SHORT SYNOPSIS
For Everyone Words and Paintings is a book of thirty paintings, each accompanied by some short poetic prose, which is neither descriptive nor didactic. The book is not about me or my work, rather it is about you! Each painting has the capacity to trigger conversation, either with yourself or others, as your inner child or essence is stirred. In an age where electronic and digital media bombard us with images that cross our lines of sight fleetingly, the paintings in For Everyone give you time to ponder and wonder.
Book Launch
FOR EVERYONE was launched Thursday 23 February 2012! @ FireWorks Gallery
by SCOTT EMERSON MP
[Shadow Minister for the Arts and Member of Indooroopilly: QLD]
The thirty original paintings inside FOR EVERYONE were exhibited too @ FireWorks Gallery 52A Doggett St, Newstead, Brisbane www.fireworksgallery.com.au
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE LAUNCH
Since the launch I have had people, who bought one book, return to buy 3, 5 and 10 more books!
University of Queensland Press Release
TESTIMONIALS
Not only is Kathryn a deeply talented, original and inspiring artist, she has a gift for wordsmithing as well! Utilizing the raw power of her art, ‘For Everyone’ is a masterful insight into the very essence of who we truly are, our complexities, our simplicities and who we are meant to be. Dr George Blair-West, Author of The Way of the Quest
In Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox’s book, 'For Everyone: Words and Paintings', the combination of words and images is a gift to the senses. I highly recommend it. Felix Calvino, Author of A Hatful of Cherries
The slimness of 'For Everyone' is misleading. I treated myself to a copy for Christmas as I have been a fan of Kathryn's work. I thought the images and accompanying prose would be a delightful, albeit gossamery experience. I was wrong. And I'm thrilled by just how wrong I was. It has taken me weeks to move through this book with its thought provoking images and emotion prying prose. I've been caught short by the unexpected "ah-has!" the complementary combination has caused. I have found new ways to look at aspects of my life and I am grateful to have had Kathryn's work as a shepherd through these insights. I've put the book down, now, to allow more incubation but look forward to even greater expanded perspectives the next time round. Thank you Kathryn.
For Everyone is absolutely beautiful and as I read the prose, and looked at the paintings, it was like going on a personal journey of my life. It touched on fond memories of my childhood and reinforced my beliefs in being an individual. As a teacher I know this book could be used in so many ways. In 2011 I organised and ran the Gifted and Talented Program in Writing at my school. Many students in my class published their poetry and stories in an Australian wide writing competition. I am continuing in this position in 2012 and will incorporate this unique book to help my students develop their ideas and be more expressive. The paintings and phrases in For Everyone are great conversation starters. They will also inspire and encourage students to be brave enough to share and express their thoughts and individuality. This book is a fabulous resource for educating and inspiring young people to share the beauty from within! Lou Walsh: Primary School Teacher
In Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox’s book, 'For Everyone: Words and Paintings', the combination of words and images is a gift to the senses. I highly recommend it. Felix Calvino, Author of A Hatful of Cherries
The slimness of 'For Everyone' is misleading. I treated myself to a copy for Christmas as I have been a fan of Kathryn's work. I thought the images and accompanying prose would be a delightful, albeit gossamery experience. I was wrong. And I'm thrilled by just how wrong I was. It has taken me weeks to move through this book with its thought provoking images and emotion prying prose. I've been caught short by the unexpected "ah-has!" the complementary combination has caused. I have found new ways to look at aspects of my life and I am grateful to have had Kathryn's work as a shepherd through these insights. I've put the book down, now, to allow more incubation but look forward to even greater expanded perspectives the next time round. Thank you Kathryn.
Kimberly dela Cruz Odom, Facilitator and Change Agent
For Everyone is absolutely beautiful and as I read the prose, and looked at the paintings, it was like going on a personal journey of my life. It touched on fond memories of my childhood and reinforced my beliefs in being an individual. As a teacher I know this book could be used in so many ways. In 2011 I organised and ran the Gifted and Talented Program in Writing at my school. Many students in my class published their poetry and stories in an Australian wide writing competition. I am continuing in this position in 2012 and will incorporate this unique book to help my students develop their ideas and be more expressive. The paintings and phrases in For Everyone are great conversation starters. They will also inspire and encourage students to be brave enough to share and express their thoughts and individuality. This book is a fabulous resource for educating and inspiring young people to share the beauty from within! Lou Walsh: Primary School Teacher
HISTORY
Just before the floods devastated Queensland in January 2011 I received a phone call from a representative of Balboa Press, the new self publishing arm of Hay House Publishing. This person informed me that Hay House had passed on my details. Would I like to publish my manuscript?
How did this happen?Just before the floods devastated Queensland in January 2011 I received a phone call from a representative of Balboa Press, the new self publishing arm of Hay House Publishing. This person informed me that Hay House had passed on my details. Would I like to publish my manuscript?
SEVEN YEARS AGO
About seven years ago I sent a manuscript to Hay House Publishing. It was a manuscript for a book of paintings, each accompanied by some prose. The series of paintings had been painted seven years prior and was inspired by observations of my then very young children. These observations were made particularly as they entered the education system where they had to negotiate all kinds of things, from friendship issues, how to deal with pride, isolation; expectations of friends, parents, self and teachers; failure, success and so on. Well, the manuscript was not accepted by Hay House and I stashed it away in a folder.
When I received the phone call from Balboa Press I....panic...where was the manuscript? Seven years is a long time for someone to store your details! I searched and searched, finally finding it filed in one of my filing cabinets. The paintings, which have never been exhibited, were safe in one of my satchels.
About seven years ago I sent a manuscript to Hay House Publishing. It was a manuscript for a book of paintings, each accompanied by some prose. The series of paintings had been painted seven years prior and was inspired by observations of my then very young children. These observations were made particularly as they entered the education system where they had to negotiate all kinds of things, from friendship issues, how to deal with pride, isolation; expectations of friends, parents, self and teachers; failure, success and so on. Well, the manuscript was not accepted by Hay House and I stashed it away in a folder.
When I received the phone call from Balboa Press I....panic...where was the manuscript? Seven years is a long time for someone to store your details! I searched and searched, finally finding it filed in one of my filing cabinets. The paintings, which have never been exhibited, were safe in one of my satchels.
Would I like to publish my manuscript? Well....yes.
INNER CHILD-ESSENCE
But, upon re-looking at the manuscript and the paintings, after their seven year hibernation, I realised that the paintings were actually not simply observations of my children. They were, in fact, more about the call of the inner child or essence which exists within us all. That small voice echoing from childhood, which more often than not subconsciously influences how we react, behave, think, love and hate, judge ourselves and others...and so on.
INNER CHILD-ESSENCE
But, upon re-looking at the manuscript and the paintings, after their seven year hibernation, I realised that the paintings were actually not simply observations of my children. They were, in fact, more about the call of the inner child or essence which exists within us all. That small voice echoing from childhood, which more often than not subconsciously influences how we react, behave, think, love and hate, judge ourselves and others...and so on.
Indeed, the playground becomes the workplace, the committee, staff room etc. We don metaphoric masks to fit in, rebel...depending on circumstances. What is happening behind the masks? These questions and actions ocurr in childhood and adulthood.
So, I revamped the manuscript, reducing the text, thus avoiding description and didacticism. I wanted the reader to experience the book as their own journey, not mine. I wanted to stimulate conversations either within a reader's own mind or with other people.
'Indeed, the future is signalled in the past, but time has to pass to see it. Art is the witness.' From Blog post Perpetual Beginning
So, I revamped the manuscript, reducing the text, thus avoiding description and didacticism. I wanted the reader to experience the book as their own journey, not mine. I wanted to stimulate conversations either within a reader's own mind or with other people.
'Indeed, the future is signalled in the past, but time has to pass to see it. Art is the witness.' From Blog post Perpetual Beginning
You can buy For Everyone from many online book selling sites and book stores.
Details Below!
YOUTUBE PROMO
CONVERSATION
My experience exhibiting in Abu Dhabi is 2005, where I had many conversations daily with people from across the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, has made me realise that art's profound catalytic agency is its capacity to trigger conversation. By conversation I mean more than chatter. I mean the kind of conversation that provokes wonder, resonates with realisation, brings people together as they 'see' the humanity in the other, dissolves difference to reveal similarities, heals through reflection even though the reflective process may be frought, stimulates questions previously never pondered and thus answers never dreamed of. The kind of conversations that go beyond the immediate encounter to affect future conversations with self and others. These types of conversations, triggered by art, are likely not to end up being about art at all, and that's ok! Art should not be a tether. I'd have to say that at its best art untethers so that imagination and wonder run free, at its worst art tethers itself and viewers to surface skimming and the slippery immediacy of fashion, and thus ultimately forgotten.
TYPES OF COVERSATION
- With its open ended possibilities 'For Everyone' could be a great tool to trigger conversations between counsellors and clients.
- A parent sitting with a child may find conversations about all sorts of things flow as memories and wonder are triggered.
- Eldery people pondering the paintings and words may recall memories of the past, thus augmenting oral history outcomes.
- Relaxing on a couch anyone will be absorbed in contemplation and wonder.
THREE OF THE PAINTINGS!
Hidden
Why do we hide who we really are in the shadows
where we keep a watchful eye on the public self
as it meets and greets the expectations of others?
But what about dreams?
Disappearance
Ever feel that you have disappaeared?
In order to know who we are, we need to know who we are not.
Finding out who we really are means
we may have to disappear for awhile.
Who Pulls The Strings?
Do you ever feel that someone else is pulling your life strings?
WHERE TO BUY!
You can buy 'For Everyone: Words and Paintings' as a book or e-book online from a number of online book sellers including:
Balboa Press
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
If you live in the US and have a Kindle Fire you can buy the e-book and see it colour. The e-book is available from the selling sites above.
You can also ask your favourite book seller
In Brisbane For Everyone available from Coaldrakes
and the Book Stores at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art [GOMA].
OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS
Press Release
Google Preview
KRIS WAMPLER'S ONLINE INTERVIEW WITH ME
SPBROUNDUP
'For Everyone: Words and Paintings' sells for $27.95 plus freight if ordering from online booksellers, and GST in some circumstances.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Kathryn
www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com
