The Blake Prize is one of Australia’s longest standing, and, most prestigious art competitions. It draws entrants from around the world, and this year includes respected Milton artist and poet, Craig Green.
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His is one of 80 works selected of 769 to compete for The 65th Blake Prize at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in an exhibition that is open to the public from Saturday, May 12 to Friday, June 1. However, the winner will be announced at a gala event on Saturday, May 19.
The well known Milton creative describes his piece, which he constructed using the individual pieces of a domino set, as: “Conveying insight into the Crucifixion and the dominion of Christ’s spirit unto the Earth.”
“(It) engages the viewer to impart an understanding into the impermanence of power,” Mr Green said.
“The Cross, reappearing in the night sky, seen then, now, and often as a meeting place, or, junction between two worlds. Between the mortal and the spiritual, a constellation guiding souls towards a city of heavens. Made in our image he came as a messenger from afar, an angel, an alien.”
Mr Green’s work explores the religious symbolism around Magdalene and her children.
“It draws us to question the continuation of the blood-line of Christ, and, of His creator’s will for our planet, and, in turn our very own,” he said.
Mr Green’s cross, which stands 65cm tall and 35cm wide, represents the artist’s deep connection with the spiritual. Mr Green said his art and quest for a spiritual connection on a deeper level have connected in this latest work.
“They merged to each other,” he said, “I’ve always had a deep spiritual connection, that’s driven me to explore religion and Christianity further. With religion, and things like that, there is a lot of conversation ... but if you can give them something simplistic to look at, that gives them something to connect to, and to look at.”
In deciding to work with domino pieces as a medium for art, Mr Green said: “I was at the Nowra Gallery once and ... I was thinking of different mediums for different symbols. It’s about the handing over and the continuation of power.
“The actual piece itself is prevalent in the fact that in being titled Magdalena's Children gives the sense that Christ’s blood-line might have continued on this earth. We are drawn toward questioning what is, and, what is not relevant to the individual.”
It takes roughly two weeks to assemble and Mr Green starts by placing the dominoes face down, choosing them as you would in a game of dominoes.
“Each piece (is placed) as you find them; in an almost intrinsic way they're chosen,” he said.
“Then I work on an aesthetic level, in accordance to the relationship between each piece. The construction process has a unique quality of providing me a place of true contentment, where triumph heartache and joy reassure my work.
It was on the suggestion of fellow poet and artist, Kate Conyngham, that Mr Green entered his cross into The Blake Prize.
Mr Green says art and poetry keeps him on track: “I’ve had mental health issues for a long time and have found my recovery and my creative side.”
He has spent time as a volunteer with the children at Budawang Public School and will release his first book of poetry for children later this year: “Children are our future. My book is for them,” he said.
That’s in partnership with Gary Evans of Ulladulla Harbour Publishing and Milton artist Julie Sydenham.
“When I was 21, after leaving art school, I was diagnosed as schizophrenic. I spent 10 years unable to trust or communicate; totally captive to and afraid of the thoughts that consumed my life,” he said.
“My sculptures and my poetry allow me to communicate; to step back and take the time to convey the essence of what I know to others; to allow them to express their own thoughts and their ideas on similar terms. So many people just don't talk of their thoughts and I think it is so unhealthy. We use language as a way to navigate through the day (whereas) I prefer to use language to share knowledge. My grandfather always taught me to ask questions (and) it’s the best advice I was ever given.
Mr Green joins artists from Belgium, the USA, Norway, Greece, and the UK, as a finalist in The 65th Blake Prize, which is $35,000. The winner of the Blake Emerging Artist Prize will receive $6,000 and the winner of the Blake Established Artist Residency gets a one-month residency and solo exhibition at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC).
The exhibition includes painting, photography, sculpture, performance, installation and digital media works exploring the wider experience of religion and spirituality.
For tickets and information visit www.casulapowerhouse.com/booknow or www.facebook.com/casulapowerhouse.
