Southern Light is a series of paintings celebrating the unique light and beauty of Antarctica. Hannah Blackmore depicts this isolated environment through her indirect experience as the partner of an Antarctic expeditioner, and shares why we need to protect this natural wonder of the world.
Southern Light is intended to increase public awareness of the beauty of Antarctica, and the important work that takes place to protect this unique environment.
“I have not been to Antarctica. However, it has become an important part of my life over the past ten years. I have been married for ten years, and my husband has spent a third of that time in Antarctica. It has become part of our relationship, and we also have a close circle of friends who visit Antarctica regularly. It is a place I have developed a strong connection to, through my indirect experience as an artist.
As a painter, I am drawn to colour and light, and the light of Antarctica is something I have found captivating in the images I have seen. I have created a series of semi-abstract landscapes depicting the natural beauty of Antarctica, to show the importance of taking care of our Antarctic legacy. I do hope to travel to Antarctica one day, and capture the beauty I see with paint. For now, I shall share my interpretation and experience through the people in my life with you.” – Hannah Blackmore
Life Drawing : charcoal studies, constructed objects, and photographs that draw on Medieval tapestries, industrial diagrams, wunderkammers, natural history collections, and maps to explore the multiple meanings of Drawing and Life, by Marinelle Basson.
“Life draws : squiggles, paw-prints, and traces – imprints of brachiopod shells from hundreds of millions of years ago in the mudstone of our garden. Less fixed are the flight-lines of insects and birds; harder to spot are the underground drawings of worms, roots, and billions of microscopic creatures. Life is everywhere, even in the darkest underwater. How it wriggles, squeezes out of tight spots, returns after disasters and thrives, or hangs by the thinnest of threads… fragile threads so easily cut: species lost, links severed.
We draw too : tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors drew with charcoal and ochre on rocks and in caves. Humans have drawn with enormous stone structures, and tiny shell beads, with feet leaving footprints and tracks like wallabies do. We continue to mark the world as we cut and build, dig and dredge. We remove mountain tops, re-route waterways, change everything… our marks getting bigger and bolder.
For me, drawing is mark-making and conversation, listening and responding with charcoal on paper, or tearing, scrumpling, wrapping, pinning. It’s a way of getting to know intimately, distilling the essence of something; a way to explore edges: animate|inanimate, animal-self|human-self. I draw upon life which has drawn me, which still draws me: not just the lines on my hands, but my whole way of being in the world, and what I cherish the most.” – Marinelle Basson
More than a century ago, Australia was introduced to the wonder of Antarctica by the great scientist and explorer Sir Douglas Mawson.
Understanding the continent is key to a deeper understanding of climate, weather and sea level changes. As a nation, Australia has an enduring commitment to protect and preserve Antarctica for future generations.
The debut solo exhibition by emerging Tasmanian artist Nick Hills.
Breathe pushes the themes of life and decay in the natural world to a new level. It’s a menagerie of characters and emotional states, everything from spiders tangled upon melting limbs to whimsically psychedelic animal portraits.
Originally inspired by a need to break through some mental health barriers, Nick’s work is a great insight into the artists mind and the 3-year journey involved in coming out of a difficult time and building up a whole new perspective on life.
Coming from a background in mountain biking and a love of hard metal music (the pieces are named after lyrics from Nick’s favorite bands and musicians), Nick’s unique style is both dark and brightly energetic.
All works are archival inkjet printed on 100% cotton rag museum grade paper by Papermill Printhouse (Melbourne) and Full Gamut (Hobart) and are all framed by Hobart’s finest Wagner Framemakers. All prints are available for purchase. Merchandise, stickers and other accessories are also available for sale down in Spacebar Gallery.
Nick Hills
Nick Hills is an emerging artist based on Tasmania. Nick specialises in digital illustration, creating colourful thought-provoking works.
The Annual Exhibition is the highlight of the Art Society of Tasmania calendar. Artists submit work created in the last 12 months to be judged for prizes from sponsors. Artworks include representation of all mediums and genres, and showcase the skill, talent and imagination of local artists.
New abstract works by Haetaek Choi comprising of a combination of Automatism, Serendipitous, coincidental expression and Eastern calligraphy.
Automatism Through subconscious, automatic acts of creativity, l strive to express how one is able to visually put to canvas the subconscious visual reality that comes to mind without meticulous planning. Through brush strokes, this instant interpretation of the chaotic unconscious world explores the concept of automatism.
Serendipitous, coincidental expressionism A coincidence is contrary to logos-centred rational thinking. This form of expression combined with automatism produces surprisingly serendipitous artistic results. Although I commence my artwork with a certain image or purpose in mind, I can’t help but accept the end result because it is a result of the convergence between the intentional and unintended.
Eastern calligraphy Amongst the oriental style of brushstrokes, the calligraphy handwriting, which is called chaucer, is a tool where one communicates a clear linguistic message. The varied strength of the brushwork on the canvas however, results in an amazing pictorial image that can be left to further creative interpretation.
“When the three visual elements of Automatism, Serendipity and Eastern calligraphy are combined, I float colours, blend and permeate the paint on canvas, which draws out the contrast between primary and complementary colours.” – Haetaek Choi, Hobart, September 2022
Quietitude. A state of stillness, calmness and quiet in a person or place.
An exhibition of paintings by Salamanca Arts Centre Resident Artist Jane Flowers. In 2021, Jane Flowers completed a two-week Residency in the Short Term Studio (Space 238).
Opening Event Friday 9 September 2022, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
“A love of nature permeates my work. I endeavour to find stillness and a sense of tranquility in landscape and seascape and convert moments in time and space to canvas. Bringing the outside in if you like. Installing a quiet state of repose and serenity to the viewer.
During my Residency in 2021, one of the first things I did was head to Seven Mile, one of my favourite beaches. To clear my head for my residency. I love its vast expanses of tide washed sands; endless skies and expansive views to horizon. Beach combing for visual treasures and walking quiets and resets my mind.
Though I’ve visited Tassie many times, I hadn’t before visited the far reaches of the Huon, and was much taken with the beauty of the waterways. A beauty on the surface that I sadly discovered is being systematically eroded I discovered on reading Richard Flanagan’s Toxic at the end of my Residency. Ironically too – clearing a hillside and or putting through a road cutting allows a better view of the iconic shapes of Tassie’s tall timber.
In this exhibition I’ve explored both the vignette and the wide expanse. Subtle colours distinctive palettes and sheer beauty of southern Tassie’s coastline and hillsides. Previous studies in graphic design encourage my artist eye and the ability to see the landscape in its simplest form. To distill its qualities.
Themes I developed and explored in this show include sunlight on water, delights of beachcombing, the wonder of being at sea, gazing at skies and hillsides, the shape of a sail on the horizon, wind and water, sea and sky, the wonder of treescapes.” – Jane Flowers, August 2022
Jane Flowers
Jane Flowers is an award winning Australian artist who specialises in dramatic oils on canvas of nature, the ocean and the outback. Her unique interpretations create striking artwork that have gained a strong following among art lovers, collectors and interior designers. The landscapes and seascapes that Flowers creates have the ability to make a room come to life by subtlely transforming the natural beauty of the outdoors into a stunning interior space. Flowers draws inspiration from her regular travels to capture the essence of a time and place. A keen yachtswoman, diver, beachcomber and adventurer, Flowers is passionate about the beauty of nature and the natural environment. She has been a professional artist for 30 years following careers in teaching, advertising and graphic design.
Opening Event Friday 22 July 2022 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Paintings, drawings and assemblages from Justine Wake’s recent Arts Residency at Salamanca Arts Centre. The exhibition includes one of Justine’s ‘busking walls’ for people to interact and purchase from, with offerings of their choice.
Working away from home, with kunanyi mountain in sight, Justine Wake’s exhibition focuses on the small things and the very big things of life, using painting, drawing and assemblage. Justine’s exhibitions often incorporate a playful and interactive body of work and in this exhibition there is a ‘busking wall’ taking up an entire wall of the gallery. The wall is covered in paintings and drawings of all sizes and mediums, giving you the chance to spend time considering what stands out and whether any of the works might have a use or meaning for you. If a work ‘lands’, just as a busking musician’s music might ‘land’, the work can be taken home at a price of your own choosing. Works on the busking wall can be marked with a red dot for collection later or removed and taken home on the day.
Justine is a family woman and psychotherapist who has been working in mental health for 22 years and in the field of art psychotherapy for over a decade. Justine has practised as a painter for even longer. The last seven years have seen a more focussed approach to art making for Justine with a number of residencies and solo exhibitions in Meanjin/Brisbane and in Naarm/Melbourne.
Justine Wake is from Meanjin, Queensland and her recent Arts Residency at Salamanca Arts Centre has focussed on harvesting the crops grown from seeds planted over the past few years of her family life and work as a psychotherapist.
The majority of Justine’s art making is a response to ideas and experiences that run through her mind as she goes about daily life. In these reflections, she is often interested in the experience of being ‘betwixt and between’ – who do we become when we are in a space that has no context or a space that exists only due to being between two different states.
“I am in middle age now, an interesting kind of in between time. As a psychotherapist I also spend a lot of my working life in this space with people- supporting emergence from unwelcome or uncomfortable places in between. I am intuitively and also professionally comfortable inhabiting this realm. To explore this in my imagery, I am drawn to the metaphorical richness of colour, the botanical world, animals and the elements.” – Justine Wake
State of Flux Workshop operates from Salamanca Arts Centre as a contemporary jewellery and object gallery and workshop.
State of Flux Workshop strives to create a greater connection with mainland peers and instil themselves in the national and global conversation of contemporary jewellery and objects.
In September 2021, State of Flux Workshop was successful in their bid to exhibit in Radiant Pavilion, Melbourne’s Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial.
The revolving selection of pieces displayed in the Lightbox demonstrate some of the techniques, tools and prototype workings of pieces before they are complete.
Pieces reflecting themes by each of the four individual members of State of Flux Workshop will be on display, alongside slow motion video documentation, giving a closer look at processes behind how things are made.
Get ready to witness a world of amazing acrobatics, classy conjuring, hypnotising hula hoops, and lots and lots of fun. A show for all ages, starring Tony Rooke, Lewie West, Freyja Wild and Conor Wild.
It’s a show where anything is possible with laughs, gasps and giggles guaranteed.
Fun, silly and sandwiched between incredible acrobatic feats.
Tony’s Imaginary Circus will leave you with a skip in your heart and a smile on your face. A family-friendly 45 minutes of gasps and laughs. Expect acrobatics, hula hooping, magic, a rogue clown and music you’ll hum all day.