CAMIE LYONS

Music by Antonio Vivaldi -
Violin Concerto in G minor,
RV 315 'Summer' - III. Presto -
Interpreted by John Harrison via Musopen.

CAMIE LYONS

SCULPTOR

Sydney, Australia

It’s a corner house with a pretty garden at the front. You need to push a small gate and walk the path before you knock on the door of this typically Australian home. Inside, it’s a wow moment: high ceilings, beautifully lit rooms with an old world feel to them. You immediately know that an artist lives there. There are artworks everywhere and plinths in the corners. Tables and sofas are there to... Read More

Photos I took that day…

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…hold artworks in the making, tools, paint, and books. I felt right at home. I looooved Camie’s kitchen which I didn’t dare to photograph at the time. I bitterly regret it now!

Camie Lyons is a sculptor. She also draws and paints the shapes she creates in 3D. It all starts from branches and vines she finds and selects in a real “branch casting”. They have to be gnarly and solid but also flexible enough to accept the contortions they’ll have to perform in the name of art. Next step is a trip to the foundry where in a pretty complex process, akin to alchemy, they will be turned into bronze sculptures. Lastly Camie puts on her cosmonaut outfit, overall, helmet and all. She adds the finishing touches by welding parts together. That step was a bit difficult to film as I couldn’t look at the flame to protect my eyes. Special glasses couldn’t allow me to see my camera’s view finder. So we had to do it MANY times and gamble on the focus until we got it right.

I really loved making this film with Camie. She made me feel very welcome. She had prepared a full blown high tea served in the most English, colourful china. She made me feel very welcome, wrapping me in a motherly gaze. I'm glad she agreed to answer my interview. I feel that I know her a bit better now while making me want to sit down again with her and discover more.

Connect with Camie

@camie.lyons

INTERVIEW

I am the last of 6 children, all the others have very traditional names, I have a vague memory of Mum telling me she read a book and liked the heroines name but I can't ask her that now as both she and Dad passed years ago.
Maybe by number 6 they were just making them up?
I was born and grew up in Ballarat, Country Victoria. I now live in Sydney with my own family of beautiful boys and 2 lovely dogs.
English, my partner is Swedish but it drives him crazy when we all try to speak it, so as a result we can't. Be warned though - I understand a lot (my secret weapon).
I am a sculptor.
Probably the most profound experience I remember was due to time and place. We were travelling with 2 very young children, we did a LOT of that back then, like gypsies but the sleep deprivation was very real. We were in Bilbao and I got an entire day to myself to go to the Guggenheim. WOW. It just totally blew my mind. I stood immersed in Richard Serra (I'd only seen all these artists in books and during slide show lectures at Uni as that was how it was then) Anselm Kiefer had 3 floors of colossal works and of course, my forever beloved, Louise Bourgeois 'Maman' dominating the forecourt. That one really brought me to my knees - I felt connected to this powerful, fierce force, deeply embedded in us as mothers. Timely with the show in Town at the moment. It made me realise I was stronger than I imagined - I could do this in my own way and most importantly, that I had time.
I spent that day in a state of awe, fluctuating between tears of joy and wonder - it was probably all tainted with travel exhaustion but I'll never forget that day.
It opened up a world of possibility I'd not imagined before and reminded me to push through the challenges of tiny ones and find my voice.
Yes, but I knew I had to first be a dancer. I did that and here we are. That past feeds my practice.
I am not actually a very extravagant person. Oh, but I did just get a place down the south coast and set up a studio there, my absolute happy place and a much better space to create.
Spend the day welding and then swim in the ocean. That's it, I'm done, it does not get any better than that I reckon.
I don't think there has been one moment - I think it is showing up for years and years and years and putting in the work. The past few years have been pretty amazing and I've done huge works that I once could never have imagined. But, making art is a constant exercise in humility for me, when those huge commissions are done you find yourself right back in the studio wondering if that was it - you peaked, have you got anything left?
Seems you do.
I'll know and hopefully believe that one day.
I'm still working on that. Ghosts from a childhood long past.
Isthmus, my favorite word is Isthmus. Say it over and over, you have to whisper and it has a kind of magic.
It also takes me directly back to the amazing time I had on residency on Bruny Island and the delight I found in the name of the very long, thin strip of land that connects the North and South of the Island. I kept returning to this place. It held my fascination and possessed such quiet beauty.
Isthhhhmussssss, known locally as 'The Neck', wonderful.
Be kind
Be generous
Be honest
And as I am in a household surrounded by teenage boys, 'Just don't be a Dick' is another mantra.
You must maintain a sense of humour to survive these years - always actually, to survive life!
At the moment my obsession is with plants - I want to rewild the block where to new studio is and I rescue every plant I find (uno, the ones left wilting on the footpath) to see if it will take. It is a long term project, this building of a garden from scratch, but that sounds pretty good to me.
Artworks by friends, it is like having a piece of them with me always
I don't have a favorite as I mix up the cooking continually. I LOVE to cook, to nourish my people at the end of the day. It has always been the time I take off hat of 'Artist' and put on hat of 'Mum' and I find that transition is important to balance it all. At the moment there is a big change in our household as my babies are grown, our eldest has moved out and the youngest just finished year 12, got his license and is off into the sunset.
It is right of passage stuff - I am excited for them - but I keep cooking for an army so need to adjust that.
The kitchen looks more like a science lab at the moment as I am filling in this changed timespace investigating ferments and Kombuchas and natural remedies - so that is another interest - you have to keep it fresh, keep them guessing!
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton.
I have just started Alone on SBS - I know, I am late coming to that party but still fascinating viewing of the human spirit and filmed in wonderful Tassie.
The playlist created by Oskar’s Friends for me! They all stayed for a week and I can not remember laughing so much in years so I enjoy listening to that very eclectic mix. They are in fact listening to a lots of the same things I was, Talking Heads, Kate Bush, The Doors, it is great driving music.
Louise
Soloman Krammer
More time in Sweden - that will happen eventually now the boys have finished school.
I literally today sent off a proposal for a sculpture on the terrace of an incredible Manhattan Apartment. Fingers crossed on that one - I just want an excuse to go install, hang out with my dear friend who put us in contact and soak up the energy of that amazing city.