Page 57 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • ARTS

Functional art

1
EXHIBITIONS
Cairns Art Gallery’s current
exhibitions each focus on art
forms to be used, worn
and treasured.

Living Treasures 2
Masters of Australian Craft \ Risks are high but failure
Prue Venables
4 December – 23 January only motivates me to 1. Bettys Kitchen, 2017. Credit: Terence Bogue
try again 2. Black triangulated form & Black pedestal bowl,
2018. Credit: Terence Bogue
The works of Prue Venables show a true
mastery of materials. Endowed with a Prue Venables,
Ceramicist
profound understanding of porcelain, Win a shirt
Prue has cemented herself as one of
Australia’s greatest clay artists. She’s the The results are stripped back, serene and The Gallery has three shirts up
ninth creative in the Australian Design deceptively simple. for grabs, all designed by local
Centre series, Living Treasures: Masters “I enjoy the contradictory nature of artist Beau Motlop, including
of Australian Craft, which celebrates the the pieces, where the sprung tension one created in collaboration
achievements of Australia’s most iconic of the throwing remains clear, but the with Salty Monkeys. A Jirrbal,
crafts practitioners – each demonstrating origins of forms are uncertain,” she said. Wagedoegam, Ngapuhi and
more than three decades of excellence in The Australian Design Centre Touring Scottish artist, Beau’s designs
their discipline – and their command of Exhibition, showing at Cairns Art Gallery are multilayered in detail, colour
skill, achievements, and the unique until 23 January, explores the significance and intricate pattern.
place they occupy in design culture of everyday objects, made with the most One of his works was chosen as
across the country. delicate and temperamental of clays. the winning North Queensland
Practicing since 1977, Prue is motivated by The works expose the material’s Toyota Cowboys’ 2019 Indigenous
a particular interest in functional objects fine-grain and opaque qualities, while Jersey Design.
and a search for simplicity, quietness and also revealing the modest beauty of
an essential stillness. Prue’s designs.

Deadly Threads
3 December – 23 January

Featuring 180 shirts, Deadly Threads explores the emergence, significance and
continuing importance of Indigenous jerseys and t-shirts within Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander communities. These wearable works of art can be viewed not
only as symbols of unity, place and celebration, but as a doorway to explore the rich
histories of those who wear the textiles with pride. Some local artists included in
the collection are Injinoo artist Teho Ropeyarn, Badu Island artist Naseli Tamwoy
and Cairns artist Marcus Mcgregor Cassidy, as well as Cairns-based photographer,
Brian Cassey, with number of large-scale commissioned portraits. The exhibition
runs at Cairns Art Gallery until 23 January, developed and presented in partnership
with the State Library of Queensland.
MORE: cairnsartgallery.com.au

57 • tropicnow.com.au