Exhibition July2021

 Crossdale5

Condensery. Somerset Regional Art Gallery

We had a very enjoyable opening. Work was curated by the Gallery Director, Rachel Arndt and hung with help from the galleries enthusiastic volunteers.

I thought it was lovely to arrive just prior to opening to be greeted by family and friends, without the hassle of  organizing labels, hanging our work, or having to organize the food and beverages. Having all the tasks associated with a exhibition, completed for us, was hugely satisfying.

Due to the fear Covid is creating, we were all masked and unable to enthusiastically hug, but we were thrilled to see the number of people attending and hear their responses to our work.

Sold several works, and as usual, could have sold the same half a dozen works, several times over. In fact I did find that four works have been sold twice and it is something I am trying to remedy. (Have established a web site, sharonleeart.com so that works can be purchased direct, and there should be no future mix-ups.) 

                                       

Glimpses inscribed

Visual Haiku

Multifarious

Moment in mind

Psychodrama in colour

Transient cyclorama

Family. As usual, I want to thank my supportive family who keep me going with their enthusiasm and support. They are wonderful. Arron and Lisa, you are darlings. We loved you being there with us and spending the week while we recouped after house fire and exhibition opening.

 Thank you Bri for flowers, they are glorious. In no way are they a substitute for you not being able to leave Sydney - in lock-down, due to Covid -  or for you not being able to make another eloquent speech - but the phone calls and bouquet were appreciated.

Friends. Nothing can ever  replace the genuine love and support you provide. Your contribution throughout my time Coddiwompling and at the opening, is noted. Your the best. Thank you.

Now to start work towards the next exhibition, BIRDS at the Brisbane Institute of Art, in 2022. 

FUN!!!!!

Somerset Regional Art Gallery

 CROSSDALE5

 Exhibition opening 

 Saturday July 24,  2021

 Five artists from Crossdale - Sharon, Shirley, Jane, Ian, Jan

Sharon Lee

With fear of climate change and the arrival of Covid-19, 2020-21 encouraged me to coddiwomple - to travel purposefully forward to an as-yet-unknown destination. En route discovering how necessary it is that we maintain hope. 

With hope in mind, I have created bright, multi-layered narratives. Each a visual haiku of the memories I yearn to keep and dearly hope persist. 

In the works on canvas I have started with a black background, and over this I have layered acrylic glazes to establish the painting, before finishing with rich lushness and viscosity of oils; the brightness signifying new beginnings and growth. The inclusion of birds represents: wisdom, adaptation, diligence, rebirth, courage and all the many attributes we will need to use to repair and maintain our ecosystem.

At the commencement of my coddiwompling story and at the end, I have placed sculptures with a serious question in mind, If nature was watching would you be kinder? A third sculpture designed as a nest, while asking the same question, does hint at the chance of new beginnings. Each piece combines the use of found objects, paper clay, acrylic and resin.

The works display my continuing appreciation for nature and her ability to re-calibrate and rejuvenate, without ignoring the undesirable aspects of: a world without; a world with too much; and a world which cannot sustain.

 

Sharon Lee

ARTIST

Growing up in Papua New Guinea, living on an isolated Island in Bougainville, and then moving to acreage in Crossdale, Queensland, I have always felt fortunate to be able to observe and interpret the kaleidoscope of colors and designs in nature. While owning an art supply shop within the Brisbane Institute of Art for more than a decade and managing an Artist retreat allowed me to observe and learn many creative, technique based processes.

In my work I combine my appreciation for a good story with the excitement I get from rearranging nature’s complex - and often ephemeral assemblages. Max Ernst (1891 – 1976) said, ‘an artist must have one eye on the outer world, while the other eye looks towards the inner world.’ It is with this in mind that I create multi-layered paintings evocative of the landscape, while inserting an irrational or troublesome idea into the imagery. However, unlike the melancholy of Ernst, I hope my works are a joyful experience, encouraging the viewer to connect with their own memories and conscience. Hopefully creating their own unique narrative.

RustRoo workshop

WOOPS! Try later . . .

Last minute dash

GARDEN

Deciding that the 4mm ply was suitable for my project, I knew I had to attend every available Wednesday laser-cut Bump-in session, at The Edge, over the next few months - to ensure all nine works were completed in time for exhibiting. . . 
(Thank you to the incredible team at The Edge who show an incredible degree of patience and enthusiasm . . .)
However, I did not predict the unforeseen breakages during sanding and printing. . . which needed to be re-cut. More time.

And, I realised that quite a few of the drawings I had developed into Vector files, once cut, were no longer works I wanted to be included in the exhibition. . . . 

 

So, it was always back to the drawing, painting and observing the garden, at the Rusty Roo, for inspiration.

                                     Small oil studies

Night visitor

Another aspect of an exhibition is the artists statement. The accompanying explanation for the process of the work. 

The concept.


Being at The Edge, at the State Library, I found I was encouraged by people I encountered, to keep building on my desire for story-telling.  (note . . not grammar or spelling!) 










I realised that Art, Gardens and Test, despite being unique dialects, when amalgamated, they echoed and supplemented each other. It was through my exploration of text which helped me come to terms with the complexity of imagery, I discovered each day in our garden.

From sunrise to sunset a constant array of ever-changing imagery.

 

I also noticed there was as much desire to see the laser-cut as there was to hear how and why I had developed each image.

Participation - CHOICE

There are numerous lasting, precious gifts we can pass on to our children: knowledge, clean air, fertile soil, solitude, growth, and others are fur and wings. However, birds, animals and man are worlds apart in their abilities to build. Man deconstructs, reconstructs and often destroys, while birds manage to leave the landscape as it was before.

Only eight more to write . . . .  no pressure!!!!