Extreme for more than Ten Days...

When the environment is pushed to its limits – bushfire, flood, snow and the most untouched pristine wilderness, we experience intense joy, fear and sorrow.

In the tradition of masters such as Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis, the extreme artists have pushed their own limits to give voice to the broken, the forgotten, the fragile, the ravaged and the muted.

Extreme means something different to us all but I have noticed with interest the extraordinary lengths and drive from photographers to document a moment or capture a feeling. While early photography was male dominated, over the last 15 years there has been an increase in women taking to remote areas across Tasmania and bringing a different eye, discussion and focus.



Peak flood by Rick Eaves

This exhibition includes work from a number of accomplished Tasmanian photographers who are constantly pushing themselves to the limit to capture the extremes in their environment and to bring distant struggles into sharp focus. Alongside these sit the important photographs by Peter Dombrovskis. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience how the photographer merges with the environment and what inspires them.

TIME ON THE MOUNTAIN

The Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery is a very exciting project and I hope to share it with you as we go along. In the meantime, here's a bit of catch up from December and a last chance to see Jon Kudelka's work in the gallery.

CURATOR BLOG…

December was a huge month for the Wilderness Gallery with eight new rooms set up with exhibitions by Arwen Dyer, Barry Smith, Jon Kudelka and Wendy Edwards.

It also saw the first residency undertaken by the much loved cartoonist and author, Jon Kudelka. Jon spent two weeks working on his new book about Cradle Mountain, producing new work for his current exhibition Kudelka in the Wild and even had time to design and paint an amazing mural in one of the children’s galleries.

With access to a working space, a gallery and the bush surrounding the property Jon worked all hours, chatting to visitors and cycling throughout Cradle to observe the wildlife and visitors.

‘I'm best known as a political cartoonist for the Australian and the Hobart Mercury, so this is a bit of a departure for me. Cradle Mountain is a very special place so I was pleased to be offered an artist's residency here.

The painting of cradle mountain under stars was from a time I managed to get to Dove Lake on a clear still night. The number of stars is not an exaggeration!’

The residencies have been introduced as part of the new direction for the Wilderness Gallery which will also include Tasmanian films, an annual exhibition program, workshops, a sculpture garden and a room dedicated to the Tasmanian Tiger.

Artists are applying for residencies to undertake new work and immerse themselves into this unique environment. Working in a range of mediums, artists from both within and outside Tasmania will have the opportunity to exhibit new work, engage with visitors and explore the mountain region.

Jon Kudelka also used the residency to practice Pyrography on wood, or "poker work or wood burning as its also known. Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or leather by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point.

“It seemed an appropriate way to draw some of the wildlife you see around this area. It's a very organic way of working and I like the way the grain of the wood becomes part of the picture. It feels a bit like the way the plants and animals here are party of the landscape.”

Jon’s work will be on display until the end of March and more details are available at kudelka.com.au.