Lucy Barker

The Sydney Morning Herald, The Spectrum, The Planner, Out of Town

Central Coast Express Advocate editorial 11/03/2009

BRAIN CHILD
This deceptively light-hearted body of work centers on the concept of memories and the critical affect early childhood experience has on brain development and future personalities. “Memories are building blocks forming the architecture of our lives,” says Barker of the inspiration behind the work. The 35 Brain Child sculptures have been painstakingly constructed using thousands of Cuisenaire Rods: brightly coloured wooden counting blocks that hark back to Barker’s own childhood in 70s Australia.

The iconic counting rods are engaged in complicated structures and manipulated in eye-popping proportion. From large balustrades to tiny counting cubes, the blocks represent neural connections and DNA formations, once again imbuing a serious concept with her characteristic air of playfulness and intrigue. Brain Child demonstrates that childhood is never history; that it is always with us.

Karina Barker

is a NAVA initiative to assist with the financial aspect of presenting artwork. It was awarded in December 2008 for an up and coming exhibition titled “Brain Child” to take place at the Gosford Regional Gallery in March 2009.

Central Coast Express Advocate editorial p16

Defiance Gallery

47 Enmore Road, Newtown. NSW 204

Opening 8th October - 8 November 2008

All works less than 6in x 6in x 6in

Judged by Edmund Capon, director of AGNSW

2008 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize exhibition of finalists. Free entry.

Saturday 25 October - Sunday 2 November

9am - 5pm weekdays, 10am - 4pm weekends.

See the finalists and vote for the “people’s choice” award at….

http://sculptureprize.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/2008_prize/2008_finalists

PlaySchool (Brain Child) 2007

‘Brain Child’, Gosford Regional Gallery, March 14 - April 15, 2009.
This body of work uses Cuisenaire Rods (coloured counting blocks that were used to teach mathematics, dating back to the early 1960s) to play with the idea that memories are building blocks forming the architecture of our lives. Rods of various sizes (from tiny to huge) are used to workshop issues relating to early brain development and the mutual effects of motherhood and childhood. Click on the individual pieces to find out further information such as titles, materials and dimensions.
When ‘CR’ is used as an abbreviation it refers to Cuisenaire Rods.
Installation views to be posted soon.

A collection of various small works each constructed from Cuisenaire rods that date back to the 1960s.

Click on an image for details of an individual work.

Avoca Beach 2008,
approx 2m x 1.5m x 1.5m.
5 Lands Walk Festival, June 21st, in conjunction with Gosford Regional Gallery.
Interactive installation using discarded PET bottles, wood, food colouring and sand.
Each pair of bottles, connected end to end, can be rotated so the sand moves from one to another like an egg timer.

The Five Lands Walk is an annual cultural event involving MacMasters, Copacabana, Avoca, North Avoca and Terrigal Beach. It takes place close to the winter solstice to co-incide with the northern whale migration. It involves the local arts and indigenous communities, as well as invited artists, to respond to the natural environment.