Third Annual Sculpture Show and Growing!

The Third Dimension

25 September to 20 December 2011

When Jayes Gallery decided in 2009 to create the first ever annual Sculpture Exhibition for Cabonne Country, they weren't aware just how big these events can be! Inspired by the thought of providing a viable and commercial space for sculptors to show and sell their works, Jayes Gallery set up the outdoor garden area to house these large pieces. The number of art lovers now coming to Jayes to see and purchase large works is inspiring indeed.

This year, although the number of sculptures remains the same, the stature and renown of the sculptors included in the exhibition has increased and the standard of works has therefore increased substantially as well.

Extending the exhibition to include 3D objects has added another dimension to this year's event. Jewelers Sarah Whitlock and Skye Bragg, each with their own beautifully crafted pieces will surely delight those coming along. Ceramicists Simon Reece, Sugden Hamilton and Marjo Carter have produced exceptional works for this year's event. Add to these, large glassworks by Joe Shalhoub to add to the temptation of coming to Jayes Gallery and Sculpture Gardens in Molong.

Just a sneak peek past ceramic blades by Simon Reece to the marble works of Hutchinson.

14 sculptors, 2 silversmiths, 4 ceramicists, 2 glassworkers - 22 3D artists in all!

The show will be opened by Orange Regional Gallery Director, Alan Sisley on Sunday September 25 at 2 pm and everyone is welcome on the day. We look forward to bringing another stunning show of sculptures and 3D works to the region for art lovers and alike.

"Elemental Sky" by Aida Pottinger

"Reflections" Acrylic & Oil on Canvas 50 cm x 70 cm

Artist’s Statement – Aida Pottinger

My mother was a Latvian refugee who fled the Russian invasion of Latvia into Germany and from there; she went as a refugee to England where she met my father. I was conceived in Lancashire and was born in Yorkshire where I was neither English nor Latvian. This exhibition tracks the landscapes linking mother and daughter. A powerful and emotional journey through war and migration, connecting Europe, England and Australia together. Land has a powerful hold over one’s identity. It is part memory, part anchor, part mystery. Peter Haynes, Director of ACT Museums and Galleries describes my work as “highly atmospheric, dream-like presentation with an air of mystery and nostalgia which captures the veils of memory”

I work in a variety of mediums including oils acrylics and ink and while working with a particular location in mind I am not bound by an exact recreation – I prefer to let intuition and the medium dictate what happens on the surface, exploring images which arrest the eye and are arrived at spontaneously. Working from life and landscape as a jumping off point. I like to push the source material to capture an atmosphere or mood visually echoing memories and emotions. My work emerges out of a landscape I may be working on and is a subconscious recognition of how the earth gives birth, nurtures, sustains and eventually reclaims the life on it.

My interests in composition, atmosphere and light reflect several of my artistic influences. First is the tradition of romantic landscape and the obvious influences of JMW Turner and Caspar David Friedrich.  A second direct influence on my work are the works of  Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, who explored spatial structure and resonant colours in their abstract works. My work continues in these traditions by constructing landscapes that directly and meaningfully resonate to the viewers’ presence and engagement.

"Birdsong" by Lucy Watts

"Quenching the morning's thirst" Acrylic & Oil on Canvas 45 cm x 45 cm

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

The beautiful Australian Magpie has always inspired me. As a young girl I clearly remember looking through an enormous arch shaped window of a very old building onto towering gum trees. I was searching for the group of magpies that were making the most heavenly sound. I had just started in the junior school choir at the time and we practised once or twice a week. I thought “These birds are incredible. Here they are throwing together a complex choral masterpiece on a whim from the trees when we, in the school choir, were struggling to hold a two-part harmony.”

Much later I learned that these stunning bird songs were actually battle tunes performed to assert territorial dominance but at the time their music seemed like a glorious celebration of the Australian bush. It’s hard to imagine a bush setting like this without the melodious warbling of the Australian Magpie. This idea of the magpie song celebrating Australia’s natural beauty is the inspiration behind this exhibition.

The remote property where we live is in the Central Western farming district of NSW. Our garden drops away to a patchwork of endless plains that move with the seasons. The quilt of paddocks is set against a backdrop of deep blue mountains. In the early morning members of the huge colony of magpies that have made our garden and paddocks beyond their home, play in the garden together. They teach their young to fly from the nearby power-lines. For hours they supervise their young as they copy the technique their parents have displayed earlier. They duck and weave among the trees, dance under our sprinkler and warble atop our Hills Hoist. Their antics never fail to entertain and fascinate me.

My intention with this body of work has been to capture the personality, energy and texture of these wonderful creatures.

Marjo Carter - Outstanding Ceramics!

Born in Tasmania in 1953, and now working out of Bathurst in the Central West, Marjo Carter is an outstanding ceramicist.

Marjo tells us: "Central to the aims and objectives of my work is the integrated use of clay and hand rendered letter forms. As a calligrapher, I am interested in the particular aspects and qualities which govern calligraphy and sets calligraphic writing apart from other forms of visual text. As a potter, I am interested in using clay as the medium for writing, rather than the more traditional and familiar surfaces such as paper. This in itself, is quite a challenge as clay bodies vary enormously, and differing textures and qualities have significant impact on both choice and implementation of scripts."

The gallery invites you to come and view these beautiful statement pieces. We look forward to seeing you in Molong, just 20 minutes west of the City of Orange.

Art & Alchemy!

Like the process of alchemy, turning base metals to gold, Fresh Arts is about turning collective, raw talent into gold. The artworks in the “Alchemy” exhibition are diversely rich in concept, medium and execution.

Image by Rita Bruce

Alchemy, like art, is both a philosophy and a practice focused on transmutation. Digital prints, paintings in acrylic, oil and watercolour, wire and bone have been transformed into works that show the breadth and depth of creativity within the Fresh Arts collective. There are sixteen artists coming together for this show, bringing with them unique responses to the “alchemy” theme – explored through extensive research, playful experimentation with the medium or simply drawing upon their own personal narratives.

Image by Jack Randell

Image by Leanne Watt

Formed in 2004, Fresh Arts seeks out exhibition opportunities for its members and promotes professional arts practice in a region currently incorporating the towns of Dubbo, Geurie, Narromine, Gilgandra and Warren. There are currently about 30 artist members in the collective, who exhibit together several times a year.

Artists showing are:

Kim Goldsmith, Lara Scolari, Jack Randell, Tamara Lawry, Stuart Stendall, Merryn Spencer, Vicki Gainsford, Laura Holland, Nicola McCutcheon, Penny Volkofsky, Leanne Watt, Annette Simpson, Gill Pedrana, Rita Bruce, Jude Fleming, Jude Morrell

Kim Goldsmith describes her work so: As an artist who often works in digital mediums, I feel there is often a degree of magic that occurs between capturing an image with a machine and the processes it then goes through to become something recognised as an artwork. Anyone can grab a digital camera and take photos these days, and even publish them. But art has an extra element; something that is often intangible or unexplainable. A dead bat found on the driveway can become an object of fascination when enlarged through digital processes and illuminated.

Image by Kim Goldsmith

Don't miss this show!

Bringing the Tuscan home!

Jayes Gallery & Sculpture Gardens is delighted to be able to bring you an amazing array of new artworks, ceramics and sculptures from artists across Central West NSW.

Nicole Parkins

Autumn is on it’s way and while the countryside gets painted in asounding colours right before our eyes, Jayes Gallery is pleased to be showing the works of Nicole Parkins, a newcomer t this region. For Nicole’s first solo show with us, she has painted a selection of small and delightful works inspired by her journeys in Tuscany. Nicole tells us that this regional reminds her of Tuscany with its rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and woodlands dotting the landscape.

Her works are colourful and joyful and we invite you to join us on Sunday 10 April at 2 pm for the opening of Nicole’s show.

Nicole says of her work “First stop on my first venture out of Australia was in the beautiful medieval village of Montecastello, Umbria, Italy. Many of the works on paper in this exhibition were completed while doing a residency in this little town on top of a hill surrounded by classic Italian countryside.  The town itself was gorgeous; rustic charm hugged every doorway, corner, or stone paved lane way.  From the 360 view around the town, white roads and rivers meandered through the countryside, which I frequently ventured out into on walks, gathering images in my mind to take home.  Later, on my return to my studio in Australia, I completed further studies and painted the canvas series.  My works are reflections on the many moods of myself, the changing landscape and the stories that it can create and tell.”

Marjo Carter

We are delighted to bring you a small selection of smoke fired pottery from well known potter, Marjo Carter. Margo’s works are highly sought after and once again, she has excelled in the works in this collection.

"The Living Landscape" by Georgia Mansur

Georgia Mansur grew up in California and moved to Australia in 1984, settling with husband Pete on a cotton property one hour west of Moree, NSW. This isolated new environment gave Georgia the opportunity to look inward for her source of creativity and self-expression. Painting and communicating her world became an inner wellspring of discovery and joy for the artist.

Now living on their vineyard in Mudgee, Georgia has continued to explore watercolour, pastels, acrylics, mixed media and oils to find the best way to express her fascination with nature. Being able to share through art that original emotion of being moved by nature; watching the shadows grow long against the setting sun is a wonderful expression of the human experience.

A particular interest in helping others to see the way light and colour on form produces artistic ‘magic’ drives Georgia to share this passion with others.

Teaching and communicating about creativity and self expression through art has been a fulfilling experience for the artist. As Artist in Residence at Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, as well as teaching workshops around the country and overseas, Georgia enjoys that interaction from helping others to tap into the natural creativity within us.

Having completed a Bachelor of Communication at CSUS (California), Georgia feels painting is another level to communicate with others in a way that goes beyond words. Making a connection with the viewer of one’s artworks and truly touching and inspiring them with what you have created is this artist’s ultimate goal.

Georgia has studied with many well known Australian and International painting masters, including Joseph Zbukvic, Herman Pekel, Patrick Carroll, Alvaro Castagnet, David Taylor, Colley Whisson, Chris Brown, Colina Grant, Les McDonough, Mignon Parker, Jeff Rigby, Jerry Fresia (Italy) and Gil Dellinger, Terry Miura and Ignat Ignatov (California) to name a few.

Georgia was a finalist in the 2008 Country Energy $35,000 Landscape Prize, and has won many awards, including First Prizes in art shows with judges Edmund Capon (Director Art Gallery of NSW), Justin Miller (Director Sotheby’s Australia), Georgina Pemberton (Australian Paintings-Sotheby’s), as well as being selected for the Calleen Art Prize, Cowra (twice), The Rocks Market Art Prize (3 times) and winner of the People’s Choice Award ‘Driven to Abstraction’, Mudgee.

Georgia participated in the San Clemente Plein Air event and Quick Draw in June 2010 and also was the recipient of the Cyndee Van de Walker Scholarship sponsored by LPAPA (Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc) in July 2010.

Georgia's work is now showing in the Wells Fargo Bank Collection in Laguna Beach, California and at Randy Higbee Gallery in Los Angeles.

Georgia teaches at the Mudgee TAFE (Technical and Further Education) and is currently delivering Creativity/Mixed Media, Exploring Colour/Watercolours and an Arts Marketing course to help others get their career off the ground.

The artist has recently returned from the Northern Territory in outback Australia teaching art workshops and touring Kakadu National Park.  

Upcoming workshops and events:

Cortona, Italy 17-24 Sept 2011~ Plein Air Workshop

Santorini Greece 28 Sept-5 Oct 2011~ Plein Air Workshop

Grafton Artsfest 13-16 April 2011~ Mixed Media Workshop

Australian International Plein Air Event 10-22 March 2012

Artist in Residence at Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef, 2011 dates to be confirmed

*Georgia is a Certified International Golden Paints Artist Educator *

Georgia Mansur’s work is in collections in Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Painting is a form of communication that acts as a bridge directly from me

to you, no words necessary.  My intense passion to explore creates a process in which I am exposed and made vulnerable—my personal perceptions weave their way into pieces, imprinting like an individual stamp.

It is this honesty that I am looking for and it is all there, if we take the time to look for it.

My work is shaped by a deep connection to the land---growing up in a farming community in California, my years in the Australian Bush, as well as time spent on our Mudgee vineyard. The natural environment, in all its ugliness and all its glory, fascinates me--- echoing human nature in an intriguingly similar way.

Colour and light motivate me, fueling my passion to paint. Painting is like music, creating a reaction, evoking a mood---sometimes bold and vibrant, sometimes soft and reflective---expressing and enriching our lives.

I am most inspired by the changing light and how it affects forms so dramatically. Early morning/late afternoon are my favourite times of day to watch the sun moving, casting long shadows and creating wonderful drama, throwing everything into a balance of light and dark, soft and hard edges.

Communicating in the language of visual art is very satisfying for me to express what I think and feel; even more powerful when the message is received by the viewer, linking us in a way not possible before.

Sometimes words are inadequate and painting helps

me put a finger on my emotions and express them,

creating an awareness within.

In some ways it is like a key to a secret passageway~

a beautiful place of possibilities and connection to all humanity.