Welcome to the second edition of my newsletter, What’s Happening in the Studio
A whole season has passed since my last newsletter. I have spent most of summer in the studio working on several projects, and four of them go on show in the next few weeks! It is an exciting time. I hope you get the opportunity to see some of what I’m sure will be wonderful exhibitions.
Castledine and Company – Influence Lost Eden, Dwellingup 17th March – 16th April
The theme of this exhibition is to celebrate and highlight the interdependence of artists. We were each asked to make a work that references another artist. Anything from: a portrait of, or a collaboration with a fellow artist; a foray into a new medium inspired by a work; or a homage to a famous artist. I am on gallery duty Saturday 15th April if you want to pop in and say hi.
I feel honoured to be exhibiting alongside this fabulous line up of artists. Ron Bradfield Jnr, Indira Carmichael, Mikaela Castledine, Stephen Castledine, Jennifer Cochrane, Moira Court, Sharyn Egan, Karen Frankel, Sam Hopkins, Joylon James, William Leggett, Andrew McDonald, Britt Mikkelsen, Barbara Mitchell, Gordon Mitchell, Denise Pepper, Anita Phillips, Judy Rogers, Tania Spencer, Sarah Thornton-Smith, Monique Tippett, Susie Vickery, Andrea Vinkovic, Katrina Virgona.
What Makes You Smile? Hamersley Recreation Centre 25th March – 8th April
Josh Wells (my son) and I have been working on a community art project during February based at Hamersley Recreation Centre. We interviewed over 172 people from 3 – 94 years old, who attend groups at the centre including badminton, dance, Tai Kwon do, after school care, square dancing, calisthenics, Perth Pipe Band, women’s football, a theatre group…people who would not usually engage in art.
We asked, “What Makes You Smile?”, as Josh took their portrait. The collection of quotes and images will become an ephemeral artwork in the outdoor walkways of the centre.
The project is part of the Artist in Situ grant series sponsored by the City of Stirling. See for information about the other Artist in Situ projects Artist in Situ – City of Stirling
Fine Art at Perth College 31 March – 2 April
My series of work Despite Everything the Banksia Continues to Flower, will be on show and for sale at this fundraiser. If you came to my residency with Anne Williams and Julie Devereaux at Midland Junction Arts Centre last October, you would have seen the start of this series as I cut away all those tiny circles.
See Online catalogue
Bunbury Biennale 2 April – 5 June
I was delighted to be selected for this major exhibition, a survey of contemporary West Australian Artists responding to the theme Culture / Nature. I am really looking forward to seeing how the other artists have responded to the theme.
Selected Artists: Alex Winner / Pauline White and Julia Sutton / Louise Wells / Sarah Thornton-Smith / Louise Tasker / Sally Stoneman / Helen Seiver / Helen Robins / Fiona Rafferty / Perdita Phillips / Lori Pensini / Sherry Paddon / Holly O’Meehan / Annemieke Mulders / Paul Moncrieff / Rob Kettels / Sarah Keirle / Pablo Hughes / Susan Hauri-Downing / Jillian Green / Miik Green / Fiona Gavino / Elizabeth Edmonds / John Eden / Ian Dowling / Ian Daniell.
Artworks currently on tour
The International Art Textile Biennale 2023 is currently touring the east coast of Australia. I was delighted that my work Marking Time 2.5 was one of the 35 selected from over 167 entries from 25 countries.
Australia Wide 8
Presented by Ozquilt Network. All works are 40 x 40cm.
See catalogue and touring dates.
Stitched & Bound presented by the West Australian Quilters Association (WAQA), is a biennial exhibition featuring works by West Australian artists that challenge conventional quilting, is about to open at Geraldton Regional Gallery March – May 2023, Carnarvon Art Gallery June – July 2023. See website for more information and to view the catalogue.
Closer to home – Inglewood Arts Hub
My local community has a new Arts Hub! There will be workshops, artist talks, exhibitions, community art projects…Launching on the evening of Monday 24th April.
Follow https://www.instagram.com/inglewoodartshub/ for more information.
Thanks for reading!
Louise
