Still time to find a piece of stunning Kangaroo Island inspired art – but hurry!
KI is a unique arts destination and beloved home to hundreds of creative souls.
With a long tradition of captivating artists, the island’s uniquely evolved habitats and surviving species have again provided a wellspring of inspiration for those shortlisted to exhibit in the annual SALA exhibition at Adelaide’s National Wine Centre.
This year’s extensive catalogue of nearly 140 artworks from 23 artists has earned rave reviews. We have even heard stories of spontaneous recommendations from people working in restaurants and cafés around the city!
With just two days remaining in the exhibition, we are delighted that three quarters of our artists have sold more than half of the work on show. If you are planning a last look at this magnificent collection, we recommend you head to the Wine Centre nice and early tomorrow. There are some very desirable pieces still available in a range of price points and mediums and also very affordable.
We asked exhibition curator Fleur Peters to give us her pick of exhibition pieces available to purchase tomorrow and Sunday. Here is what she came up with:
From Nick Hannaford
Nick’s painting work for this exhibition contrasts with many of the other artworks on show as he has chosen to focus on human interaction within the intertidal zone. Nick says he wanted to reference Australian beach culture, and the way it has featured in recent Australian art history. He has done this by celebrating or exploring the way humans/family interact within the intertidal zone.
Nick says
I sought to capture a sense of peace and relaxation that can be obtained for parents when their children or family are entertained by the wonders of intertidal zone. Admittedly with a little help from a man-made structure the lady in the foreground can truly relax in comfort and in sight of the family playing in the distance.
The beach ball is an iconic symbol of beach fun. This image of a sand-ball depicts the perfect roundness and shape of the beach ball, crafted from the tiny sand elements of the intertidal environment. What is the impact of our beach-ball fun and games upon our wildlife and environment?
From Kenita Williamson
Kenita has been working with recycled materials for twenty years. She uses textiles as a medium to show how as one individual you can have a positive impact on the environment. Her inspiration comes from the variety of changing moods in the scenery that surrounds her on Kangaroo Island.
Kenita is a regular contributor to SALA and is now evolving into 3D sculpture, utilising her textile knowledge, crochet, macramé and basketry techniques. Kenita began weaving by recycling a wide range of textiles – collected and deconstructed fishing nets, rope and other objects discarded and washed up along the Island’s shore. Inspired by the natural environment she uses the very materials that threaten the existence of the Intertidal Zone, to create objects of incredible beauty.
Long lines of rope weighted with sinkers scour the shore with sharp destruction. Capturing and tangling amongst the Samphire, our Island’s succulent marine herb. The discarded items – which once had a purpose – now posing a risk of entanglement for many marine and terrestrial creatures, impacting on our fragile Island.
One Piece of Rope
Fluid, bound, layered.
The form and shape to the centre of this beautiful piece has the classic lines of a ceramic urn, not surprising when after a long converstion Kenita tells me she was originally trained as a potter and ceramic artist!
The rope for this piece was retrieved by volunteers from Snake Lagoon. LOTS of rope was hauled above the high water mark and laboriously carried out of Flinders Chase. It was then untangled washed and used to create this unique sculpture.
The end result just one story of dedication from a lot of people trying to protect our 540 kms of coastline.
Lisa Slade, Assistant Director, Artistic Programs Art Gallery of SA has said of the island’s artists that they are “promiscuous” with their use of materials.
The artists from Kangaroo Island demonstrate a material diversity, dare I say a material promiscuity, by which I mean that they are not beholden to a single way of working or a single material of choice. Perhaps it is the island’s natural diversity which creates this technical and material versatility in its artists.
From Cath Cantlon
For this year’s exhibition Cath has combined found man made and natural objects, incorporating ink and wood burning, to provide a diverse and richly engaging series of installations.
Other works on curator Fleur Peters’ pick of the exhibition list ready to be snapped up include:
Jenny Clapsons Swan
Diana Keir’s Where The Moon Lets The Samphire Grow, charcoal and wash on paper
Dean Fox’s pelican “The Landing”
Cecilia Gunnarsson’s major triptych, and
Caroline Taylor’s two Rockpool paintings.
Of the original works of art available in multiples from our printmakers
Merril Hansen’s detailed etchings of shore birds and shells,
All three pieces by Janet Ayliffe, and
Michele Lane’s Coral Mussel.
There are also several amazing jewellery pieces still available for sale.
The continual outpouring of stunning artworks from this tiny island community is intriguing, but hardly surprising. Kangaroo Island is home to a contemporary art community passionate about the environment, and increasingly sharing their visual communications with national and international audiences.
Take advantage of this last chance to see How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways… Kangaroo Island – The Intertidal Zone at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide this weekend Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August.
Doors open at 9am.