Karen Coull

Born 1961, Sydney
Bachelor of Arts, Visual Arts
Graduation show: 1992
Graduation ceremony: 1993


Artworks in Space YZ

Sewing box, 1992
Fabric and wood
120 x 48 x 30 cm

Virgin, 1992
Fabric and wood
120 x 48 x 30 cm

Menopause, 1992
Fabric and wood
120 x 48 x 30 cm

What fresh hell is this, 1994
Mixed media and brush
5 x 7 x 21 cm

Selected for Space YZ, the three sculptures Sewing Box, Virgin and Menopause were purchased for the University Collection from a series presented in the 1992 graduation show.

These works were part of a series of twelve stitched, padded and preserved boxes on tall hand rasped, maple legs. (I recall leaving personal hidden notes inside some of the boxes and short-hand text stitched and hidden in the covering patterns).

At the time of making these works I was a single mother of three young school age children and the works spoke of the continual struggle and the personal in balancing work, life and motherhood. A dichotomy of high art/domestic craft.

A collection of slides from Karen Coull’s
university years, 1991-1994

I was a painting major who defiantly presented collage and needlework for my final graduation assessment, much to the horror of the mostly male bastion that was the painting department. I recall being told a couple of weeks before the show opened “it is not too late to whack up a couple of paintings.”

Our first two years were held at the Peachtree Studios, the ‘Factory’ with the inspiring industrial area location. I recall finding the courage to visit a number of the local timber and wrecking yards, complete with snarling, mongrel dogs, and blue singlet wearing ‘blokes’. Smokes hanging out of the corner of their mouths and who would often look incredulous at my requests.

Moving to the new buildings on campus, a beautiful, semi-secluded site at the far end of the university separated from the science department with the corridor gallery - Space YZ - which hosted many of our first experiences of exhibiting.

We had such a great group of lecturers including strong women who shared their knowledge with passion and the utmost generosity.

The university program and first-year Foundation Studies was unlike any other on offer. I was equally terrified and exhilarated for the entire three years - but loved every moment. I mourn the loss of this wonderful school and especially the opportunity afforded to the Blue Mountains and the Greater West.