Gallery Bodalla’s upcoming exhibition features wonderful paintings by Jennifer Taylor and Cheryl Davison and beautiful glass works by Jenni Kemarre Martiniello. The show commences Thursday 14 December and will be opened by Helen Maxwell at drinks with the artists on Saturday 16 December at 3pm with music by guitarist Geoffrey Potter.
Jennifer Taylor spends time between Alice Springs and Cuttagee near Bermagui. Working in oils, she paints with a deep respect and warmth for country, expressed with excellent tonality. The result is beautiful and strong paintings that capture the changing light and caring connection she feels with the land.
“These paintings are of places with which I feel closely connected – home-places – in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Yuin country around Bermagui, and Arrernte country, Central Australia. Plein air painting is the basis of my painting practice. This involves seeking permission from traditional owners, to camp and paint in their country. I don’t think of these as wild places at all. They are contained by patterns of relatedness, care and responsibility. Every one of them is home to some-one,” Jennifer said.
Much loved South coast Aboriginal artist Cheryl Davison lives in Tilba at the foot of Gulaga mountain, where she gains a lot of inspiration for her practice. Working in acrylic and gouache Cheryl’s paintings are distinctly Aboriginal with a strong modern influence. She draws on stories told to her by family about the lands of her ancestors, the Wulbunja and Ngarigo peoples.
“Painting for me is about never forgetting the past – to be proud of my heritage and culture. Aboriginal peoples today still grieve the loss of culture and country. It is through my art I am able to keep the South Coast stories alive”, Cheryl said.
Jennifer and Cheryl are joined by contemporary urban Aboriginal (Arrente) glass artist Jenni Kemarre Martiniello from Canberra. Jenni’s works are inspired by and pay tribute to traditional weavers.
“My aim is to provide recognition for these ancient cultural practices through the contemporary medium of glass, within the aesthetics of both. I have concentrated on the incredibly beautiful forms of traditional woven eel traps, fish traps, fish-scoops and dillibags, seeking to evoke the interplay of light and form found in those objects, and in so doing, create contemporary glass works which are objects of cultural as well as artistic significance,” Jenni said.
These three outstanding artists will be at Gallery Bodalla from 14 December through to 14 January. All are welcome to opening drinks on Saturday 16 December at 3pm.
Gallery Bodalla is open Thursday to Sunday 10.30am-4pm, in the heritage post office, 66a Princes Hwy, Bodalla. 0421 238 174 www.gallerybodalla.com.au
