Wild/flower Women III
Drawing inspiration from the heritage of women who have walked Cooloola country including Traditional Owners and 'wild/flower women' Kathleen McArthur and Judith Wright, this exhibition features new work by contemporary women artists. Curated by Dr Susan Davis and Nina Shadforth.
Supported by Gympie Region's RADF program and Cooloola Coastcare.
Gympie Regional Gallery 8 October - 28 November 2020
Pictured below: 'Landmarks, watersheds and boundaries' mixed media on wooden board 1200 mm x 1200 mm x 15 mm.
Artist Statement
Initially applying a rational concept of interpreting the unique micro elements of the Cooloola region and struggling with that creative process, I thought deeply about what called to me and refocussed on the macro and the concept of walking on country. Having grown up in the bush and lived most of my life in remote areas I have a great respect for ‘bush sense’ – the innate ability to travel through country by interpreting the lay of the land.
Spending time on country with the other women of the Wild/flower exhibition and hearing the stories from Traditional Owners, scientists and others with a deep connection to Cooloola inspired me to create a body of work in place that explored the themes of markers in the landscape.
Painting in situ is not necessarily the most important part of plein air painting – it is being there for long enough to feel the place. We so often disregard the land we are on and traverse it without thought. This work in its exploration of the landmarks, watersheds and boundaries of the Cooloola region is a lament to the fact that the natural environment is rapidly being depleted and that people are losing their connection to the landscape. It is something that we move through on our way to the end destination, without thought to a mindfully chosen path.
Supported by Gympie Region's RADF program and Cooloola Coastcare.
Gympie Regional Gallery 8 October - 28 November 2020
Pictured below: 'Landmarks, watersheds and boundaries' mixed media on wooden board 1200 mm x 1200 mm x 15 mm.
Artist Statement
Initially applying a rational concept of interpreting the unique micro elements of the Cooloola region and struggling with that creative process, I thought deeply about what called to me and refocussed on the macro and the concept of walking on country. Having grown up in the bush and lived most of my life in remote areas I have a great respect for ‘bush sense’ – the innate ability to travel through country by interpreting the lay of the land.
Spending time on country with the other women of the Wild/flower exhibition and hearing the stories from Traditional Owners, scientists and others with a deep connection to Cooloola inspired me to create a body of work in place that explored the themes of markers in the landscape.
Painting in situ is not necessarily the most important part of plein air painting – it is being there for long enough to feel the place. We so often disregard the land we are on and traverse it without thought. This work in its exploration of the landmarks, watersheds and boundaries of the Cooloola region is a lament to the fact that the natural environment is rapidly being depleted and that people are losing their connection to the landscape. It is something that we move through on our way to the end destination, without thought to a mindfully chosen path.
Explorations
Discovering new landscapes
Pomona Railway Art Gallery January 2019.
Pomona Railway Art Gallery January 2019.
hARTland
Gympie Regional Gallery, April 2017
Butter Factory Arts Centre, April 2018
Butter Factory Arts Centre, April 2018
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Life. Place. Red dirt.
Through my work with Vast Arts I had the opportunity to facilitate as well as participate in the pilot artist development program Way Out West. The program ran for 8 months and was conceived to give artists living and working in western Queensland an opportunity to gain skills and knowledge of all facets of the arts industry on a professional level and included marketing your art, writing about your art, artist retreat, gallery tours and more.
The program culminated in a group exhibition of the 10 participating artists which was launched at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane in April 2015 and will tour galleries throughout Queensland until July 2016.
See the ABC TV Landline story by clicking here.
See the ABC News story by clicking here.
Top left - opening night at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Art in Brisbane.
Top right - Lorraine Kath, myself, and Susan Ostling (Curator) at the opening.
Bottom - eight of the ten artists at the opening and a record crowd.
The program culminated in a group exhibition of the 10 participating artists which was launched at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane in April 2015 and will tour galleries throughout Queensland until July 2016.
See the ABC TV Landline story by clicking here.
See the ABC News story by clicking here.
Top left - opening night at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Art in Brisbane.
Top right - Lorraine Kath, myself, and Susan Ostling (Curator) at the opening.
Bottom - eight of the ten artists at the opening and a record crowd.
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Dusty Retro-speck
I was invited by the Quilpie Shire Gallery to exhibit in May and June 2015 and put together an exhibition of some of my favourite paintings that were completed during my time living and working in western Queensland. I called it 'Dusty Retro-Speck' as a homage to the endless red dust. The exhibition opened on 8 May and runs until 16 June 2015.
Boundless Aspects II
Gatakers Art Space captured my attention a couple of years ago when visiting the beautiful Portside area of Maryborough in Qld. I took an updated collection of paintings there in July 2014 for a solo exhibition 'Boundless Aspects II'. The remodeled historic warehouse makes a wonderful space for art.
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Boundless Aspects
Boundless Aspects, a collection of landscapes without limitations, was shown at Feather & Lawry Design Gallery from 1 November 2013 to 24 January 2014.
Thanks to those who came to the opening night and supported the exhibition. Comments were all good and it was lovely to catch up with some I haven't seen for a while.
Below are some photos of the opening night and works from the exhibition.
Thanks to those who came to the opening night and supported the exhibition. Comments were all good and it was lovely to catch up with some I haven't seen for a while.
Below are some photos of the opening night and works from the exhibition.
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Forest for the trees....
Shown at the Grassland Art Gallery in Tambo, Qld from March to May 2013. This exhibition was inspired by the vast and diverse Australian landscape, from the never ending vistas to the feeling of being enclosed by tall gums. A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered for the opening and many thanks to those who made the effort to come along.
The works from this exhibition which have not sold are listed in the 'Gallery'.
The works from this exhibition which have not sold are listed in the 'Gallery'.
TRIumph: feminINe heART
I had the privilege of being invited to exhibit at the Roma on Bungil Gallery with two other ladies from the Maranoa area, Kathy Ellem and Tammie Saunders. The exhibition opened Friday 9 November 2012 and closed 16 December 2012.
TRIumph was named such as we all thought it was a triumph to be invited to exhibit in the gallery, both personally and professionally. We wanted a name that reflected the fact that we are all women who juggle a few roles in life and find content in art.
I have painted predominantly landscapes for this with a couple of still life and nude. In January 2012 I participated in a McGregor School workshop and did some life drawing. I used the sketches from this as the basis for two of the paintings. Other titles include Heartfelt, From the heart, Triumph, and Object de Femme.
TRIumph was named such as we all thought it was a triumph to be invited to exhibit in the gallery, both personally and professionally. We wanted a name that reflected the fact that we are all women who juggle a few roles in life and find content in art.
I have painted predominantly landscapes for this with a couple of still life and nude. In January 2012 I participated in a McGregor School workshop and did some life drawing. I used the sketches from this as the basis for two of the paintings. Other titles include Heartfelt, From the heart, Triumph, and Object de Femme.
Field of Vision: Carnarvon
First painting sold at Springsure 'Early light'
Field of Vision was a concept I realised to exhibit specifically at the Injune Creative Artspace. The inspiration was the natural beauty in intrigue of the Carnarvon National Park and surrounding areas north of Injune in Queensland. Works were on canvas and paper.
After showing in Injune in October and November 2011, the exhibition was then displayed at Springsure Bicentennial Gallery in July 2012. The unsold works along with new additions to the collection were on display at the Emerald Art Gallery in February 2013. The Springsure Bicentennial Gallery then invited the exhibition to return to the gallery in March until June 2013.
After showing in Injune in October and November 2011, the exhibition was then displayed at Springsure Bicentennial Gallery in July 2012. The unsold works along with new additions to the collection were on display at the Emerald Art Gallery in February 2013. The Springsure Bicentennial Gallery then invited the exhibition to return to the gallery in March until June 2013.
Natural Place
Natural Place was a solo exhibition at Brown Gully Gallery, Roma Qld, in March 2011. The paintings drew their inspiration from the natural scenes I observed around me, the natural and untouched aspects of the cattle station where I live.
Natural Place was my first solo exhibition and cemented my inclination to paint landscapes and natural scenes.
Most of the works in this series sold during exhibition. Please see the Gallery tab to see works for sale.
Natural Place was my first solo exhibition and cemented my inclination to paint landscapes and natural scenes.
Most of the works in this series sold during exhibition. Please see the Gallery tab to see works for sale.
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Women and Wine
Joint exhibition with Sharleen Keating at Brown Gully Gallery, Roma Qld in 2010.
This was our first foray into painting in a serious way and we both learnt a lot from the experience. Previously we had done a workshop together and decided it would be a good idea to do something together. A theme was hard to come by as I tended to paint more true to life and Sharleen is very abstract. We came up with Women and Wine and it went from there.
I have no paintings from this series left.
This was our first foray into painting in a serious way and we both learnt a lot from the experience. Previously we had done a workshop together and decided it would be a good idea to do something together. A theme was hard to come by as I tended to paint more true to life and Sharleen is very abstract. We came up with Women and Wine and it went from there.
I have no paintings from this series left.
