Has anyone ever tried that test where you write your name on a piece of paper using both hands, well I have and it’s hard work... So much control is needed to create a mirror image by one hand...
Julie Burke's work is a little mind boggling in that same way, it's intense to say the least but it has the enormous power to engage the viewer, trust me as you will find yourself standing in front of the work and just gazing in amazement!!!
Not sure about everyone else but I've always been a little fascinated about drawing with both hands, using the left and right sides of the brain and encouraging the memory. I can use both hands if I have to but much rather use the one that has more control, and I spoke briefly to Julie, who also had a work in the ‘Welcome Back Tight’ show and she explained that had been using both hands since leaving art school and I hope she continues... As this work needs to be experienced...
It’s a little weird but Fiona’s invitation reminded me of my first solo invite with the placement of the chair, it’s angle and type of chair... Just kinda struck me, as my first solo was all about chairs too...
100+ series of other peoples chairs, mixed media on canvas are wonderful snippets into other peoples lives, each work tells it’s own little story and the medium used is interesting as well... ‘In Conversation #2’, found chairs, adult vs child, loved it, 2 chairs I once owned.. Couldn’t stop looking at them... ‘Tea and Skype’, also found chairs, the pink tall back comfort school chair is ace wish I had one of these when I went to school, think it may would have helped me study harder... Might also just have been invaded by the guerrilla knitters...
I ran really relate to this show, as the first 11 years of my own art career was spent on chairs...
Taking the banal object and making it stand alone!!!
I just couldn’t plan my evening to fit in Sarah’s opening, so I snuck up to the gallery in the afternoon, I think I really wanted to see the work all by myself... It truly is a thing of beauty!!! Faux Harp is magical, like a magical far away place where you can go to and sit back and dream...
‘PufnStuf’, ‘Witchiepoo’ and ‘Fire Truck’, acrylic, gouache and plasterol on rag are really quite stunning works in there own right with an abundance of childhood memories with dream like reflections taken from H.R PufnStuf!!!
Did some of us have a crush on that black haired boy? And was anyone scared of Witchiepoo, I think I was a bit...
‘Lotus Shag Pile’, cotton yarn, acrylic fibre is a piece to be reckoned with, it’s beauty is beyond everything, you just have to kneel down and stroke the work to really appreciate it’s true beauty and the amount of work gone into recreating these beautiful lotus pads and flowers... I’m a little gobsmacked!!!
Sarah’s attention to detail is to be praised, this is why we wait with bated breath for her work... For every flower is a lovingly crafted jewel...
Of all the art competitions I have entered, The Gallipoli Art Prize is the hardest one of all and as an artist you really have to step out of your comfort zone to fully appriecate the concept of War and convey it to canvas.. Transporting yourself to a time that no longer exists and to a War that so many young lives were lost... 43 finalists made it onto the walls of the tiny city club with a selection of landscapes, portraits and still life's of family history...
Remembrance abound with the many heartfelt images, but only some caught my eye like ‘Life, Death and Mateship’ oil on board by Robert Hannaford which has been infused by his own personal fight with his health, it’s a strong image and reworked from the inaugural year. Ahmet Aksu’s ‘Anzac’s Top Soldiers’, oil on canvas gives us a stoic and memorable lineup of the men in charge and ‘Now & Then’, acrylic on linen by Chris Leaver is a small but powerful reminder... ‘The Sphinx at Gallipoli’, oil on canvas by Garry Shead brings us an image of one that has been with the artist for some time, but only now has been realized...
Karen Scott’s ‘Remembrance’, mixed media on canvas is heavily pitted by so many family members who served in the 2 Wars. ‘Remembrance Highway (Heading North)’, oil on wood by Maryanne Wick offers us a snapshot of roadside silhouette memories of a war torn landscape in an effective way. ‘Nurse’, oil on canvas by Peter Gardiner, gave me another chance to hang on the same walls as him and the ‘The Widow’s Legacy’, oil on canvas by Peter Smeeth reveals a true treasure...
I feel honored and privileged to have been hung 4 times in this prize including this year and like so many others will endeavour to do so for the next 4 years until the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in 2015...
I’ve not seen Declan’s work since I put him in my Top 4 from the NAS Grad Show of 2009!!!
These paintings reflect a new beginning for all of us, some may see reflections of other favourite artists while others see a fresh approach to the landscape.. We spoke briefly and he reminded myself of when I was first starting out.. A mad rush in the last weeks before the opening.. We all did that, but we all know now that it can lead to an early burn out.. So please Declan pace yourself...
As the sweet ‘Midnight’, oil on canvas is an enticing introduction we can see that Declan is not afraid of colour, both ‘Yellow Landscape’ and ‘Blue Landscape’ oil on canvas captures the air of the day perfectly... While ‘Vegetation’ and ‘Clearing’ also oil on canvas gets us ready for an onslaught of small reminders, all acrylic on canvas, which may be small but look closely and you’ll see a clear view of what he perceives in this wonderful landscape, playing with day and night... Light and airy which complements dark and moody!!!
‘Night Landscape’ oil on canvas is gorgeous, just gorgeous, what more can I say!!!
And ‘Indigo River I & II’ oil on canvas, love it!! ‘Ghost Gums I & II’, oil on canvas, offers a playful approach and with both parents as painters it’s not surprising he’s turned out the way he has...
Declan’s first Solo is both strong and intelligent, he has a lot to offer and I can see a bright future ahead!!!
Had to go early so to see the work and make a nice little video to celebrate this show and this wonderful gallery space... Don’t think any work in this show show’s fault or lags behind, and with such an intimate space they all work so well together, well what more would you want...
‘The small visible’, by Marisa Purcell, this painting to me is deeply moving, you can feel the energy as if it’s that light at the end of the tunnel that we all swear we’ve seen and it’s also complimented by a small gouache work by yours truly, it’s one of my favourites from my last show and after meeting and talking to people about it I realized the subject is as old as my art career, shock horror gasp!!!
‘DWLE no.3, 4 and 5’ by Eric Ng are truly amazing detailed delights and really you have to be quick when you want to buy a work, none of this lallygagging or you miss out as I did...
‘For the love of colour’ and ‘Polka dots fill the sky’ by Melita Oram shows the lighter but more serious side to semi abstraction, for me it’s the beginning starting with geometry, and as ‘Balls’ by Matthew Allen is a beautiful softly spoken work sits quietly but effectively next to ‘Water #1’ by Douglas McCloskey a stunning photo produced from his Nokia, mmmm nice work!!!
An interesting piece by Julie Burke, ‘Peter Brock: muscle memory (8 hour autograph)’, it’s surprising as I was only talking to someone just recently about the affect of muscle memory, something quite amazing and it’s a beautiful work to boot... ‘#6 Short Street’ by Sophie Holvast is intense and as I was looking at it I felt of twinge of RSI but it’s a wonderful piece and so is ‘Untitled’ by Anna Fraser giving us a double whammie... And not to forget ‘San Cresci, drawing no.2’ by Maria Gorton, a moving dark mystery, beautifully executed and loved how it wasn’t square on the paper, just lovely...
I won’t allow anyone to miss seeing this show, I feel quite honored to be in it, I love this gallery and the book shop it’s sharing with gives it just that little bit extra that other galleries don’t!!!
Dick Weight’s exhibition had me at the title ‘Bush Runes’... Another great opening with many familiar faces and walls of strong iconic paintings.
Dick was born out of the baby push, a founding member and full-time resident of the amazing Yellow House, Artistic Director, refurbishment of Luna Park and a volunteer in the Bush Fire Brigade in Wollombi...
These things and more make up the man and the painter... These paintings are Art on a stick. I couldn’t get over just how Australian they really were and could feel the ground crackling under my feet and imagine the colour of the bush stripped back to a paler rougher shade.
These are beautiful works of edgy line, bright and creamy buttery colour and slippery surface all a wonder for the masterful use of acrylic paint...
Dick is giving an Artist Talk 12.00pm - 1.00pm Saturday 9th April at his exhibition. His voice like his paintings must be seen to be heard... Don’t miss it!!!
With the devastation that a construction site can produce it was a great relief to find a serene exhibition on at the COFAspace... Kieran McInnes landscapes are beautiful, from tight references to flat landscapes and picturesque cloudscapes to a much looser approach to our vivid landscape...
I fell in love with ‘Lake Study, and ‘Lagoon Study’ both oil on plywood, sublime constant beauty which I found hard to leave. ‘Tennis Courts’, oil on plywood and ‘Dress Circle’, oil on canvas showed us an essence of a storm, loved the sky and the sketchy reflection of it’s former self. ‘Wisemen’s Ferry Road’ oil on plywood looks deep into the sky and the 3 faces (palms) below it...
Kieran can obviously give some of our better known landscape painters a definite run for their money!!!
Check out ‘Views’, charcoal, ink wash and pencil on paper as they are a must see. ‘Three Islands’ and ‘Low Tide’ both oil on canvas are just really really lovely with references to a landscape Kieran spent time observing as in Scotland... So if you love a good landscape painting show then please please go and see this show, it’s has been extended till the 8th April!!!
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