In the immensity of the Blue Mountains natural environment, the elements of earth, water, air and fire surround us. In our daily experience, we live with the grand scale of canyons and etched peaks, changing atmospherics over endless forests, spectacular cascades and reflective pools, torrents of rain and gentle mists, always anticipating the destruction and renewal created by fire.
For artists resident in the Blue Mountains, the spectacular environment that surrounds them is a well-spring of inspiration for their creative work.
The Elements - Earth Water Air Fire highlights the union of nature and culture in a diversity of artistic expressions. It showcases the art of 10 highly regarded local artists.
Using the medium of photography are three artists with contrasting approaches. Ian Brown says that he immerses himself in wild spaces and his images reflect his desire to capture the richness and meaning of the natural world. Gary Hayes' momentous wilderness landscapes are bathed in light and moody atmospheres. Peter Hadjimichael has an eye for the unusual, the surreal in the natural world. His images capture the final stage of the life-cycle, often brutally interrupted - burnt-out, ruptured by flood, decaying.
Adrian Gilbert's paintings explore the relationship between of art and self, exploring organic forms in nuances of shape and colour.
Shane Smithers bold and dramatic works express the pride and intimate cultural knowledge of Darug people's traditional country. Glass art, jewellery and sculptural ceramics are formed from earth and fire.
Kayo Yokoyama crafts exquisite pieces in blown glass - a drop poised on a tap, its fleeting equilibrium a reminder of the balance within nature where all life depends on water. The delicacy and perfect form of these artworks show her virtuosity with this technique.
Caitlin Hughes employs the ancient technique of mosaics. In 2013 her home, studio and art school were lost in the fires that devastated much of Winmalee. She has processed this difficult experience through a series of works themed around loss, memory, resilience and regeneration, such as her centerpiece 'Anastasis'.
Simon Reece's ceramic works remind us of the detail in nature that we often overlook - the texture of lichen, glistening mud, intense patches of colour, repeating shapes and forms. Way beyond vessels and shapely forms, Linda Seiffert's sculptural pieces test the extreme versatility of clay, as she plays with extremes of shape, colour, texture and embellishment.
Madeline-Chalfont-Yates brings home treasures found on bushwalks and transforms seed pods, twigs, moss, into highly textured and deeply etched jewellery. Her experimental pieces echo the organic and decorative whims of nature. The Elements - Earth Water Air Fire reveals each artist's very individual and sensitive relationship to the natural environment of the Mountains.
The exhibition is also the curatorial debut of Saskia Everingham. Everingham is herself a well known local artist who has taken a bold new step into learning curatorial skills that will advantage Blue Mountains art and artists through future thematic exhibitions.
The exhibition will be at Braemar Gallery, Springwood from August 24 - September 17. An opening and meet the artists function will be held on Saturday, September 2 at 2pm.
Also the Lower Blue Mountains Arts Trail will take place on September 2 and 3 from 10am – 4pm each day. There will be 14 studios open with 17 artists exhibiting their works, plus Braemar Gallery will also be open. Visitors can take the day and visit a wide variety of art environments and art media. See bman.org.au.
