'Unfinished Business'
An online collection commenced in March 2020 as a precursor to
''Unfinished Business': celebrating women's collective and individual strengths, while recognising our unique differences, an exhibition being planned for International Women's Day in March 2021
A selection of new work, work from the NEA website archives and
portraits from NEA's 'In Your Face Portrait Prize' in 2019
1. 'Women's Equality can't Wait'
Maggie Hollins 2020
Maggie Hollins 2020
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2, ''Unfinished Business 1'
Tanya Tabone "An image of a woman who has just given birth. She looks completely defeated but she has just won a major battle – childbirth. This is ‘unfinished business’ as childbirth is just the first step in a lifelong commitment to raising a child. Women who choose to create life go through great physical and emotional trauma but this ultimately makes them, and our communities, stronger."
Photograph..
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3. 'Unfinished 'Business #2"
Tanya Tabone "... the warrior that was ultimately created by the woman in the first photo. She is strong but she is also young. The juxtaposition of the innocent nature of her youth against the fierce determination in her expression is an illustration of girlhood. She is just beginning her life. She has a long fight ahead. She is likely to continue to be bruised in many ways. But she will be ready and she will fight. One day, she may choose to fight the same battles her mother did to bring her into the world..."
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:"I floated the idea of putting an ‘unfinished story’ into the International Woman’s Day NEA exhibition and was greeted with the response of ‘absolutely’ and ‘you could put it in and then finish it for the 2021 exhibition’.
So, if I was going to finish it for March 2021, then I would have to pick something that I could actually feasibly finish in time for next year! I didn’t have to think or search too hard through my unfinished manuscripts to find A Murder of Crows. Being as I file things alphabetically, it was near the top.... .... A Murder of Crows or The Problem with Humans' (PDF)
Carla's artist statement ... Carla's Bio .carla@crgardnerauthor.com. |
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5. ' An Artist's Dollar; in memory of Brenda Faunce Martin', my mother."
Katharine Martin-Burgers "I was studying textiles in the 90's and I started to put One and Two cent coins into my work, with titles such as 'Pocket Money' and 'Small Change'." Later, while studying Silver Smithing, "my mother became interested in my work and studies, and mentioned to me that she had saved 5 cent coins because they were the smallest coin in silver, and she offered them for me to use in an art work. Next thing I ended up with $15 's worth of 5 cents in silver! I came to the idea of surrounding the coins with a flower crochet like a doily.... Each coin took 2 hours to do, so if I wanted to do a dollar's worth, it would take a 40 hour working week to complete. A dollar a week, very similar to how textile workers' labour was valued. The table cloth idea came when I put my first One Dollar block together: one dollar a week for 24 weeks would create a beautiful piece and a statement about the low economic value placed on women's labour and Textiles skills...." 'An Artisans Dollar' was shown in the 'Upstairs Downstairs Exhibition' in Gallery 2 at NEA January to March 2020
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6 'Drowning in a Sea of Cliches'
Julie Burdis "Radio National knew. They told me.
If the lump is hard, does not move or disappear between menses, Be concerned. I was. 5 years riding a roller coaster ensued. 4 G.P.’s, 2 surgeons , 6 mammograms, one ultrasound conspired to dismiss my concerns. Then I must be insane. They couldn’t all be wrong. Could they? They were. My brain fumbled in a fog of diminishing vocabulary, as the now concerned doctor, pronounced his verdict using a language, Not of my knowing. My blood went cold.... From the NEA website archives.
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Portraits
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7. 'MeMe'
Maggie Hollins 2019 "This image is about innocence. The innocence of children. It’s about vulnerability - the price of innocence.
This image is inspired by the #MeToo movement and the artist Chuck Close. The image is made from organza material, painted with watercolour and stitched with cotton. Painted and Stitched Textile 273 mm x 353 mm $150
Selected for the In Your Face NEA Portrait Prize in 2019 |
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8. 'Camille'
Catherine Warnock "A relatively new medium for me, I’m enjoying experimenting with pastel and trying out different techniques, styles and finishes.
This grainy tonal piece captures Camille’s sassy personality and emerging urban style.". Pastel on Paper 470 mm x 670 mm $430
Selected for NEA's In Your Face Portrait Prize in 2019 |
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9. 'Pistachio Bliss'
Asia Kosowski 2019 "This self-portrait, (like all self-portraits possibly) explores aspects of human frailty, vulnerability, pride and pretence. Painted as a form of documentation, the portrait is
a glimpse into the ego. The resulting image is less concerned with the physical likeness of the artist rather than the open display of humanness.The marks are raw and unrefined; they hold a level of vulnerability unattainable when painting others. Whether moved or repulsed, the viewer can feel the humanness within and explore the different states and range of emotion. Painted with expressive brushstrokes in densely worked oils. A massive figure in every sense. Naked, the figure is painted with a visceral approach. As if sculpted with paint. The work doesn’t seek to ask any questions or proposes any solutions. It simply is." Oil on Canvas 75 cm x 100 cm Private Collection
Selected for the In Your Face NEA Portrait Prize in 2019 |
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10. 'Ruth & Daisy Out on the Footpath'
Janet Leith "Red & orange, a blend of shapes & patterns,
inner excitement for the future ahead, dark swirls of what has been overcome, but more still underneath, potential, strength, incomplete, a late spring afternoon. Gaze staring down the road, sightless, lost in thought, everything muted, pensive, personal, hidden, unknown. The rise & fall of gentle breathing, comfort, warmth & love, out on the footpath with a cherished special friend." Oil on canvas 92 x 76cm $1650 M 0431 890 158
People's Choice Winner, 'Our Backyard' Exhibition, Benalla Festival, North East Artisans, November 2018 |
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11. 'Portrait of the artist MariJana Van Zanten'
MariJana Van Zanten "MariJana van Zanten is a contemporary realist painter who resides in North Albury NSW.
Early in 2019 MariJana spent some time in France drawing and painting people. People in cafes, airports, barges, boats, bars, bridges, footpaths and anywhere else she could sit inconspicuously with a sketchbook. On her return MariJana painted this self portrait enthused by the simplicity of painting in one colour and the challenge of capturing ones own form accurately and without embellishment. In 2016 MariJana won the Trinity Art Prize with a large scale portrait of the late local Indigenous elder Wally Cooper". Oil on Canvas 95 cm x 95 cm $5000
Selected for the In Your Face NEA Portrait Prize 2019 |
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12. 'Mum'
Frank Burgers "I’ve been working on this painting for years. Mum is changing over time, and I am hoping the painting will evolve into a summary of what it means to be the son of Hannie Burgers. She has always been a strong and independent woman, and continued living on her own when dad passes away in 2005. Before that she survived a tumour the size of a golf ball, removed from her head when she was in her late 40’s. Mum has always retained a positive outlook on life. That, her generosity, and her caring nature, defines the wonderful woman she is.
She loves colour.." Oil on Linen 45 cm x 60 cm $950
Joint Winner - In Your Face NEA Portrait Prize 2019 |
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13. 'A Life of Colour'
Catherine Pianta Cathy Pianta's ‘A Life of Colour’ recognises the work of Margaret Olley and of her love of colour and flowers, in particular.
"I love Margaret Olley as a subject and have done several portraits of her, one of which won Tatong Art Show's ‘Works on paper’ category in 2019. Margaret was a wonderful Australian artist who took time to mentor and support emerging artists. She had an eye and a love for colour. I’ve used oil pastel for the three portraits I’ve done of Margaret as I am constantly amazed at the way they blend to create layers and layers of unique colours whilst being able to subtly blend to create intimate shades and shadows. I thank Mervin Beamish for getting me hooked on pastels although I work with other media as well'" Oil Pastel
‘Oils, acrylics and mixed media’ category winner, Rutherglen Tastes of Art Show, 2020. |
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14. 'Elsie May'
Kim D'Arma "Using an old black and white photograph of my great grandmother Elise May wearing a hair-net seated at home. I drew her image onto cotton fabric then used fabric paints, quilting, hand embroidery, and beading. Memories of her are only shown to the outside world through the trappings of flat black and white photographs. I used textile art in
addition to paint to bring Grandma to life through colour and texture." Fabric Paint, Hand Embroidery 29 cm x 45 cm $210
Selected for the In Your Face NEA Portrait Prize in 2019 |