Elise Archer,Minister for the Arts
A new exhibition celebrating a talented Tasmanian artist and honouring her creative resilience in the wake of the devastating 2013 Dunalley bushfire is opening tonight at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG).
Gay Hawkes: The House of Longing showcases the work of Tasmanian furniture maker, sculptor and artist, Gay Hawkes and recognises her commitment to her practice as an artist and educator over 40 years.
It is the latest in TMAG’s series of exhibitions focused on living Tasmanian artists, following previous showcases for David Keeling, Julie Gough, Patrick Hall and Philip Wolfhagen.
Ms Hawkes is a well respected artist whose work is firmly grounded in her Tasmanian life and experiences.
She uses found materials such as horizontal scrub, driftwood and shipping pallets to create her furniture, and her work has been included in major arts festivals and acquired by national and state collecting institutions.
In 2013 Ms Hawkes suffered a tragic loss when her studio and home were destroyed in the Dunalley bushfire, along with her tools and an irreplaceable collection of her life’s work.
The House of Longing presents works created by Ms Hawkes before and after the fire, bringing together pieces from the TMAG collection, loans from other institutions and private lenders, as well as works from her personal collection.
Gay Hawkes: The House of Longing exhibits at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from 18 March to 28 August 2022. Entry is free.
