{Mirka}

The Mirka exhibition at 

HEIDE 

finishes tomorrow.

Mirka Mora and the circle of artists she belonged to,

have been of such inspiration to me and my work.

Books on her art, and that of the rest of the Heide Circle ,

have been at my fingertips ever since I can remember...

the exhibition catalogue

is available here online

her use of symbolism... flowers, birds, angels, dolls, animals;

'primativ style; mythical, fairytale themes and vast portfolio

metamorphosising as painting, sculpture, mosaic and more,

has captured my vivid imagination ever since I was a child.

Mirka Mora with her soft sculptures

My grandmother Clare, learnt doll-making from Mirka at 

the CAE in the 1970s and produced many beautiful mythical

creatures and dolls in this house where I am now living.

She and my grandfather ran a kind of folk art gallery up here

with a regular weekend market selling local arts and crafts,

and had glass cases built in which Clare exhibited her dolls.

doll by Clare K. Woods (my grandmother)

I spent endless hours as a little girl watching my

'Nana' create all manner of beautiful art objects.

Strangely enough, where we were living in the city for 3 years,

was directly across from Mirka's old studio at 8 Rankins Lane.

my 'Heidi' doll

I would stare at it every day from my own tiny workroom...

How nice it would have been to have popped into Mirka's on

my breaks for a cup of coffee and a chat about doll making.

Ari outside the doorway to Mirka's old studio

The Museum of Modern Art at Heide 

is one of my favourite places to visit around Melbourne

the old farm house at Heide

I love the history of the place, and I love so much the work

of the artists that it (and John and Sunday Reed) supported.

Girl by Joy Hester 1957

The gardens are so beautiful, especially th kitchen garden,

and the modernist building is a really incredible space to visit...

Heide II

But it's such a pleasure to me, being able to walk through

the old house since it's restoration, and imagine what it would

     have been like...

as a sanctuary for artists through the 1930s to the 1950s

John Reed cutting Joy Hester's hair 

while Sunday Reed Watched