Good evening
I too would like to acknowledge we are standing on Bindjali land and wish to recognise elders and leaders past, present and emerging and their deep connection to country. I also wish to recognize the land of Bunganditj people of the land on which I live and create.
To say that I am excited to be exhibiting at the Walkway Gallery would be an understatement. Many of the Tatiara locals may have seen Mick, my husband and I at openings and events at the gallery; both pre-covid and recently. We are great fans of the gallery and it’s Director Naomi.
I feel very privileged to have this opportunity and it has been a long time in the making.
In 2019 I received a Country Art SA grant through the federal government Regional Arts Fund. This grant was to support my blooming practice, to take it to the next step. I was all set to embark on a trip of discovery with the assistance of two mentors James Dodd of Adelaide and Heath Franco of Sydney.
The same month I received this ten thousand dollar grant - Mick and I suddenly became fulltime parents to our three grandchildren Nevaeh, Owen and Bobbi, then aged 5,3 and 17 months. Suddenly we were thrust back into the world of sleepless nights, toilet training, teething, packing school lunches - all that entails raising kids.
I have to admit I did despair.
I thought my chance to be the artist I aspired to be had been stolen from me. I had to reboot and find my mojo again and this was possible with the mentoring I received from Jimmy and Heath, the support of ACE Open, the Country Arts team and my friends and community.
In 2020 Mick and I took the kids to Tassie for a year, with me still wondering if I would every write the acquittal for my funding and feel like I had achieved anything. So fast forward….
To November last year …. there is nothing like a challenge to get the creative juices going, so in the space of a week I suddenly had an opportunity to exhibit in the summer group show at Karatta Wines in Robe and to have my first solo exhibition at the Walkway Gallery. Both opportunities had been on my wish list. What’s the saying if you’ve got a job that needs doing - give it to a busy person.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank some important people in my life. Firstly my husband, whose steadfast belief in me and my art practice gives me strength everyday. Mick is also my incredible studio assistant, glazing, wiring, driving trucks and making endless cups of tea.
Darren and Jo of Framing Solutions who have stored paintings, helped with problem solving and are simply great friends.
Country Arts SA through the Regional Arts Fund for financing the opportunity to learn, dig deeper and develop my practice.
To my beautiful friends here tonight who believe in me enough to buy my art work and hang it in their homes and offices – it means the world to me.
To my mentors Jimmy Dodd and Heath Franco for all the big and small things you have done for me. The fun we had together and the super random conversations that have broadened my art knowledge.
I would like to thank Jimmy Dodd wholeheartedly for writing an essay for this body of work – I hope you all take the time to read it. I am also grateful that he has agreed to open tonight’s exhibition – thank you Jimmy.
To my friends who have travelled from near and far to share this night - also
The Tatiara and District Council for supporting the arts so generously and purposefully, know that your gallery is spoken about everywhere I travel in glowing terms, so you should be very proud.
And lastly to Naomi your fabulous Director who continues to grow this gallery and the art literacy and experiences of your local community and beyond. Also to Naomi for her professional support and unwavering humour - as we have navigated our way to this full stop.
So here we are, family and friends, supporters of the arts and professional peers …I am ready to let out one very large exhalation and a wild wahoo!
So I hope you enjoy my work and get a peek into my unraveling and raveling world.
Thank you!