Ways of Being, my solo exhibition at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, Melbourne, opens in less than a month. It’s primarily a painting show, but will also comprise a small number of relief prints, including Sunflower, 2024, linocut, 15 x 10 cm, edition 40. (Pictured top).
The sunflower, so named because of its constant orientation towards the sun (which it closely resembles), is an enduring symbol of optimism, longevity and resilience.
Coincidentally these are all character traits shared by our cat, Alice. In recent months she has diligently overseen the progress of most of my paintings and linocuts. My small upstairs studio adjoins a spacious room that does double duty as a home cinema and a second dining area. The large dining table, which also serves as an occasional workspace, is overlooked by a reverse cycle air conditioner. During winter I often speed up the drying process of my prints and paintings by placing them on the table where they get the full force of the heater - as well as Alice’s undivided attention. In the photo below she is pictured with the lino blocks from which Sunflower and A Snail’s Pace were printed.
Ways of Being runs from December 4-24 with an opening celebration on Saturday December 7 from 2-4 pm.
Photo credit top image: Tim Gresham.