The most precious artworks created in my studio aren't made by me.

What's with all the circles?

People often comment on the repetition of the cell-like shape that appears in much of my work. So what's it all about? All those circles and stuff??

I love repetition and pattern. Pattern- both seen and unseen- is what drives our world. 

Patterns in prints and rugs and carpets and surface decorations. Patterns on wallpaper. 

The repeated stitch of a knitted jumper.

The  weaving and intersecting roads we all drive on. 

The brick wall that is made up of the repetition of that regular rectangular shape.

The way blood courses through our veins. In the same pattern. In the same way. over and over. 

A field of grass is just one grass blade shape, one individual unit,  repeated en masse, creating an expanse of green.

A feather shape, over and over, covers a bird, makes a wing.

Scales on a fish. Interlocking. Repeating. Fashioning a perfect armour for the deep.

A giant kelp tree deep in the ocean is the same leaf pattern over and over stretching down through water.

Individual units, grouped together to make a whole. A functional or simply beautiful whole.

But it's not just a rhythm of life, or a pattern of life, it is the process of life itself- cell reproduction. One cell, makes another just like itself, and repeats and repeats.... and so we breathe.

 These cell-like shapes appear over and over in my work, as a representation of life: the patterns and rhythm and process of life.

If we took a microscopic view of plant life or animal life, male or female, flower or fish, we would see the same  basic shapes. 

We are all made of the same stuff. 

 Which is why these cell-like shape appear in clumps- not only do actual cells clump, but I think when we realise that we are all actually made of the same stuff, there is an instant connectivity. Grouping. Togetherness.

I love that this cell-like shape can be representative of a 'close up' or microscopic view, but at the same time could be depicting an aerial view. Such as the aerial view of a field of flowers, or forrest of trees, or crowd of people. From high above we would simply get and inference of these clumps and groupings of roundish circular shapes. Kind of  a transcendental view. A view that is far away and high above, yet at the same time so intimate it could be microscopic.

I believe pattern and repetition have the potential to make an artwork relevant because there is a cadence we can all relate to. Hopefully it resonates- somewhere, subconsciously- with the core of who we are because we all live in rhythm (or long to live in rhythm) with some kind of pattern...maybe a divine pattern?

Time to get cracking!

It's studio clean up time with some sketches on the way and ideas a buzzing. So much to do!

New Work still on display

If you missed the exhibition at Sunset Gallery, and at Shopfront Gallery, and at Compass Art Space, you can still see a few pieces on display at Eyecare Plus, 127 Beaumont Street Hamilton. 

Thanks again to Lloyd Turner of Eyecare Plus for supporting local artists and making his waiting room available as hanging space. Stop in, check out some new sunnies (for winter?), and peruse some art. Seriously, they don't mind sharing the waiting room with the art lover!

Compass Opening

 Last night was the official opening of my small solo exhibition at Compass Art Space. What a great night! Lots of people came out to see the show and the place was buzzing. At one point it was shoulder to shoulder and I could hardly hear myself speaking. Thanks to my husband who served drinks all night- he was run off his feet!

I grabbed a few snaps before we opened the doors....

 And my husband managed one shot of some guests when it wasn't too busy!

This exhibition will run until April 15, Wednesday- Friday, 10am-2pm (or by appointment).

Compass Art Space is located at 44 Beaumont Street, (next to Giannotti's and across from the Gourmet Goose). There are so many great eats along Beaumont Street, why not grab some friends and come in for some coffee and cake and swing by and say hello!

Thanks to everyone who came out, thanks to a wonderfully supportive husband. After several months of being in the studio every night until 1am- I'm so glad it's finally all up on the walls so I can get some sleep!! ha!

Media: Newcastle Star

Very excited about this piece by Nellie Hejduk in todays Newcastle Star. Click the image to  read the article.

Exhibiting at Seascape and Beyond

This is a busy time of year! With work still in Shopfront Gallery and a small solo exhibition about to commence at Compass Art Space, I am also pleased to announce that I will have work shown at the Seascape and Beyond  exhibition, to be held at Merewether Surf Life Saving Club, April 8-10. This is an exciting charity event supporting Beyond Blue.


Opening Night: Friday April 8 6:30pm-8:30pm, including Tyrells wines and catering by Acquazul Restaurant.
Saturday April 9 and Sunday April 10, 10:00am-4:00pm
(adults $5 entry)

Upcoming exhibition: Compass

exhibition flyer

At the beginning of April I will be presenting a small solo exhibition at Compass Art Space, 44 Beaumont Street, Hamilton. Although the gallery won't be open to the public until Friday April 1st, I am hosting an opening on Thursday evening, March 31st. And if you're reading this, then you are invited!! So stop by between 6pm-8pm for some drinks and to check out some new work.  


Gallery opening hours:
Fri 1st 10am-2pm
Wed 6th/ Thurs 7th/ Fri 8th 10am-2pm
Wed 13th/ Thrus 14th/ Fri 15th 10am-2pm

New work at Shopfront Gallery

There are three new pieces from my new collection currently on display at Shopfront Gallery from March 1-April 1.

 (My son was very helpful during installation. He is a valued team member.)

 Rockpool, acrylic on board, 91cm x 122cm

 study for rockpool I, acrylic on canvas paper, 10cmx 23cm (image size)

study for rockpool II, acrylic on canvas paper, 10cmx 23cm (image size)

The Gallery window (at 539 Hunter Street) can be viewed at any time through the day and is also lit up in the evening for night viewing. So take a stroll along Hunter Street, or maybe pop into the award winning Thara Thong Thai  restaurant right next door.

The Shopfront gallery window is part of the Factotum Studio Art Gallery, which houses beautifully framed limited edition screen prints from various artists, including John Coburn and Cressida Campbell.  The prints are uniquely framed by resident artist Mike Phelps using recycled timbers. The gallery is open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm and Sat 10am-4pm. 

Sunset Gallery Opening

 Last Thursday evening was the opening of the Expressions exhibition at Sunset Gallery Port Macquarie. The evening was vibrant and busy and I was so busy talking to the invited guests that I didn't get any snaps of the speeches or the buzzing crowd, talking about art with wine glasses in hand.  But I managed a few shots before the opening and the following day.

works from the (mind)map series.

my son was very excited to come and see the gallery the next day.

This was a particularly special event because it is the first time my brother Daniel Atkins and I have ever exhibited together.

It was good to catch up with fellow exhibiting artist Matthew Weatherstone, whom I hadn't seen in years.

 On Friday, a group of senior art students from exhibition sponsor Heritage Christian School came through the gallery with their teacher to look at the works, meet the artists, ask questions and discuss different aspects of our art practice.

The exhibition continues until March 3. The gallery is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday10am-2pm. It is located on the corner of Murray and Clarence Streets (across from Organic Belly and the Mexican Restaurant). All works are for sale.

Upcoming Exhibition schedule

We are excited to announce that Joanna's work will be displayed at 4 venues over the next two months. Details for each event will be given closer to actual date.


February 17-March 3 Sunset Gallery, Port Macquarie
March 1- April 1 Shopfront Gallery, Hunter Street, Newcastle
March 10-April10 Eyecare Plus, Beaumont Street, Newcastle
April 1- 15 Compass Housing Art Space, Beaumont Street, Newcastle

Delivery: Sunset Gallery

Today is delivery day. Selected works  from my new series are packed up ready for delivery to Sunset Gallery Port Macquarie. The Expressions of Life Exhibition will commence with an invitation only ticketed event on Thursday evening Feb 17th, and will be open to the public from Friday the 18th.
This group exhibition will also feature the work of Daniel Atkins, Matthew Weatherstone, Bronwyn Lowe, and Gloria Muddle.
Sunset Gallery is located on the corner of Murray and Clarence Streets, and is open 10am-5pm Monday to Friday and from 10am on Saturday. Contact (02) 65834100 for more details.

Studio: sneak peek

Joanna has been busy in the studio putting in some long hours before her next group exhibition at Sunset Gallery, Port Macquarie. The exhibition will open on Thursday Feb 17th and will display work from 3 artists who originally came from Port Macquarie. Until then, here’s a sneak peek at what’s been happening in the studio.

Studio update

It’s been a hectic year, with not as much painting or exhibiting as in previous years. 2010 turned out to be the year of preaching and Joanna has travelled Australia and New Zealand, presenting over 35 sermons- whilst being full time mum to her two little ones. It has been a full and rich year, focused on ministry. However, 2011 looks set to be a year of painting again, with her first exhibition scheduled to open February 17th at Sunset Rayner Gallery, Port Macquarie. Check back soon for updated images from Joanna’s latest studio time.

Exhibition Opening

On Sunday Feb 1st, around 90 people enjoyed great live music, plenty of delightful food and drinks, and a keynote address by Tony Martin at the official opening of ‘Abundant’. The abundant series has been inspired by faith and significant places and presents a visual narrative for the metaphor ‘to dwell in high places’. The artist explores the concept of lifes ‘high points’ and ‘mountaintop experiences’ and our desire to stay in that space. 25 works were on display, 22 of which were completed in the last 10months since Joannas son was born. The exhibition continues until Feb15.

        

Media: The Newcastle Star

 Local newpsaper, The Newcastle Star, featured Joannas latest work in a brief article  by Kylie Adoranti entitled "Euphoric moments captured on canvas". You can read it online here.

Jaanna features in ABC interview

Joanna was recently interviewed by Anthony Scully of ABC Newcastle. Click the link below to read “Accentuating the Positive”

Anthony Scully article

or click this link to hear an interview

abc-interview

Daniel Atkins: Natural History Illustrated

Joanna was the keynote speaker at the opening of her brothers first solo exhibition,Natural History Illustrated, at the Jo Felk Gallery, Avondale College, Cooranbong, at 2pm on Sunday 7th September. In 2004 Daniel received the Margaret Senior award from the Department of Environment and Conservation for ‘most potential as a wildlife artist’. Since then he has travelled internationally spending a whole year in the Ruwenzori Mountains of Uganda and more recently to the Islands of Lombok and Sumbuwa Indonesia. His work was recently represented at Drawn from Nature Exhibition held at the Lovett Gallery dedicated to the late Professor Graham Gilchrist in February this year.

Exhibition at Loox

10 recent works are currently on display in the waiting room area at Loox Optical, 127 Beaumont Street, Hamilton until February. The works range in size from framed miniatures (33cm x 33cm) to a monumental and playful painting titled “Simpson Dessert” (1.2m x 2.7m). All works are for sale.

Joanna Darby at Loox Optical

A selection of works will be displayed at Loox Optical, 127 Beaumont Street, Hamilton, throughout December and January. Recent works, including works on paper are being showcased in the waiting room and office spaces. Joanna thanks Lloyd Turner of Loox for this exposure in a high traffic viewing area on this popular shopping and dining street. 10% of all sales will be donated to Optical Aid work.

Consider Loox for comprehensive eye examinations, the latest contact lens options and designer frames. Call 49695500 for an appointment.