THE well-respected members of the Warwick Artists Group will present their new exhibition Rural Living at Warwick Art Gallery from Thursday 15 May.
For the first time the painters and the textile artists will combine their work for this stunning exhibition that celebrates rural life in 2014.
The group, upon confirming their inclusion in the gallery program, commenced a process of developing an exhibition theme. A sub-committee of four members, Dawn Marriage, Sue Keong, Dorothy Devine and Shirley Monaghan, was established to co-ordinate the process.
Respected local artist Tom Benkendorff was approached to help develop a theme for the exhibition. The chosen theme will resonate with the local audience and allows for the greatest diversity of artwork treatments.
Rural Living generates images of parched landscapes to flooded dams and creeks, from farmyard junk to the bustle of shearing in the shed, from the tree dotted vistas to the order and colour in the vineyard and magnificent homesteads to abandoned and ruined buildings of yesteryear.
“I cannot think of a broader and more encompassing theme,” Tom said. “It is perfect for the first combined exhibition for Warwick Artists Group”.
Group members were provided with mentoring sessions to develop theme-related ideas for their projects. Sandy Pottinger, art critic and writer with the Toowoomba Chronicle, conducted a workshop for members at the Willi Street Studio to assist them to develop artist’s statements to accompany their artwork. The group were inspired and motivated by Sandy’s knowledge and generosity and have invited her to officially open the exhibition on Friday 16 May, to 6pm.
The exhibition sub-committee has also nurtured ideas for the exhibition during their skill development classes. To enhance the group’s participation in this collaborative exhibition, members have also been encouraged to contribute a small artwork for a group mosaic that will be installed in the Gallery Foyer exhibition space.
Textile artisans from the group have worked for six months to complete a beautiful quilt for that will be raffled during the exhibition. The raffle proceeds will go towards the development of art practice in this community by supporting a wearable fashion parade competition in November. Part of the proceeds will be donated the Warwick Women’s Shelter.
The Rural Living exhibition will be at the Warwick Art Gallery from 15 May to 6 July.
