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.

Sheila's Sheds

Just caught up with one of my favourite people, Gay Hawkes, acclaimed furniture maker and creator. Gay is renowned for her beautiful work that sits in most galleries and collections around Australia and overseas. She is offering an opportunity for people to learn basic furniture-making, using recycled materials.
Gay's work is impressive, as is her commitment to teach others, so it's a fabulous chance to learn from a skilled and inspiring woman. For more details contact Gay at gayhawkes@gmail.com

Alphabetrix

It's always good to see the forming of a new and interesting partnership and Alphabetrix seems to have the right mix. This is a group of artists whose artwork stands alone as high quality intense and edgy pieces.
But not satisfied to just produce their own work they started Alphabetrix. It's a Tasmanian urban arts collective. 


'Our lives are lived in the pathway of our artwork, and we are forming a collective to support one another as we continue to do so.'

a work by Aedan Howlett

It's great-check it out and support these guys

Earning their keep

My quest for a new approach, a questioning of the current models and greater support for artists continues. A recent conversation with a prolific Tasmanian artist reinforced the need to look differently at the current situation in Australia.
Her comments in response to the need to develop her presence on the internet and learn the associated skills were...
'It's just too hard and so I freeze. I do nothing.'
She has already attempted an e-connect course through Tourism Tasmania. This is a great option for those who have the skills, resources and motivation. But if you are a practicing artist who contributes to the community, volunteers, runs workshops, produces work, plans exhibitions and strives to get something on the table at the end of the day, I wonder if there is another way of doing this better.
Imagine if we could connect them with a person with those skills.
'I have spent far too much time doing the business rather than doing my work'.
'I don't want to do it. I spend hours and it's still not working'.
It's tough asking these individual artists to pay for my services, as they are already earning so little. Part of my work is about exploring the options and perhaps the best option is for us as a culture to better support individual artists by investing in what they do well.
My work for Tasmanian Regional Arts has supported this approach, with minimal investment gaining excellent outcomes for the individuals and groups involved.
Let's see if any of this ripples through to the art funding bodies-I do hope so.

NAOMI HOWARD

Naomi Howard is an accomplished visual artist living at Sommers Bay, about 40 minutes from Hobart.  Her beautiful and tranquil studio looks over the bay and is home to Artless Gallery; a which houses works from regional artists.

With a passion for the earth and desire to understand her own environment, Naomi's work is a celebration of her heart felt relationship with the land which travels from central Australia to Southern Tasmania.

Artless Gallery, 581 Sommers Bay RoadMurdunnaTasmania 7178. Well worth the drive. Go for the day, take your bathers and a picnic and enjoy the Gallery, Garden and fantastic views. Telephone: +61 3 6253 5570