Fine Art Kangaroo Island

exceptional art inspired by Australia's most exceptional island

SALA Exhibition Brings Kangaroo Island Art to Adelaide

By

National Wine Centre Show so much more than an exhibition

“ Liminality, Cabinet of Curiosities” by Audrey Harnett a wonderfully unique piece featuring the much-maligned "puffer fish" found often on Kangaroo Island beaches
“ Liminality, Cabinet of Curiosities” by Audrey Harnett

It’s just three weeks ‘til the official opening of our SALA exhibition, “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways… KI − The Intertidal Zone”.

With every day bringing us closer to this, our 8th annual exhibition of Kangaroo Island art at the National Wine Centre, we’re excited to help the South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA) celebrate its 20th Anniversary year. There’s creativity in the air, and we’re going all out to make sure the event has even more to offer than usual.

And there’s news…lots and lots of news.

[Read more…] about SALA Exhibition Brings Kangaroo Island Art to Adelaide

World Spotlight Turns Toward Kangaroo Island

By

New exhibition coincides with Islands of the World Conference

'Weedy Seadragon in Light' photograph by Richard Wylie - winner of the 2012 National Geographic Oceans Photography competition
‘Weedy Seadragon in Light’ photograph by Richard Wylie

Fine Art Kangaroo Island’s newest exhibition “Island Spotlight” opens this Tuesday at 5:45pm.

Timed to coincide with the 15th Islands of the World conference, this memorable exhibition features recent works by renowned Island photographer Quentin Chester, Kangaroo Island’s talented environmental weaver/sculptor Kenita Williamson, and visiting marine biologist and internationally awarded photographer Richard Wylie.

[Read more…] about World Spotlight Turns Toward Kangaroo Island

SALA Competition to Celebrate Twenty Year Milestone

By

Attend Our 2017 Kangaroo Island Artists exhibition Opening for your chance to win

Dave Clarke's "Nautilus" will feature in the 2017 SALA Festival exhibition of Kangaroo Island artists.
“Nautilus” by Dave Clarke

2017 brings with it a very special celebration for the iconic South Australian Living Artists festival, more affectionately known as SALA. The arrival of SALA festival this year celebrates twenty years as the largest open access visual arts event in Australia.

Fine Art Kangaroo Island will recognise this very special milestone in two ways. First, we welcome SALA Chair, the Hon John Hill, as our special guest. Mr Hill will officially open our annual exhibition of Kangaroo Island artists at the National Wine Centre  on Sunday 6 August at 2pm.  “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…The Intertidal Zone” is the eighth edition of what has become one of the most sought after events on the SALA calendar.

But twenty years is such a wonderful achievement, we’ve decided to turn up the heat on your SALA celebrations this year. We’re launching a competition that could win you $300 to spend at the exhibition! Entry is free, and the winner must be present at the official opening of “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…The Intertidal Zone” to collect their prize.

Each person who completes the official entry form will receive one entry, and extra entries can be earned by sharing the competition with your friends. Enter now and you could be coming home from this year’s exhibition with a fabulous piece of Kangaroo Island art all your own.

Humble beginnings

Since its beginnings, SALA has grown tenfold in both size and duration. From a festival lasting just a few days in a handful of galleries, to more than 4500 artists with work exhibited in over 600 exhibitions. All venues are accessible for free, with locations as diverse as Colleges, Law Courts, shops and cafes as well as traditional gallery spaces.

South Australian Artists are encouraged to take part regardless of experience level or medium. Their imaginative, entertaining and sometimes interactive outpourings are loved by audiences around the state, both die hard art lovers, and those who simply stumble upon a show in an unusual or unexpected venue.

Kangaroo Island’s artists have long been part of this uplifting celebration of South Australian art and artists. Contributions by those who draw their inspiration from life on Kangaroo Island are regular and varied.

In 2005 the spotlight turned to Kangaroo Island when it was chosen as the festival’s regional focus. In that year we hosted SALA founder Paul Greenaway OAM at two events, and exhibitions were held across the island.

In 2010 a brand new tradition was established when Fine Art Kangaroo Island convened the first “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…” KI exhibition at Adelaide’s National Wine Centre. At a time of year when visitor numbers to the island are generally lower, SALA provided more visibility for Kangaroo Island’s artists among mainland audiences.

Our first exhibition at the Wine Centre was a huge success, with nearly 1000 people attending opening day. It was obvious from that very first day, that this was something truly special. Still attracting huge interest, the Kangaroo Island artists exhibition has become a “must-see” event on the SALA program.

Mainland audiences eagerly anticipate each year’s carefully chosen conservation theme, and flock to the National Wine Centre on opening day to catch first glimpse of the work it inspires. Two floors of the stunning Vines corridor  are abuzz with art lovers every opening day. For those looking to snap up an exquisite visual expression of the environment from a favourite artist or emerging island talent, there is no other place to be.

2017 theme turns focus on the mysterious and beautiful Intertidal Zone

This year’s exhibition theme ‘The Intertidal Zone’ focuses on the ever-changing realm between the high and low tides. Kangaroo Island has an extraordinary 540 km coastline, including some of the least disturbed shores in the temperate world.

Twenty three Kangaroo Island artists have produced more than 80 fascinatingly beautiful new works in a diverse and exciting range of materials and mediums.

Eleanor Scicchitano of Country Arts says “It has been great to see the artists working on pieces for the Wine Centre show, and what a wonderful theme has been chosen this year. I am really looking forward to seeing the work when it is up.”

Featured artists for 2017 are Audrey Harnett, Caroline Taylor, Cath Cantlon, Cecilia Gunnarsson, Dave Clarke, Dean Fox, Diana Keir, Fred Peters, Glen Ash, Janet Ayliffe, Jennifer Woodhouse, Jenny Clapson, Kenita Williamson, Maggie Welz, Merril Hansen, Michele Lane, Mishka Ammann, Nick Hannaford, Nicholas Burness Pike, Patti Blucher, Peggy Rismiller, Quentin Chester, and first timer Sara Hourez.

The exhibition will be officially opened by the Hon John Hill on Sunday 6 August at 2pm. The artworks will be curated on both the ground and first floors of the Vines Corridor, at The National Wine Centre. You’ll find the Centre on the corner of North Terrace and Hackney Road, Adelaide, and the exhibition can be viewed daily between 9am-6pm from August 4-27 2017.

SALA competition rules are available on the official entry form Click Here to enter

 

Gethin Creagh Bringing Artful Sounds to Kangaroo Island Audience

By

Academy Award nominated Sound Artist seen in SA Weekender  coverage

Gethin Creagh featured in our sixth Sunset Winery exhibition, and continues to use sound as an artform in the KIX FM studio to this day.

It is no wonder Kingscote is where we have lived and worked in the arts for the past two decades. What a wonderful privilege to be a part of discovering and revealing the amazing hidden talents of people we have rubbed shoulders with in this community on almost a daily basis.

We were especially reminded of this when we saw Gethin Creagh included in the SA Weekender spotlight on the people of Kingscote which aired a couple of weeks ago.

Gethin Creagh is a retired film industry insider. He is an Oscar nominated sound mixer, recipient of numerous motion picture AFI and BAFTA awards and has been responsible for sound mixing for over 130 motion pictures including The Piano and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

From our archives – the original invitation for Sights & Sounds at Sunset exhibition where Gethin artfully demonstrated the inexorable link between the two.

Gethin chose to build his home nestled within a stand of the island’s narrow-leaf mallee on the edge of the glorious Bay of Shoals. A tiny patch of private wilderness, just ten minutes from Kingscote, and 30 minutes by plane to Adelaide’s international airport. The best of both worlds is how Gethin described his lifestyle, between jobs and international travel, when he exhibited with us at The Sights And Sounds at Sunset exhibition a number of years ago for our sixth Art Feast at Sunset Winery.

Whilst he is not a visual artist, clearly Gethin is respected for his creativity at the highest level of his profession. In a wild fusion of art forms we brought together cinematic art with the works of local visual artists synthesized in a display of moving and static imagery. Gethin provided a visual sound backdrop to larger than life oil paintings, animated sculpture, vivid photography, and vector artwork inspired music and rhythms.

Ever wonder what it would be like to see a movie with no sound? Sound in movies has become as critical as the visual image. Exhibition goers were mesmerized by Gethin’s artistry in bringing to life sequences of well known movies on split screen audio presentations first without and then with full sound.

These days he is making waves of an entirely different kind. Now retired from film work, and an active member of local Radio Station KIxFM. Visitors who tune in are likely to also hear Gethin’s own voice as he broadcasts across the island.

Thinking back on what makes Kangaroo Island so special, not simply for those of use who live here, but also for those who come seeking works of art from our community, the attraction is not hard to understand. Kangaroo Island has a tranquility and natural beauty that draws creative people to its shores. Many talented people pursue a quiet life focussing on their vocation far from the gaze of the public eye, so there is no mystery in the treasure-trove of breathtaking treasures we see every day.

Of course Kingscote – the main township – and surrounds are home to almost half the Island’s population. For those who long to live close to urban amenities but surrounded by panoramic sea views, and bounded by tracts of undisturbed bushland, this is the perfect place. Here we can co-exist with resident mobs of kangaroos living on the town’s edges. Let’s face it, Koalas have even been known to wander into the main street from time to time.

So many more wonderful island artists have been a part of the Fine Art Kangaroo Island story over the years. Keep an eye out here as we dedicate some time to helping you get to know them from time-to-time.

~ Fleur

 

 

 

 

Mark Russell Brings Industrial Edge to Australian Redgum Furniture

By

Exquisite Native Timbers shine with stunning metal art sculpture

Australian Redgum Coffee Table features Industrial style metal art inset under glass
Mark Russell is a Master craftsman. His material of choice, beautiful Australian redgum, but there is so much more to this breathtaking found art statement piece. Photo Credit: Quentin Chester Photography

Every once and a while you walk into a room and find yourself face-to-face with something so exquisite, you cannot quite catch your breath. If you’ve visited Fine Art Kangaroo Island recently, it’s likely you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The first time I came across this breathtaking bespoke redgum coffee table by Kangaroo Island timber artist Mark Russell, I did literally stop in my tracks.

An unforgettable example of timber art furniture, everything about the piece is exquisite.

The massive  redgum slab that forms the table top is from a decades old river log, and was joined using modern joinery techniques. Its beautiful natural lines contrast perfectly with the cast iron legs which began their life as verandah post bases from an historic home owned by the Kowald family at Caloote, in South Australia.

There is so much more to the metal art sculpture inset than meets the eye.

When your eyes fall upon the edgy, industrial style metal art inset captured under glass, it’s a fair bet you’ll be captivated as I was. In fact I’ve been back several times since, drawn time and again to marvel at the artist’s ability to create such a  visually striking design piece from a seemingly random collection of workshop treasures. But there’s so much more to the story of this fascinating art piece than you’d imagine.

Consider the artistic vision required to create this design while building it upside down as each of the approximately 1600 components were individually welded together.

Once the metal assemblage was complete, it was grit blasted and put back in the weather for two months to rust again before being wire brushed and coated in industrial clear lacquer.

Rusted steel components featured in the table top include vehicle parts, tools, shearer’s combs, hardware and machinery parts, and nearly every type of bolt and thread from Mark’s grandfather’s collection. These are contrasted with copper pennies, brass and ceramic features.

Need a closer look? Glad to be of help…

Past Repurposed Welded table top includes 1,600 individual components, red gum & fiddle back redgum,and veranda post bases
Past Repurposed. Welded table top includes 1,600 individual components, redgum & fiddle back redgum,and veranda post bases, $12,750. Photo Credit: Quentin Chester Photography

By now I’m sure the two shiny pennies have attracted your attention. Both have been carefully set into rounds made from a rare form of redgum called fiddleback. With 25 years of experience working with native redgum, Mark has built countless tables and other items, finding fiddleback in less than 5% of the timber he has slabbed.

Stunningly crafted, and sure to be a source of constant curiosity, you’ll need an impressive space to do this incredible piece justice.  All materials have been sourced from Kangaroo Island, Murraylands and far beyond.

About Mark Russell

Hanging sculpture in barbed wire
Ball Inside Ball, car springs, barbed wire $480

Mark is a re-formed perfectionist who visited the Island from his former Murray Bridge home for over 20 years before moving here to live. His ability to bring together the warmth and beauty of natural Australian redgum timbers with the edginess of industrial metal art, clearly stems from a diverse work background, through which he has always been connected to materials.

Mark began his work life as a fitter and turner, but soon developed a life-long passion for redgum. Using his timber of choice he restored and fitted out an historic BnB creating uniquely designed furniture and fittings from his studio on site.

Pencil Pine Barbed Wire Sculpture
Pencil Pine Barbed Wire Sculpture, SOLD. Photo Credit: Mark Russell from Facebook

But if you think you have a handle on Mark Russell’s artistic talent once you’ve seen what he can do with native redgum timbers, you’ll need to take a step back and reconsider. There are times when Mark draws solely upon his ability to work with metal, in all its forms, to create the most stunning and unexpected sculptural pieces.

Take a walk through the Wabi Sabi Garden at the rear of the Fine Art Kangaroo Island Gallery, and you’ll find several of his works in barbed wire, including a spectacular “Pencil Pine” sculpture which is lit at night.

Whatever the medium, Mark’s  meticulous sculptures and timber pieces are crafted from personal collections of family and found objects including some sourced on KI.

Mark Russell is a fascinating new artist whose work will likely bring more attention to Kangaroo Island art. Keep an eye out for new work from him in the future.