Frankie 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

My 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

What 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)

Just 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….