Artworks full of florals and botanical colours are on display at SMAC Studio, Tighes Hill, with the Wall Garden exhibition capturing the intricate details of nature’s beauty.
Artist and owner of SMAC Studio, Sally McDonald, said the exhibition showed mixed media paintings by local artist Jo Dyer and woven wall hangings created by fibre artist Clare Burton.
“I’m so excited about this work—both artists have drawn inspiration from the natural environment around them, which is celebrated in this vibrant and texturally rich collection,” McDonald said.
“Their collaborative work shows their collective love of nature and in particular gardens.
“It’s such a beautiful show with these abstract floral pieces—it’s also nice to have the paintings alongside the tactile weaving.
“A lot of people who have come to the show already have commented that it’s important to see the artworks up close because it’s quite detailed.”
Artist Jo Dyer said she draws inspiration for her artwork from the intricate textures and details of nature.
“My art practice provides a means of deepening this process of observation and my appreciation for plants by exploring techniques that evoke a sense of the intricacies that captivate me in the garden,” Dyer said.
“I use mixed media—primarily acrylic paint, chalk pastel, collage and oil stick to create recurring elements such as vein-like leaf and petal textures and sprig-like botanical sketches.
“These elements are the essence of my work, and the challenge I set myself is to create compositions that feature these details in a harmonious yet interesting way.”
On Sunday, May 2, from 12 pm, visitors can meet Dyer at SMAC Studio to discuss her art and the artistic process behind the pieces.
Works in the exhibition are also available to purchase in an online auction with 10% of the proceeds donated to Global Gardens of Peace, an Australian charity that plans, designs, and delivers gardens to support vulnerable communities worldwide.
After opening last year amidst the worst of COVID-19, McDonald said the studio had started to gather traction and was now booked out for the rest of 2021.
“I signed the lease just before the pandemic hit, and I was crying into my pillow, but now it’s really starting to move along,” McDonald said.
“The studio is this big, beautiful, light-filled warehouse, which is just heaven for an artist; I have divided it into a gallery space and four artist studios, now occupied by a few painters, a textile artist, a silversmith, and an oil landscape painter.
“It’s got a high warehouse ceiling so the artists can hang things from the roof as well, and the area we are in has a light industrial vibe, so it’s a little edgy and has a certain appeal to artists.”
Artists exhibiting at SMAC Studio this year include Carly Brett, Bridie Watt, Lyndal Campbell, Jen Denzin, Sarah Davy, and Ahn Wells.
McDonald said it was important to support local artists and provide the community with a place to unwind and view inspired pieces.
“We’ve had a couple of open studio days where people can actually view the artist’s studio and watch the artistic processes unfold,” she said.
“People are interested in how artists make and create; when buying a piece of art, they want to know about the artist, how they made the piece, what the inspiration was—they want that connection.”
She said some galleries could be intimidating and disconnected, where the art, the artist and the viewer were separate.
“I really wanted an accessible and comfortable space where people can talk to the artists,” she said.
“It’s a kid-friendly, dog-friendly, family-friendly space, where everyone is just on the same level and can appreciate and enjoy the art together.”
SMAC Studio is located at 73A Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill, with the exhibition open until Sunday, May 2; for more information, visit SMAC Studio’s website or their Instagram @smac_space_studio.
Hayley McMahon