The current exhibition at Gallery Bodalla assembles showcases three incredibly talented artists, Jennifer Taylor and Cheryl Davison and beautiful glass works by Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, whose works all intertwine with by way of influence and by spirit. Cheryl Davison returns with new works to this exhibition and is joined by contemporary urban Aboriginal (Arrente) glass artist Jenni Kemarre Martiniello (right) from Canberra.
Jenni's glass works are not to be missed and if you should happen upon Jenni during your visit you will be further delighted. To give context Jenni graduated from the then Canberra School of Arts, now ANU School of Art and Design, in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual), majoring in Sculpture. Since university, Jenni has worked in mediums such as print making, photography, textiles, mixed media and glass. As a writer, Jenni has published six anthologies and a collection of poetry, with her writing being translated into Arabic, Spanish and Polish. In 1999 Jenni founded the ACT Indigenous Writers Group and remained the project coordinator until 2013. Jenni also received an ACT Creative Arts Fellow for Literature in 2003. In 2011 Jenni was recognised for her contribution to the community on an honour roll of 100 inspirational local ACT women to mark the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. In 2013, Jenni received the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for her piece, Golden Brown Reeds Fish Trap. Her work is in numerous public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Corning Museum of Glass USA, and the British Museum, UK. Jenni is represented by Sabbia Gallery in Sydney and Paul Johnstone Gallery in Darwin. Jenni’s exceptional 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. 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”. 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 three outstanding artists will be at Gallery Bodalla through to 14th January. 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
