DeathFest - Brisbane Nov 2016

I'm currently in Brisbane enjoying the Metro Arts DeathFest! 

Check out their program here: Metro Arts - DeathFest

The next Death Cafe Castlemaine

pet ashes urns

I'm currently working on a series of pet ashes urns. 

I take op shop handmade vessels and make lids for them. This is the first one, which is more like a test to see if I could match glazing. The bird/sun is from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Donations of handmade vessels appreciated! 

Dying To Know Day 2016

I've been thinking a lot about what I might personally do this Dying to Know Day (Aug 8) as I'm not holding an event this year.

I am going to organise my Enduring Power of Attorney and my Medical Power of Attorney what fun!

If I'm suddenly incapacitated and cannot make decisions for myself while I am still alive, then I need to decide who I trust to be my attorneys, someone who can speak for me and understands my wishes.

Here's a great vid that explains how it works (for those in Victoria). It's not that hard to arrange, it's paperwork of course, but it's important paperwork :)

Here's the Dying To Know Day link to explore events happening around the country, there are some great ones happening in Melbourne: www.dyingtoknowday.org

Death Cafe Castlemaine

Coming up on Saturday 18 June, the second Death Cafe in Castlemaine!

I'll be co-hosting with David Rigby.

Please RSVP by email.

Installation shots from 'Remnants of the dead and demands on the living'

Obviously not professionally shot, but here are some installation shots for people who have asked. The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre City Gallery is a beautiful space, and the install team was fantastic. 

And behind the wall...

The exhibition finishes 15 May 2016. 

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

This exhibition had been organised for a year, and having only just moved to country Victoria, I've had to come back again! It's my Masters show with an additional work.

I'm at the gallery all day Saturday 9 April from 11am for the opening, the artist talk and a Death Café I'm co-hosting with Kerrie Noonan. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have a lovely time.

Join us for the opening of Hayley West Remnants of the dead and demands on the living 9 April - 15 May 2016 To be opened by Sabrina Roesner Exhibitions Manager - Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Saturday 9 April 2016, 11am - 12pm RSVP to info@bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au or 02 4780 5410 by Monday 4 April. Free event. Limit 21 people. Want to learn more about Remnants of the dead and demands on the living?  Artist Talk 9 April 2016, 11.30am - 12pm Find out more about the exhibition Remnants of the dead and demands on the living in a floor talk by the artist Hayley West. Death Café 9 April 2016, 1 - 3pm Following the artist talk, join us for coffee and a hearty discussion about the topic that some call a taboo – Death. The Death Cafe is a worldwide movement that aims to make it easier to talk about death, with a view to helping people make the most out of life. Both events free with Gallery entry. Follow this link: Remnants of the dead and demands on the living

Goodbye Grottoes

I've updated my Blue Mountains Grotto Love blog, as now we have left the mountains and moved to Castlemaine, in the Goldfields region of Victoria.

If you know anyone who would like to send me photos to add to it, let them know, my email is thecarrotjoke[at]gmail.com

Here's a Melbourne grotto:

Image credit: Hayley West, Elvis Memorial Grotto Melbourne Cemetery, 1995, photograph, 10x15cm, personal collection.

And finally, my Masters exhibition in Canberra...