By Karina Devine
How do you define “place” and how is it associated to memories of life events? Whether joyful or unpleasant, these memories of places are imprinted into the fibre of our being.
The members of the Toowoomba Art Group have collectively left their homes or farms in the bush and relocated to Toowoomba. Through the works in this exhibition’ the artists express their changed horizons and reflect on the things, places and people they have left behind.
Warwick Art Gallery is proud to present an exhibition by eight members of the Toowoomba Art Group in the Orange Wall Gallery. The featured artists had lived a long time in their previous homes and leave many memories and associations behind when they relocated. Some of them associate their bush home with an overwhelming memory of freedom. Others are relieved to move to a gentler, kinder climate and relish their ‘residential retirement’ after a life as a farmer.
The members of the Toowoomba Art Group express themselves and their feelings in their chosen art medium. They have moved from one place to another – they’ve left their hearts and souls out west and they’re searching for a new identity in suburbia. Some of them grew up in the city and went west when they married, adopting a different lifestyle and learning to adapt and eventually love their country life.
Others grew up on the land, perhaps in a different part of Queensland or in a different country.
Group spokesperson Jane Bridle explains how all the members of the group have one thing in common.
“We have all moved to Toowoomba and retired, if you like, from our previous existence We are adjusting as best we can to our changed horizons”, said Jane, “The way we can adjust most easily is to ‘paint our new world”.
The participating artists are Jane Bridle, Diane Hill, Irina Kobald, Carol McCormack, Sue McIntyre, Priscilla Mundell, Bob Nason and Jan Shaw
Changing Horizons is on display at Warwick Art Gallery 19 January to 4 March 2023. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Closed on public holidays.
