Weathering a Life

The weather is changing. Everyone is aware of it. We are having hotter summers with more severe bushfires and at present we are beset with flooding rains. This is a global issue although each of us does try to make a difference. I find that I react to it in my art, like my artistic response after the devastating bushfires of 2019/20. A few weeks after the fires I photographed the bushfire-ravaged areas around my coastal home. Although this was very sad because of the destruction and the lack of animal, bird and inset life I was inspired by the renewal and growth of the native eucalypts. This prompted my textile response called ReCover, which was eventually exhibited in February 2022.

After these fires, the weather pattern changed and from early 2021 we were having higher rainfall. In early 2022 this became catastrophic and rivers rose and unprecedented flood levels occurred in low-lying areas. To date this is still happening.

I wanted to create a visual response to this and began to photograph the erosion of the coastline and the new exposed rock faces in my local area. These inspired me to begin a series of drawings and textile pieces related this erosion of the beach areas in Jervis Bay. Our bay is very large (four times bigger in area and six times bigger in volume than Sydney Harbour) so is not directly in the firing line of the huge seas but the run off from the small creeks and the increasing number of high tides caused severe damage.

Although the weathering was in some places terrible. I found lines and shapes in this landscape that appealed to me in a visual sense. I also began just photographing the ever-changing tidal areas where the sand had moved to another part of the beach exposing the beach rocks.

My art has always explored a connection with landscape and the environment. I combine the visuals and stories of place and memory.

I began to use the colours of ageing and rusted metal and old wood. I have been heavily involved in textiles over the last few years and it was fun to draw again. I found willow charcoal suited the theme and colouring of the rocks along with natural ochres.

I also had a series of old survey maps, which I ripped and collaged. I found the use of rock salt on ink also created an aged patina and surface.

In late 2021 I applied to out local regional gallery to have an exhibition with an artistic friend and we were knocked back. I then applied to Strathnairn Arts and we were accepted to exhibit in late 2022.

I then began in earnest to create a body of work. The photographs were enlarged to A4 and were stuck up around my studio.

My first drawing was in willow and compressed charcoal. I sketched and ripped and collaged to ‘Imperial’ size paper. (76x 56 cm) using heavy and robust bamboo paper. These were almost frenetic in appearance. I had no wish to reproduce the landscape itself, but what I felt and experienced. I aimed for an abstract representation having no desire to faithfully or literally reproduce.

Over the following months I experimented and created. Some works sat for weeks at a time on my easel for weeks at a time while I added or rubbed away. Others were a frenzied week of activity. My studio is light and airy and I am aware of the ‘weather’ outside. This and my photo inspirations and my quick preliminary sketches assist me when creating.

Sometimes they did not work and as the bamboo paper is strong I would wash everything off and add more. My small ‘Fragment’ works with ink and salt were just this. I washed and scrubbed, cut them up and added gold.

Our bump in day eventually arrived and Judy and I drove to Canberra (my birthplace) and began to hang our work in the Strathnairn Gallery.

The opening was at Strathnairn on Wednesday November 16. That day started with a quick drop in temperature and hailstorms. The hail was thick amongst the flowers in the beautiful garden, which surround the old homestead galleries of Strathnairn Arts.

By 5 pm the sun was shining and although quite chilly (it is Canberra) the opening was successful with friends, interested art people and relatives.