2nd Newsletter

Wiluna 2
What a week this has been! The Print making workshop in Tjukurba Gallery was a great success. Basil Hall, print maker from Darwin, arrived on the 9:30 flight from Perth. After settling into his accommodation in the shire complex and a quick cup of coffee, he immediately started preparing for the workshop. The new printer was set up, wood-cut blocks and lino boards were prepared. Fortunately, no artists arrived to work; a couple popped in to see what was happening and they were interested in the preparations.
The next day, after Basil explained all the processes, the artists set to work enthusiastically, finishing their first cuts very quickly. Then they had to wait while we printed off a limited edition of each block. That was very hard because they are not used to waiting and most started a second and even a third, which meant we had more and more printing to do! Most wood blocks were printed 3 – 4times, after each cut, each time with a new colour. Some of those editions are stunning.
On another occasion, they experimented with lino cuts, which is easier than the wood, particularly for the 3 elders. One artist took a couple of wood blocks to have a go at pocker work at home while sitting around the fire. That work is also special, because these blocks were also printed and “cut” 3 times. Punugraphs, as they are called, are usually only printed in one colour, but on this occasion, it too was worked on at the fire over 3 nights and so they both had 3 colours – a breakthrough for Tjukurba Gallery, since no one else does that.
Heather, Basil and I had a ball, even though the days printing were very long – one night till 9 pm. and 3 days with little or no lunch time. The final results will be most popular, indeed, several have been sold before they are even signed, numbered and ready to go.
Basil left on Friday and because Saturday was Anzac Day, there was no rest for these wicked ladies. Up at 4ish for the Anzac Dawn service, Heather was roped in to read a long passage. Well, what a performance. They had the wrong music for the National Anthem – an instrumental version of the hymn “Oh God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come…..”. The MC at the microphone was singing along, since the words of 4 verses of the national anthem were written in the hand out booklet. He sang on until the music ran out half way through the 3rd verse. I couldn’t believe it – and I couldn’t understand why the 2 women pressing the buttons on the CD player, on the top of the steps just behind the poor man, didn’t turn off the music and let us start again, because no one else sang of course. (Heather calls it the “Spicks and Specks Anzac Service” with guess the song as they play it).
A bbq breakfast was provided by Newmont Jundee mine, snags, bacon, eggs and tomatoes with juice, coffee and toast, all inside, sitting around tables. Very much appreciated after the cold air outside in the dark. Some of the miners wanted to see the gallery, so Heather opened up and we finished up working through until 2pm. One young, English miner bought his mum a painting for Mother’s Day. The preparations for the big trip to Warakurna and Blackstone, which begins on Tuesday filled the rest of the time.
We both needed a Nanna nap in the afternoon, we were so tired. Later on we went for our daily walk, in the dark, before cooking up a nice veggie Thai curry. At last we didn’t have to worry about a work day routine on Sunday morning.
The weather has been around the 30’s and fine this last week, so I have started the little garden on top of kitchen scraps trench and one bean has already shot. I am growing cress on cotton wool in the bedroom and there is a large pot of nicely growing mixed salad sprouts in the kitchen – how healthy is that!
I’m sure that the next newsletter will be fascinating… the trip should be most unusual. I hope you have all looked on the maps to find us – Wiluna, Leonora, Laverton, Warburton, Warakurna, Blackstone and return to Wiluna on the 10th of May.
After all her extra work, Heather will take the following Friday off (15th May) and we will go away on our own to Gwalia, Menzies and Lake Ballard. Thanks to Irene, our interest in Gwalia is enhanced by the great autobiography she lent me by Roland Rocchiccioli “And Be Home By Dark”. I was able to bring Heather a copy and she too, is loving the descriptions, having visited the old town before. We will B&B in the late Pres. Hoover’s house on the lip of the open cut mine. Another wonderful adventure booked up.
It has been great to speak to some of you and sms others. I look forward to showing you photos, will try to send one or two. Thanks to Andrew, you should all be able to open this file, despite the ghastly problems caused by Vista. Sorry everyone who copped it.
Love to you all,
Susie