art Foundry to make wax positives and then convert to bronze for me. As the brief was for discovery elements of a very tactile kind, I had a lot of fun making very textured and touchable sea creatures to be mounted on rocks and totems. I look forward to visiting them installed and get some shots insitu.

Exciting new way to engage!

A virtual sketchbook!

People have been very kind, viewing my exhibition of 92 sketchbooks at Ipswich Art Gallery with much interest, and often wondering what is inside the other pages. We could only show one spread from each book of course, although we have videos playing in the gallery space showing me paging through half a dozen of the sketchbooks.

We thought it would be nice to make something more interactive and current. So this is a virtual sketchbook made up of my two sketchbooks that I am using right now. It shows what has been going on in the studio, in my life and in my head!

I wanted to make it honest, and real, so although it is not every page (that would be too long and boring!) we tried to show a good variety of what goes on in my practice. I worked with a videographer Tom Oliver, who followed me around the studio and home, a gig drawing at World Science Festival Brisbane and at the gallery, to offer extra hidden elements to the experience.

If you click on this link it will take you to the sketchbook and wherever you notice a white flashing box (it only flashes for a second!) you can click for more information.

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a0bbda9449.html#page/1

This has been kindly supported by the Ipswich Art Gallery.

Photography/Video by Thomas Oliver www.thomasoliver.photo

Copyright © deb mostert April 2023

Opening of Everyday Sketchbooks

at Ipswich Art Gallery 4th March

a lovely afternoon with over 140 people who came to support and peer into my spare brains. A glimpse into 92 sketchbooks with videos of others, it has been an amazing experiment allowing my sketchbooks to be viewed in this way.

‘Decades of daily observations have been preserved through Ipswich-based artist Deb Mostert​’s sketchbook practice, and she showcases her collection for the first time in Everyday Sketchbooks.

Deb makes works spanning painting, sculpture and public art, and the learning ground for these artworks is her disciplined commitment to an everyday drawing routine. Her sketchbooks are not only where she researches, investigates, and stimulates her artistic practice, but where she records her daily life.

Almost scientific in her approach to documenting and recording, Deb blurs the lines between artist, historian, and scientist in creating her own archive.

By presenting these private sketchbooks usually reserved for an audience of one, Deb graciously invites us to peer behind-the-scenes of her artistic practice and to consider the sketchbook as a way any person, regardless of ability, can reflect upon and document their life. ‘ 

https://ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/events/deb-mostert-everyday-sketchbooks?fbclid=IwAR0Fvd9mVKewtLvNGiCxTdlqYAXzIRBSUH3Qa41cQQ6MukjFxy-qHHLlHKA

I’m offering mentorships!

MORE INFO at @mastrius.official or Mastrius.com.

I believe everyone is creative. And I love to show folk how they can tap into that via an ‘everyday’ sketchbook practice.

We need artists sharing their unique experience, insight, and beauty—and making the world a better place!

But if you’re anything like me, you definitely can’t do that alone. I’m hugely grateful for the generous mentors I’ve had along the way. We all need support to get there! So I’m EXCITED TO SHARE that I’ll be MENTORING a small group of artists with @mastrius.official! They bring motivated artists together from all over the world to be trained and supported in their creative talent.

Guest artist World Science Festival Brisbane

I have been invited by World Science Festival to be engaged in the act of drawing from the collection in WILD SKETCH over 2 nights – 24th and 25th March at the Queensland Museum.

Bolder than ever, this year’s festival is an innovative intersection between art and science, where visitors are challenged to explore the biggest questions facing humankind today across a vibrant program of talks, demonstrations and experiences.

World Science Festival Brisbane is now part of Queensland Museum’s identity and firmly part of Brisbane’s intellectual landscape.

Wild Sketch sits in the Social Science program. You can purchase a ticket for the Social Science program on Friday or Saturday night and have access to the entire Social Science offering!

explore the 2023 programme of events here
https://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/event-program/brisbane/wild-sketch-with-deb-mostert


As my guests this WSFBGUEST23 promo code will be available for you to use during the festival period. Be sure to get in quick to secure your seats to your favourite events. This code is only available online, not at any of the venue box offices.

Latest Solo exhibition

Ipswich Art Gallery are hosting an exhibition of my sketchbooks

4 March – 1 May 2023

Decades of daily observations have been preserved through Ipswich-based artist Deb Mostert​’s  sketchbook practice, and she showcases her collection for the first time in Everyday Sketchbooks.

Deb makes works spanning painting, sculpture and public art, and the learning ground for these artworks is her disciplined commitment to an everyday drawing routine. Her sketchbooks are not only where she researches, investigates, and stimulates her artistic practice, but where she records her daily life.

Almost scientific in her approach to documenting and recording, Deb blurs the lines between artist, historian, and scientist in creating her own archive.

By presenting these private sketchbooks usually reserved for an audience of one, Deb graciously invites us to peer behind-the-scenes of her artistic practice and to consider the sketchbook as a way any person, regardless of ability, can reflect upon and document their life.  

Koala as Object Selected for the KAAF art prize 2022

The Korea-Australia Arts Foundation (KAAF) Art Prize is an annual art prize that aims to foster the Australian multicultural society by bringing artists together from diverse ethnicities. In its 9th year, the KAAF Art Prize is open themed and medium to 2D artworks and has both acquisitive and non-acquisitive cash prizes totalling $24,000 for the artists. As the exhibition & venue partner, the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) Australia has been presenting the finalists show and awards ceremony.

2022 Judges : Mr John McDonald, Mr Oliver Smith, Prof. Inae Kim

Exhibition Dates 25 Nov 2022 – 27 Jan 2023 at the KCC
Exhibition Venue Korean Cultural Centre Australia Gallery

deb mostert Koala as Object 2020 watercolour 60 x 88 cm