Opening 11am Sunday 1 February
The Artists of Wallamba are a group of creatives from Forster and surrounding areas whose work includes ceramics, fibre art, acrylics, oils, mixed media, sculpture and jewellery. They find inspiration in the natural and domestic environments.
Ariane Bell, Carmel Spark, Di Smith, Jeri McElroy, Philippa Bird, Susie Oldfield, Vicki Mullins
Ariane Bell’s practice is wide-ranging and includes two- and three dimensional works. Heavily influenced by primitive and modern handcrafts, she explores architectural and natural forms, texture and colour, using a broad variety of media.
Di Smith, her 2D and 3D works in this exhibition with it's bright bold colours and figurative illustrative style. aims to reflect a quite narrative exploring home, place and it's environment. In this exhibition Di has explored hand coloured lino prints. Di Enjoys exploring styles and mediums whilst reflecting her background as a graphic artists in the media industry in the 80's and 90's Sydney's Inner West.
Di as a member of the artists of Wallambah enjoys the fabulous creative company and knowledge of fellow artists. Here she is continually learning, motivated and inspired to expand her use of mediums whilst maintaining her graphic arts style and love of colour.
Susie Oldfield is a multimedia artist who lives on the Mid North Coast, NSW. Her practise is constantly developing using materials sourced from her small acreage or collected garden waste that abounds in the natural environment. She is influenced by indigenous weaving of fibres into functional items and art pieces. Exhibiting regularly, she has won multiple awards for drawing, painting, mixed media and sculptural works. She was invited to exhibit her contemporary baskets with 19 local and International Basket makers at Gallery 76.
With her passion for nature and environment, she is committed to weaving its fibres, colours and textures and dyeing with its foliage. She successfully presents workshops in contemporary baskets in conjunction with her exhibitions for ‘one on one’ or small groups. She is excited to further investigate techniques and mixed media in the coming year.
Philippa Bird
Operating from her rural studio Frog in a Sock on the Mid North Coast of NSW Philippa Bird produces diverse work with a focus on the natural world, particularly the world of bugs, Australian fauna and native plants. Philippa has won a number of local awards in ceramics and is an active member of the local Arts Community.
“My love of nature goes back to when I was just a toddler. My parents would take me on long walks in the woods of England where I grew up.”
Philippa now has her own 37 acres of trees to enjoy, where she can sit for hours watching the trees sway and enjoy the birds, butterflies and dragonflies float past on the breeze. “It is so magical and peaceful, just nature at its best.”
Her work has been inspired by these observations and how they are connected. Philippa has been producing pottery for the since 2016. She loves the tactile and versatility clay brings. “I like my art to make people smile, if not laugh.” Philippa has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including the Tea Pot Show at the LNL Gallery in Sydney and the Handle This exhibition at NAS in Newcastle.
M: 0404 221 424
E: froginasockgallery@gmail.com
I: @froginasockgallery f: @froginasockgallery