Easter Exhibition features work by Audrey Harnett
Audrey Harnett is a long-practising visual artist with a passion for Kangaroo Island’s most special places. Audrey has been depicting the island’s Western River region through a myriad of art forms for many years.
Having owned land in the area since 1996, Audrey is passionately committed to protecting the island’s natural habitats, and to conserving the flora and fauna that comprise its unique and interconnected ecosystems. She dedicates her bush block at Western River to Land for Wildlife, in particular planting thousands of She-oaks for endangered Glossy black cockatoos.
After a decade of printmaking, sculpture, jewellery and the most exquisite multi-media installations, Audrey’s preferred medium at present is painting. Step across the gallery threshold during April to witness the coalescing of her two greatest passions – art and conservation. This impressive exhibition opens officially for Easter at Fine Art Kangaroo Island in Kingscote and continues throughout April.
KI Land for Wildlife exhibition runs from 1st to 29th April, 2023 and will get off to an inspirational start with the Official Opening event at Fine Art Kangaroo Island gallery on Easter Saturday, 8th of April.
The opening event will include an insightful artist floor talk with artist Audrey Harnett.
Exhibition to benefit KI Land for Wildlife
Audrey is constantly inspired by her environment as she works on her Western River property which she has dedicated to the preservation of species and habitats all around her by partnering with KI Land for Wildlife. The exhibition will be officially opened by KILfW’s Heidi Groffen at 3pm on Easter Saturday.
This evocative collection of paintings by Audrey Harnett is an invitation to appreciate and protect the remaining wild places by remembering them as seen before the 2019-2020 bushfires on the Kangaroo Island.
In Audrey’s own words: “Kangaroo Island has been a constant source of inspiration since I graduated from Adelaide College of the Arts. The works for this exhibition draw on imagery and my memories of the landscape as seen before the losses of the 2019-20 fires.”
The bold works, in the tradition of impressionist landscape painting, convey Audrey’s love and concern for this precious place. They provide an invitation to appreciate and protect the remaining wild places of the Island and highlight the conservation work undertaken by KI LfW in partnership with over 25,000 hectares of privately owned properties.
Heidi Groffen of KI LfW says she is excited to be opening Audrey’s beautiful exhibition on Easter Saturday.
“Never before has the need for protection of Western KI’s threatened species been so great,” she said.
“Following the fires, numbers of species have been upgraded to Endangered. KI LfW aims to protect the island’s threatened species and refuge habitats supporting landholders to survey, monitor and reduce threats to wildlife, and conserve natural habitats.”
Curator Fleur Peters says Audrey’s artwork is a testament to her innate sense of artistry as she draws gentle attention to the importance of respecting and conserving wilderness in its natural state.
“KI Land for Wildlife” promises to be memorable. Everyone is welcome to attend the exhibition opening and artist floor talk. RSVPs are welcome, but not essential. Fine Art KI will open daily Wednesday to Saturday 10-5 pm, and Easter Sunday.
