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| Courtney Monk House |
| Meet two artists who live amongst their work, literally. |
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Meet two artists who live amongst their work, literally. Giselle Courtney has been producing unique jewellery and objects fabricated from glass and precious metals for twenty years. She complements her husband, Rodney Monk, who is one of Australia's premier artists and mural painters. Together, they are Courntey+Monk Studios and have been able to offer each other different perspectives and alternative ways of making art for public spaces and the home. By converting an old factory, they have created the ideal studio and family home and Rebecca is given a guided tour of its special features.
Giselle Courtney draws her inspiration from the sand and water patterns found throughout Australia's coastal and inland waterways. Her original and high quality glass flameworking is sought throughout Australia, Asia and the US. Her work has won numerous awards and is featured in collections throughout the world.
Rodney Monk is inspired by the diverse beauty of the Australian landscape and is devoted to using art to enhance the visual and social environment. He has designed and painted more than 100 children's murals and street murals and is currently working on a series for the Children's Hospital at Westmead. He is a prolific painter on both canvas and glass and has regular exhibitions throughout Australia.
In 1992, Rod and Giselle bought an old brush and broom factory and transformed it into a studio on the ground floor and home above. The initial one bedroom, kitchen and bathroom was extended to a family room, courtyard, second bedroom and bathroom to accommodate their growing family. Giselle's passion for aquatic themes is reflected throughout the house and studio, including the exterior where Rodney has painted a mural featuring life underwater.
The house is decorated with their artwork and is filled with colour and creative energy which flows from the studio into the living area of the house. They have used floors, table tops and walls to experiment with new designs for public work projects and thereby created a unique and busy abode. For example, the terrazzo and glass outdoor table is a sample of a design used on the floor of the intersection between Town Hall station, The Galleries Victoria and Q.V.B. Sydney.
The studio is a large high-ceilinged room filled with glass blowing equipment at one end and an office space at the other. The rest of the studio comprises tables and light boxes spread with sparkling glass art, shelves stacked with art books, two oversized fish mobiles and four merry-go-round horses floating from the ceiling, racks to store and hold Rod's paintings and glass showcases filled with jewellery pieces. It's a chaotic jumble of Rod's landscapes and public art projects mixed with Giselle's gold and silver clasped glass art and installations.
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More Info
Giselle Courtney and Rodney Monk
Courtney+Monk Studios
Tel: 02 9557 5171
www.courtneymonkstudios.com.au
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