Posted on 11 September 2019
Art Meets Nature – an exhibition of art inspired by the environment – is now showing at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins until 6 November 2019.
Merle Hathaway curated the exhibition for the WAMA Project, which is building a museum of art inspired by nature, surrounded by wetlands and native botanic gardens near Halls Gap.
The Atrium is an iconic space – on the 35th floor of the Sofitel with a breathtaking view upward to the remaining 10 or so floors, and outwards (from the bathrooms!) over Melbourne. Take the lift from the Sofitel foyer, level 1. Admission is free and accessible all hours every day. The Sofitel staff are very obliging if you get lost!
This year’s exhibition has 31 artists whose work is even more diverse than the last (at Lucy McEachern Gallery, Wingeel 2018), and the artists come from across Australia. All work is for sale.
The Artists:
The exhibition ranges from exquisite silver jewellery by Nicky Hepburn and Sophie Carnell, and tiny deer horn carvings by Silvio Apponyi to large installations by Carmel Wallace, Rosalind Lawson and Pam Hovel ‘s felt aquarium. Occupying three of the large window boxes is Nichola Clarke‘s massive recycled plastic plants and Noel Hart‘s exquisite blown glass.
The theme of artists inspired by nature or the environment allowed me to select a wide range of artistic styles. So there’s work by botanic artists, Dianne Emery and Mali Moir, and bird photography of John Tiddy, wildlife art by Steve Morvell, as well as iconic Australian printmakers, Tate Adams, Hertha Kluge-Pott and John Wolseley. Vida Pearson and Carolyn Dodds show elegant linocuts.
Jennifer Marshall‘s muse is the sea. She and Lynden Nicholls focus on light on water, while Steve Sedgwick and Les Sprague visit remote outback places to paint and draw. Peter Voice has painted the fertility of the Murray, while Anthony Pelchen draws the bush at night.
Lyn Dickson is an avid collector of things found on daily walks. Roger Edwards of Cavendish is interested in regeneration after fire, while Cate Whitehead dyes silks with plants found in the same area.
Lucy McEachern shows two of her bronze birds while Anton Hasell contributes two whimsical bird tuning fork holders.
Artists’ Talks
During the exhibition three artists will give free talks about their work. Meet at the piano in the Atrium.
Saturday 7 September, 4pm: Jennifer Marshall, painter / printmaker talk with curator Merle Hathaway.
Saturday 12 October, 4pm: Vida Pearson (printmaker specializing in linocuts and birds)
Saturday 26 October, 4pm: Lucy McEachern (bird sculptures in bronze)
