CO-OP NEWS
From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007
Painted Ladies, Inspiring Landscapes
By Lynn Cran
The opening nights for artists exhibiting at The UpFront Club are
proving a huge success. The Club hosts these nights, (always on a
Thursday), to launch each new exhibition and give patrons a better
understanding of the artistic process involved, as well as a chance
to meet the artists. The mood of the opening nights has been as varied
as the art on display, with each artist bringing their own personality
to the night. (Note that all artwork is for sale).
In March, Pat Cale opened Annette Gleeson's exhibition with a speech
that gave the audience insight into how to access the visual arts.
This was followed by the artist giving a contemplative talk about
how her work relates to the exploration of her belief systems, and
the processes she employs to achieve the desired result.
The following month, the Club was unofficially renamed, 'CafŽ
Wistful', for Donald Greenfield's very successful opening night. Donald's
friend, Barry Charles, kicked off the evening, singing to an appreciative
audience. The successful combination of visual wit and oration, coupled
with song, made for a very merry night.
MARIANNE OSBORNE:
29 May-26 June
Marianne Osborne's exhibition, "Painted Ladies", will be
showing until the end of June.
With seamless stylisation and the subtle use of colour and contrast,
Marianne transforms the ordinary into the unusual.
Her oil paintings, often of women involved in everyday activities,
appear deceptively frivolous. However, there is nothing insignificant
about how these women are visualised. There's something very intriguing
about Marianne's artwork, so come along to the Club and admire it
up close.
KATHRYN BRIMBLECOMBE-FOX: 28 June-31 July
Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox is the first Brisbane-based artist to exhibit
at The UpFront Club. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Kathryn's
parents, John and Elsie Brimblecombe, have been residents of the Range
since moving from the Darling Downs 20 years ago.
Kathryn grew up on the family farm near Dalby where, as a child, she
immersed all her senses in the landscape. This experience continues
to influence her work today.
As an adult, Kathryn went on to study art history formally, and later
developed an art practice. Her work has been on show in London, New
York, Seoul, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Kathryn has chosen to paint in a contemporary style that allows her
the freedom to use the landscape as a vehicle of expression. Her early,
intimate awareness of the physical world, is woven together with her
adult understanding of human relationships, to create the paintings
she calls her "emotional landscapes".
WENDY NUGENT: 2-28 August
In creating her first solo exhibition, "Flying Solo", Wendy
Nugent tapped into her passion for the hills of Maleny, working to
visually capture her emotional response to the land.
"Living here in Maleny is a constant source of inspiration...the
light, clouds, shadows, edge, sounds...the people," says Wendy.
Wendy's infatuation with the Range began when she was a youngster
holidaying at Mapleton. After many years suppressing her creativity,
Wendy began painting and attending workshops in 2000.
For Wendy, painting the land is an interactive process. Her landscapes
are not strictly representational but are about a sense of place;
a feeling, not a location.
The spontaneity of acrylic paint suits Wendy, as it allows her the
flexibility to build up layers of colour and texture quickly, and
capture that fleeting moment. Wendy's opening night is 2 August.
[From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007; published
by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny,
Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au,
website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]