Ceramic Break Sculpture Park on the Warialda-Bingara Road is open and to celebrate the new year we invite you to join them for our first exhibition of four fabulous artists and one amazing travelling show. And what a day it will be. ‘Threads, Fibres and Figures, Three Women Creating,’ is the work of 3 regional artists, Marilynne Barnes, Gerda Gamper and Sue Taylor. ‘New Creations’ is the show of one of our own highly talented local artists, Yvonne Ledingham and ‘Blindspot’ is a travelling exhibition from Tamworth Regional Art Gallery.
Ceramic Break Sculpture Park follows COVID-19 safe practices. Masks are recommended while in galleries and we remind patrons to practice social distancing.
The works of Marilynne Barnes, Gerda Gamper and Sue Taylor are quite distinct. Marilynne’s subjects are identifiable, round and sometimes fecund; Sue Taylor’s subjects are more abstract and bright and Gerda Gamper’s woven llama wool pieces are gentle, but as artists they have a similar love, enjoyment and purpose in their art making and fully complement each other.
Marilynne claims that as an artist she finds the ‘human form a continual challenge’. Her collection shows that she has the skill, commitment and understanding to rise to that challenge. One of her pieces, ‘3 Figures’ uses a fairly somber palette, lightened with touches of more playful colours with the contrasting positions of the figures drawing our attention and ensuring that we explore ‘the psyche of the subject’.
Sue Taylor feels several aspects combine to impact her artmaking; a connection to the earth, her love and respect of generational skills and the joy and freedom she has discovered in the aging process. Her choice of a bright range of colours expresses this joy and delight. In one of her pieces her expeditious use of dots creates tiny jellyfish shapes that are worth a closer look and the piece itself lifts the spirits.
Greta Gamper initially trained as a photographer and came to fibres, fleeces and dyeing later. Her background is evident in the clarity and complexity of her work. Greta shows locally and the pieces she has included in this show are soft in colour and texture and are excellent examples of her art.
Yvonne Ledingham is no stranger to Ceramic Break Sculpture Park. She has exhibited here several times and recently was involved in the creation of the Tiki Philosophers Trail working with High School students and sculpting an individual Tiki god or three. Her experience with the Tiki project has extended her repertoire. The sculpture ‘Torso’ captures the beauty of the human figure that has delighted and inspired sculptors for generations. ‘Bust’ is in direct contrast; Medusa like it has a touch of humour in expression but with an underlying notion of pathos. Yvonne’s papermaking continues to develop and refine and her elegant pieces in this show will appeal to many.
Ceramic Break Sculpture Park is privileged to host the incredible show ‘Blindspot’ from Tamworth Regional Art Gallery. We are one of the few places outside Tamworth to exhibit the work of this group of regional artists, Karen Balsar, Leah Dryden, Jodie Herden, Joanne Stead, Jody White and Emma Stilts. Their ‘mesmerising artworks’ aim to draw attention to ‘issues they believe are overlooked in the community’. There are a range of exhibits, large acrylics on canvas, creative and artistic uses of old technology, metal sculptures, indigenous artworks including rock and bark carvings and photography. One reviewer of the exhibition used words like stunning to describe a large butterfly made from small crocheted butterflies.
Exhibition will continue through April and May. Entry by gold coin donation.
