General News
28 July, 2022
Exhibition to add a splash of colour to Dunolly gallery
The colourful, playful and whimsical works of Laanecoorie-based artist Robyn Smith-Clark will be on show in Dunolly this weekend, with her exhibition launching tomorrow at Puzzleflat Art Gallery. More than 70 of the artists’ works will be...
The colourful, playful and whimsical works of Laanecoorie-based artist Robyn Smith-Clark will be on show in Dunolly this weekend, with her exhibition launching tomorrow at Puzzleflat Art Gallery.
More than 70 of the artists’ works will be displayed as part of her A Garden of Magical Delights exhibition which will run for the next six weeks.
The exhibition comprises a mix of Ms Smith-Clark’s acrylic paintings, ceramic works and also some glass work in what she described as “colourful and happy”.
“I just make what I want to make, an idea comes into my mind and it goes from there so my work is colourful and happy,” she said.
“What was exciting for me with this exhibition was not just offering ceramics but also acrylic paintings and also some glass.
“I like not being restricted to particular details, my work is more whimsical in that regard because I can go a little bit wild with what I do.”
A Garden of Magical Delights marks Ms Smith-Clark’s first solo exhibition, after she last exhibited more widely back in the 1980s before her working life got in the way.
“I’ve had a couple of pieces in a previous exhibition here recently and prior to that, I did a bit in the 80s so there is a big gap between then and now,” she said.
“My employment life had nothing to do with art either, I worked in occupational health and safety and work cover and I just felt like I’d lost a piece of myself.
“I couldn’t figure out what it was and when I started the pottery wheel I just got it, it’s like a jigsaw puzzle and everything’s come together.”
Making art at her studio gallery in Laanecoorie, Ms Smith-Clark said while piecing together an exhibition involves a lot of work, it’s also been a rewarding experience before the exhibition itself has even started.
“It is a lot of work but I’ve tried to be a little diverse with my art, there’d be over 20 acrylic paintings and I’d say at least 50 ceramics and they complement each other,” she said.
“I’ve also learnt just how many artists we have in the area which is just great, before I got involved with the gallery here I had no idea there was so much art out in the community.
“This gallery is just such a marvellous place to show your work.”
The exhibition follows local artists Judy Meldrum and Tenar Dwyer becoming involved with the gallery space earlier this year, with the duo working to showcase the talent the district has to offer, similarly to the Tiny Towns Art Trail.
Ms Meldrum said the recent surge in public art in Dunolly shows the community is embracing art, which the gallery is striving to promote.
“Our intention for this gallery is to be professional and showcase what we have,” she said.
“This is a space that brings people from all across the community together and helps them connect.
“This gallery has been a healing thing for the community, with Rory Stainton’s art on the wall as you come into Dunolly and the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria installing the mural in Broadway is great — we’re all embracing art.”
A Garden of Magical Delights will open tomorrow, Saturday, July 30 at 1 pm at Dunolly’s Puzzleflat Art Gallery, 82 Broadway, Dunolly.
The exhibition will run for six weeks, with the gallery open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am until 2 pm or by appointments on 0425 876 548.