<![CDATA[Katya Gunn - Art Blog]]>

<![CDATA[Katya Gunn - Art Blog]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:57:47 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[We are reviewed!]]>Wed, 31 Jul 2013 05:54:07 GMThttp://www.lucellan.com/art-blog/we-are-reviewedFrankie Strachan has written a wonderful review of the whole show with special mention of Desi and my effort..... have a look here: http://eyecontactsite.com/2013/07/neurology-and-art

]]><![CDATA[Is this the work of Sadism or Love?]]>Wed, 31 Jul 2013 04:50:16 GMThttp://www.lucellan.com/art-blog/is-this-the-work-of-sadism-or-loveMy friend Desi Liversage and I worked together on a piece for the University of Otago/Otago Polytech collaborative exhibition 'Art and Neuroscience'. Our work was inspired by scientist Justine Fuller.
Desi writes of our piece:
'Having chosen the dopamine pleasure pathway project, we met with Justine to discuss her work. What struck us the most was the respect Justine has for the lab animals she works with.
Initially we were wary about the use of an animal in the experiment as we are both animal lovers who struggle with animal experimentation. However, we have both had life threatening illnesses, which we may not have survived without past animal research and acknowledge that it would be hypocritical of us to decry all experimentation. This work is our way of paying our debt of gratitude.
We decided to create a 'memento mori' reliquary to our rat, acknowledging Justine's research by taking our colour scheme from the graphs of her research and beading dopamine and sucrose molecules.
The rat made of silk and Mickey Mouse paisley, the spine evolving from spine to beaded dopamine molecules, stands in state on an ornate silk brocade cushion, surrounded by a frame of glass beads, delicate bones and gold thread. Crystal beaded sugar cubes are enclosed as a reward. It was a rare privilege to work with the delicate, beautiful bones.'

Working on the frame of rat bones within which Desi's 'Jesus Rat' will sit...

Close-up of central motif. Dem bones just soooo beautiful!

Jaw bone corner feature....

Sucrose take 1

Rattie residing in state at

front of Med school building.

]]><![CDATA[All that glisters….]]>Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:50:40 GMThttp://www.lucellan.com/art-blog/all-that-glistersWhat to do when invited to contribute to a show called ‘All that glitters is not gold’?

Well, first think of the Merchant of Venice:

Portia is a beautiful, virtuous, wealthy woman who is being wooed by numerous suitors. She is not free to decide on her own whom she will marry because her late father stipulated in his will that she must marry the man who correctly picks the one casket (out of three) that contains her picture. One casket is gold, another is silver, and the third is made of lead. The Prince of Morocco is one in a long line of suitors who tries to win Portia’s hand, and he decides that it would demean Portia to have her picture in anything other than a gold casket, and so he chooses that one. As he unlocks it, he is dismayed to find a picture, not of Portia but of Death, with a message written in its hollow eye: “All that glisters is not gold; / Often have you heard that told. / Many a man his life hath sold / But my outside to behold. / Gilded tombs do worms enfold.” With a grieving heart the Prince takes hasty leave of Portia, who is happy to see him go, saying, “A gentle riddance”.

Adopt the bard’s spelling and look for suitably gothic and unexpectedly colourful fabrics….

(Favourite is the brooding ‘buzzy bee’ print on inside of lid)

Choosing materials

Fabric covered panels beaded together. Print on left is HPV virus, on right a William Morris design

Box constructed

Casket lids have lava knobs to open. Mwaahaahaa….

The worms are colourful – but there! Skeleton jewellery by Steph Lusted.

Sides are embroidered with quote ‘All that glisters is not gold…..Glitt’ring tombs do worms enfold’

The skull is embroidered in silk and my hair.

This is an ‘in progress’ shot showing the stitching up close. The whole thing is about 2.5cm high.

]]><![CDATA[Introducing the studio…]]>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 02:37:35 GMThttp://www.lucellan.com/art-blog/introducing-the-studioJust because nobody understands you, doesn’t mean that you’re an artist. But having a studio must help; every artist has one of those, right?

My favourite place to be is right here in my workspace. Rather than show you the full horror that would have any psychiatrist reaching for the hoarding section of their diagnostic manual, I shall start with a few highlights….

These button drawers come from old treadle sewing machines. One of the many organisational tasks that has been started is button sorting, and these drawers are the proud owners of tidy rows of acid-free board onto which are sewn some of my favourite buttons in a melange of groupings such as colour, (vague) era, material, prettiness, size and kitchness (note the fluffy dice).

Glass buttons. Probably mostly Czech. Also some studio glass with gold leaf.

Every grrl needs a plastic grass frame and large jars of vintage sequins.

Wonderful gilded glass, velvet-lined thimble display box.

Dear Air NZ, thank you for throwing out your old leftover first class pepper shakers so we hoarders could collect them…

A drawer of ribbons and braids.

Yes, I have a mania for old drawers, boxes, useful stuff and rubbish…..

Some things just cry out to be presented to the world in a new format; I can show you what it is all about!!

Antique sequins; the best! Most rare and fabulous of all – gelatin sequins (a whole new reason to avoid the rain) which don’t survive well.

Modern applique pincushion; beautiful fragile found skull waiting for a home in my work.

Drawer of vintage linen threads; oh delicious!! Above it an inspiring collection of old bottles, Beecham’s pills, antique pins, chatelaine needlecase and wooden box from a late mentor.

A contemplation corner with library and tambour beading table, currently overrun.

The box of antique beads that have been awaiting a sort for a year or two now….

Jars of mother-of-pearl and vintage-plastic buttons.

Mmm, old buckles in a wooden box; bliss!

Antique bead collection. They haven’t been made this tiny for over 100 years. The smallest can be lined up 30 to an inch. The French called them ‘sable’ meaning sand.

A wonderful old Clark’s promotional thread display box. Used by me to sort spools of silk thread.

Anglo-Indian cabinet; a dream for the hoarder of little things!

Sometimes we are not as practical as we like to think. This wonderful African hardwood shop cabinet is about 2 x 4 x .75 metres. So why did I think it would fit easily in a station-wagon???! Wonderful pull-out shelves perfect for fabric arranging…

The Japanese cylinder bead wall is formed from a wonderful wooden case that was once used to organise the bookings for a local taxi company; thank-you computers for forcing the case to find a new home!

Follow the blue rhinestone hoard?

So, I have a lot of stuff that I think is fabulous. As a child, I collected shells – but only the littlest, strings of seeds from my mother’s homeland of Fiji, and basically little found objects of any sort. I would store assemblages of these treasures in miniature jars with no fixed intention for their future.

Now, my collected materials are all just that – like an array of paints waiting for me to need each one. The materials speak to me in their own way, and sometimes do drive the outcome of a work, but more often the concept of a work is clear, and I bring to it the assembled objects that to me convey that meaning. Does it matter? I don’t know; it just IS.

]]>