 | I think I am suffering from post exhibition syndrome - i.e. "What to do next?" Each exhibition is a high point and absorption /immersion / engagement are the buzzwords! This image is a photograph of the nature finds that made the painting Timelessness with the three little unframed paintings Timeless I, II and III in the background. A creative high point from my 2017 exhibition. |
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 This morning am thrilled to bits to see this in "South of the River", Perth publication about my work.
 THE TUARTS. The third presentation championing trees, birds and Nature's antiquity. Botanist and wildflower expert Bronwen Keighery will speak about Tuarts and the role they play in the many layers of biodiversity, what is known of their great age and evolution. Free talk, all welcome. At Bunbury Regional Art Galleries. 2 - 4 pm, please arrive 1.45 pm
PAINTING Prince of Tuarts-Ancestor Tree in my exhibition REMINDER exhibition closes 17th April, Easter Monday THE FINAL EVENT Historic planting of a new Tuart forest on Sat 29 April . I like the notion of planting trees from seed collected from trees that are centuries old, trees that have been here since long before white settlement. Bush regenerator Mark Kennedy is raising these tiny trees in readiness. City of Bunbury is participating with understorey plants and a site. Together we will plant almost 1,500 seedlings in time for the winter rains, making a new Tuart bushland. These young-old Tuarts will be given a priest's blessing at the beginning, and a Nyungar smoking at the end Helpers needed, please register  Saturday's talk, TIME, TIMELESSNESS, ANTIQUITY with Troy Bennell, Nyungar artist, cultural educator and storyteller. Wow. It was fantastic. Troy spoke warmly, and from the heart. No powerpoint presentation via computerization for this fella: he presents powerfully, as himself. A non-stop pouring forth of stories about family, nature, connections with the past, stolen generations, his mother and the knowledge passed she passes on to him. He gave reverence to the ancient 140 million year old rocks along Bunbury's beachfront. Tales including one about a recently-found-in-South Bunbury coolamon made from Tuart which has yet to be dated. Troy is really excited about his culture and eager to teach anyone who will listen, he is the incorrigible optimist. He wound up his talk with a spellbinding performance of the didgeridoo, and promised to give a smoking to bless the old-new Tuart forest we plan for Saturday 29th April in South Bunbury (helpers needed, please let me know). If you didn't come to Troy's presentation, you missed! I am tickled pink to be working with another artist in this capacity, and we hope for more collaborations in the future.
 TIME, TIMELESSNESS, ANTIQUITY with Troy Bennell, Nyungar artist, cultural educator and storyteller. Saturday 1st April, Bunbury Regional Art Galleries. The second presentation. Adding another layer to the themes of my exhibition "Nature Diaries - Tuarts, Terns and Time". A different view of time from an Aboriginal perspective, the world's oldest living culture, thinking deeper about our ancient continent and nearby Indian Ocean. Be connected to the past, as Troy speaks about his culture. Come, if you can.
Free. 2 - 4 pm, arrive 1.45 pm. Bring a warm wrap, the gallery air-con works too well!  I worked this painting from photography by birding cobber Chris Tate, with his permission of course. I wanted to show the absolute marvel that is the tiny chicks, and the protectiveness of the parent. Birds, like all animals are so protective, caring and patient of their young, and raise them in that tenderness and devotion known to human parents, there is such a timeless mystery and poetry about it all. A postcard sized painting, it will be in the gallery catalogue at my coming exhibition "Nature Diaries" for $300, including gallery commission of one third and framing costs. Thank you Chris, you'll be acknowledged.
 This is where my new exhibition will be. I last exhibited here in 1998, in the very same gallery rooms, the City Gallery. The gallery was earlier a convent, now it is heritage and calcite pink, the building material of that time. The building faces east, the direction of the Holy Cross. The Indian Ocean is not far away to the west. My paintings are to be delivered next week and the show begins on Friday 10th March. I am exhilarated, yet angst ridden, a mix of emotions.
 I am thrilled that Melissa Parke is to open my exhibition. We have been friends for more than 20 years when we first met through environmental activities in Bunbury. Then Melissa became a UN lawyer, working in world hot-spots, first in Kosovo following that war, then Gaza. She was next invited back to Australia to become a parliamentarian where her voice became a humanitarian message. Melissa opened an exhibition for me at Bunbury Regional Art Galleries in 1998 and now, almost 20 years later, she is about to do it again. Here she is in sunflower fields in Tuscany on a break during her Kosovo years.
 Yesterday I cut the last painting off its board. A bittersweet moment. Sorry to have to stop painting, to cease the momentum. Sweet because they're all at the framer now, and I look forward to having them returned, dressed, polished and ready for delivery to the gallery. There is a season for everything, and that was the season for painting. Now it is the season for writing. I have kept disparate notes about my art for years, now I shall collate them and make an art journal to accompany my exhibition. It will be called "The Secret Life of Sue Kalab". This painting is called "Golden Nest of the Small Bird" - do you like it? |
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