Eden Unearthed 2023/2024 catalogue by

six month exhibition nov 2023—april 2024

Immerse yourself in the Eden Unearthed exhibition experience The QR codes in this catalogue and throughout the exhibition give you access to a wealth of behind-the-scenes artist interviews and insider glimpses of their ingenious site-specific works being installed. Enrich your experience of the exhibition as you wander through the gardens, or at home with the interactive online catalogue. Meet the artists and hear them reflect on their art practices and processes. Learn the stories behind the artworks and installations, the places they came from, and the people who brought them into being. Have fun with the kids on the Kids Art Trail, or become immersed in art-making by joining our Unearthed artists for one of their inspirational workshops. Book early – don’t miss out! kids art tr ail questions Front cover, clockwise from top left: Entanglement, Dinah Taprell, Jane Lush & Belinda Piggott; Love Song, Murray & Burgess; Lenticular Mirror, Studio Loz; Going, Going, Gone, Helen Roberts. This page: Whispering Canopies Minka Gillian. Photos: Brian Rapsey

e nab li n g a r tfu l co n ve r sati o n s

Gr aham Forsy th Eden Unearthed Judge & Selection Panel Eden Unearthed has always had a level of ambition that may have seemed out of place in Macquarie Park, on some accounts, far from the eastern suburbs or inner west where art is meant to flourish. But what turned out to be most important for its survival and Increasing flourishing was that the ambition evidence of was not merely aesthetic, with climate change beautiful works in an enchanting and degradation garden, but also to communicate has seen artists urgent environmental issues, move from simply allowing Eden Gardens to become reusing materials, a real site for us to confront some of to producing works the key environmental challenges which confront and opportunities we face. There and contest our has also been an educational ambition, with a strong commitment understanding of nature by from its inception to engaging revealing its student artists, and providing professional opportunities and real complexities support for emerging artists. and its risks.

e nab li n g a r tfu l co n ve r sati o n s The challenge of environmental sustainability has been a consistent theme through the last eight years, and the increasing evidence of climate change and degradation has seen artists move from simply reusing materials, to producing works which confront and contest our understanding of nature by revealing its complexities and its risks. With the best of the work we are less shielded from the world by the garden, as forced to address how much is at stake. Perhaps the exhibition's most significant ambition has been that of redefining and enriching the relationship with its artists. One aspect is the strong showing from student artists, who are given opportunities to increase their professional experience. The other is the sustained professional support and opportunities for community engagement for all those exhibiting. Along with financial support, there is an expectation of working with Eden Gardens over a six month period, including providing workshops, where teamwork and collaboration are central and constant. For the viewer, the ambitions are simpler: enjoy. Gardens and art – what more do you need?

Graham Forsyth

Adjunct Professor, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture

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where gardeners grow!

Explore our display gardens, choose all the latest season colour plants or get advice on your next garden makeover. Eden Gardens Macquarie Park Ph 9491 9900 edengardens.com.au

Wi n lu n ch or a gift vo u ch e r!

#edenunearthed

fo r you r favou r ite or share a socials pic After exploring Eden Unearthed, head online to vote for your favourite work. You’ll be in the monthly draw to win lunch for two at the Gardens Restaurant & Terrace Bar. Or, tag your social media photo of the art #edenunearthed and you could be one of the monthly winners of a $50 gift voucher. And your favourite artist will be in the running for People's Choice Award!

vote now or fill out a voting form at the The Gardens Restaurant & Terrace Bar. One vote only per person. Drawn on the first of each month.

a wa r m w e lco m e

The Gardens here at Eden are a constant source of delight to adults and children alike, providing a window to the natural world and accessibility to a rich green space that’s increasingly depleted in the modern urban setting. It’s with enormous pride that the seventh Eden Unearthed has been revealed. The exhibition makes the garden so unique, and really does “unearth” conversations and highlight important perspectives concerning our environment. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help make art accessible to all, both through our permanent collection and ephemeral works, and in supporting the artists who have created this unique show. Come along with your family and friends and enjoy the exhibition on now ˇtil the end of April – and please make sure you let us know your favourite works by voting.

Simon Ainsworth

Owner & Director of Eden Gardens

S pac e & Ti m e fo r Ar t

all an giddy Eden Unearthed Judge & Selection Panel With such a diverse and inspiring set of sites, Eden Gardens offers artists a unique opportunity to engage in creating site-specific and site-responsive work. Every year I look forward to this exhibition, because despite having viewed the planned works on paper and in writing, it’s always exciting to see them manifest in real space and time. We finally get to see the relationships unfold that were hoped for: those between the artworks and different facets of the environment. For emerging artists of a diverse age range, it's a great opportunity to get in and mix around, come up with new ideas and solutions, engage with an audience in a social environment and with each other. This is work, but it’s also fun. I hope you get the sense of playfulness in many of the works, but also importantly the seriousness with which the Eden Gardens management and staff take art, and its potential to convey meaning in public spaces. Thanks Anna and Simon once again for this special exhibition.

Allan Giddy

Director of ERIA, University of NSW Art & Design

call fo r s u b m i s s i o n s e d e n u n e arth e d 24/25 eden Gardens is proud to support the artistic communit y in this unique exhibition of temporal works, situated within their award winning gardens. Submissions are sought from both student and practicing artists, first prize of $10,000 and stipends are paid to successful applicants. register your interest

curator@edengardens.com.au Leyla Oz installing her work Lenticular Mirror Photograph: Brian Rapsey

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b e h i n d th e le n s

I pause in my work video editing the Eden Unearthed artist interviews to write this, and as I listen to the artists talk, I’m struck by how inspired they all are in creating their site-specific works. Many have laboured long already in studios, but at the time I meet, interview and photograph them they are in the throes of installing their art at Eden Gardens. I witness their excitement as the work takes its place in situ, and as they rub shoulders with their fellow artists. And for me – I get to meet everyone – I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to hear their stories and accounts of artistic thinking and process. I wholeheartedly encourage you to watch the video interviews (via the QR codes) and to discover, as I have, these wonderful, thoughtful, passionate creators. It’s a privilege to work with such talented artists, and to gain an intimate understanding of their artworks and creative journeys.

Brian Rapsey

Eden Unearthed Photographer & Videographer

a g ar d e n e r ' s p e r s p ec tive

Eden Gardens has once again been transformed into a living art gallery, and the garden team have loved watching the creations come together. The Unearthed exhibition give us a different perspective to this landscape, and this year more so than any has shown us creative ways to use recycled garden materials to create these wonderful works of art. The garden team and I look forward to the artworks attracting many visitors to this special space, and we can’t wait to see how these installations will be enjoyed by all. Congratulations to all of the artists for their hard work, and many thanks to them for showcasing this fantastic space.

Sarah Howell

Head Gardener at Eden Gardens Horticulturalist at Regal Innovations

SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2024 WORKSHOPS TALKS & TOURS MARKETPL ACE

SUSTAIN ABILITY F E S TIVA L

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L ROL & ST HAIR RDEN C L E A WHE TO G ESS AC C

per m a n en t s cu l pt u r e co l l ect i o n a Jenny Pickford

Belle 2010 b Rae Bolotin Refugee 2003

c April Erzetich Serpent Head 2004 DAFFODIL d Ayad Heavenly Kiss 2011 GARDEN 21 34 23 e Trevor Weekes 22 C The Eden Tree 2004 OFFICES f Michael Garth 03 Candelabra Chair 2007 WC 33 G Tony Davis The Folly 2017 32 RECEPTION hE gor Zigura Colossus Holds Up the World i John Turier Pineapple-man 2004 j John Turier Primevera 2004 R OA D W AY k Shannon Foster & YOTS Bujari Gamarruwa 2019 l Col Henry Fiddle Sticks 2009 m Denise Oates Twist of Fate 2004 D

wo r ks to u n e arth 2023 – 2 024 w i n n er h i g h ly co m m en d ed s t u d en t awa r d G a r d en er ' s awa r d s u s ta i n a b i l i t y awa r d 01 Stuart Weir The Forest Guardian 02 Nadia Vitlin Eden Dew 03 Saskia Everingham More-than-human 04 Alice McAuliffe Concrete Carpet 05 Sarah Yaacoub Come Together 06 Bronte Cormican-Jones It may be the right way 07 Melissa Cate Christ Fill 08 JIL Studio Lost Topography 09 Helen Roberts Going, Going, Gone 10

Diamando Koutsellis Laughing Kookaburras

Leon Lester Sakshi: Witnessing Awareness

Brenner & Muljana Future remnant

Renate Crow Tawny Frogmouth

14 Karli Shaw Mate Ururuoa 15

Murray & Burgess LoveSong

Nancy Lane Termite Mound Reimagined

Studio Oz Lenticular Mirror

Francois Limondin Moving Plant

Madeleine Hayes & Aaron Blakey Molly’s Garden

20 Rebecca Pierce Bed of Roses 21

Simon Harris Naiad

22 Minka Gillian Whispering Canopy 23 Julie Milton Golden Era 24 Georgina Galea Breathe

wo r ks to u n e ar th 2 0 2 3 – 2 0 2 4

25 Entangled (Taprell, Lush & Piggott)

Entanglement: From Trash to Treasure 26 Leanne Thompson Seeding Kairos Time 27 Nicole O’Regan Terrene, of the earth 28 Christina Frank Impressions Exhibition 2023 29 Allyson Adeney Suspension 30 Kayo Yokoyama & Henryk Topolnicki Kitsuni-Bi 31

Jayanto Tan The chant of silence

32 Geraldo Zamproni Errors 33 Simon Harris Primal Venus & other drawings 34 Father Chris Riley's Youth Off the Streets

Dreamscape

LoveSong, Murray & Burgess. Photograph: Brian Rapsey

the sustainability award The environment has always been a priority at Eden Gardens, from the solar passive design of the building, to the recycled water that is harvested and reused on site, the sensible use of resources, and our practice of recycling green and cafe waste. The use and reuse of materials in artworks, their inherent nature, the sustainability story or environmental message the work tells, and the embracing of the community engagement aspect are all important considerations when judging this award.

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Wedayeo galumban gurad Welcome to sacred Country. Many Songlines are embedded here on this Country that is now home to Eden Gardens. Country here has been shaped by water; Garigalo (saltwater), Nattaigalo (freshwater) and Biddigalo (sourwater) etch and mould the landscape, creating abundant ecologies that will sustainably shelter, provide and regenerate long into the future. On high Country here, ceremony is performed and in the deep valleys, women care for the freshwater and medicine lore. For millennia water has brought people together here for trade, ceremony and kinship responsibilities. This water Country knows how to heal, protect and provide, and we carry this enduring spirit into the future as we work with Country. We honour and pay respect to the Ancestors, Elders and descendants of our kinship system here including the D’harawal, Dharug, Gai-mariagal, GuriNgai and Gundungarra peoples, among many others. It is through the Ancestral knowledges and stories of local peoples that we can understand Country and the unique ways in which Country connects us all. Ngeeyinee bulima nandiritah (May you always see the beauty of this earth)

Shannon Foster

D'harawal eora Knowledge Keeper ORALRA registered Traditional Owner

Impressions Exhibition 2023. Christina Frank. Photograph: Brian Rapsey

eden unearthed 2023–2024

exhibiting artists

a note from the curator Eden Unearthed has once again come together, showcasing over thirty artists and their works in an exhibition that focuses on the ‘Three Pillars of Sustainability’: social, environmental, economic. Woven through the exhibition is a strong community of artists, an extended family of judges, gardeners, creatives, students and Eden Gardens staff – all have contributed to the success of this exhibition. I am so grateful for everyone’s hard work and commitment, and especially to Simon and Anna Ainsworth for making this all possible through their financial support and encouragement. Eden Unearthed 2023 examines Anthropocenic issues such as climate change, habitat and species loss, and asks questions about life on the brink of the Pyrocene: the age of fire. It also tells ancient stories of magic and enchantment, and fosters feelings of hope and contemplation. Having curated this exhibition since its inception, I hope it has set the bar for the way we value artists. I continue to be amazed at their creativity, and hope visitors enjoy the serendipity of art in the garden.

Meredith Kirton

Horticultural Journalist & Curator, Eden Gardens & Garden Centre

T h e Fo r e s t G ua r d i a n features a Green Man, who in Celtic Mythology represents the lushness of flourishing vegetation and a symbol of the coming cycle of renewal in Spring and Summer. It reminds us all that we need to be mindful of our environment and to preserve our forest and gardens to sustain us into the future. The artist hopes that this work will inspire people to renew and nurture their garden or green space. Stuart Weir is a structural landscaper who has been working in the industry for over thirty years and loves to create one-off special pieces for clients. He is a skilled stonemason who exhibits in art trails, and has created works he has donated for Cancer Research.

01 this wo r k i s fo r sale enquire via qr ▼

E d e n D e w is an immersive installation. It is inspired by the cool, fresh morning air just after dawn in Eden Gardens. Water droplets adorn the petals and leaves of Eden’s fragrant plants and the moisture in the air mingles with the scent of earth and the bark of Australian trees. Taking a walk in the early morning sun, narcissus flowers herald the arrival of springtime. Notes: Narcissus, Lemon Myrtle, Blue Gum, Cypress, Boronia, Magnolia grandiflora, Gardenia & Moss.

02 Nadia Vitlin is an olfactive

artist. She started her perfume journey in 2013 and by 2023 was exhibiting scented paintings in Asia. Vitlin incorporates new and exciting ingredients that she acquires from sources that are unavailable to the mass market. Strictly bespoke-only, she works with individuals to create olfactory works of art. She is a board member for the Asia Perfume Foundation, runs bespoke fragrance service Vitsley, and works as a visual artist under her own name. 2

M o r e-t h a n - H u m a n These soft pouches emulate some of the forms of a beehive, if freed from the need to serve humans. When building in nature, they can determine their own cell size, population mix and colony size. A new way of appreciating the world around us, a movement called “more-than-human” is emerging. Rather than seeing the natural world as a resource for humans to exploit, this outlook acknowledges that other, non-human, creatures also have a right to exist and thrive beyond our human needs. Saskia E veringham is based in the Blue Mountains, NSW. The bush around her informs her work through the arc of growth and decay and visibility of natural systems. It also instils a particular awareness of environmental concerns and thus an effort to imaginatively engage the audience on an emotional level around these issues. Predominantly working in textiles, she is now starting to incorporate site-specific media to build a stronger connection between an artwork and its message. 3

o n c r e t e Ca r p e t provides the audience with a 04 Cbaroque-inspired carpet design rendered with water. Moss

and dirt have been cleaned from the concrete, leaving a two-tone pattern. In time the image will fade away, as more people walk over it and the dirt builds again. Until then, the carpet uplifts the path, providing a juxtaposition between high aesthetic design and utilitarian concrete. Alice McAuliffe is an artist, curator and creative producer with over twenty years’ experience as an arts professional and practicing artist. Alice specialises in audience engagement and placemaking, ameliorating everyday spaces to encourage audiences to engage playfully and thoughtfully with their environment. Having spent five years living in Italy her work is influenced by the decorative aesthetics of Baroque, High Renaissance and Art Nouveau. 4

C o m e To g e t h e r incorporates a version of Sarah’s childhood swing. It represents warmth, safety, and love but also delicacy and fragility, due to it being made from bread. Bread making is reminiscent of a traditional and ritualistic family activity, while representing a wholesome and fulfilling time spent with them. This artwork holds strong ties to childhood and how fragile its memories are. However, these memories can still offer comfort and a sense of belonging, while navigating a stressful and daunting adult life.

Sar ah Ya acoub is a multidisciplinary contemporary Swiss artist practicing on Unceded Cammeraygal and Gadigal Land. Her practice is concerned with creating sculptures and environments with baked goods, bestowing a sense of home and community to her work. Sarah creates both edible art and long-lasting baked sculptural pieces, and is dedicated to creating works that last indefinitely. The bread is called 'hardtack', consisting only of salt, water and flour. 5

m ay b e t h e r i g h t way Mapping the 06 It architectural features of Eden Gardens with a drawing of

interactive art work

bricks, this installation inhabits the relationship between architecture and the organic environment. A pathway constructed from five hundred bricks passes through the space. As it doubles back on itself participants are woven closer and further from one another, their perspectives altering with changes in direction and position. Participants are invited to be attentive to the pace, rhythm, and direction of their steps, and to experience the maze with contemplation. Bronte Cormican- Jones is an emerging contemporary artist and writer, living and working on Garrigal and Durramurrgal lands in Sydney. Her practice is primarily sculptural, exploring the field of spatial practice through object, installation, performance and photography. Her work investigates our physical responses to the infrastructure around us. 6

FI L L v. To put into (a container, e.g.) as much as can be held. n. An amount needed to make complete or satisfied. Fill consists of a pile of gravel whose volume is equal to the capacity of the surrounding edge. Drawing inspiration from Japanese dry garden (karesansui) practices, visitors shape a gravel garden through actions such as raking and (re)moving. The intent is to engage visitors in a meditative process of deconstruction / construction: each visitor witnesses a unique moment in the history of the installation and contributes to its evolution. Melissa Cate Christ is a landscape architect, academic, and artist whose practice aims to reveal and engage people in the everyday beauty of places through movement. Currently Sydney-based, Melissa has lived and worked in Sweden, Hong Kong, Canada, China, and the USA. 7

interactive art work

s t To p o g r a p h y investigates the relationship 08 Lo between built and natural form, asking the question of what

was here before the land was changed and the original topography lost. The form of the installation takes inspiration from the topographic lines of the Northern Rivers, creating a free-flowing structure that encourages visitors to take a seat, slow down, lay down and appreciate the native plants growing around and through where you sit and lay. JIL Studio is a multi-disciplinary design studio consisting of three brothers Jacob (Registered Architect), Isaac (Graphic Designer) and Lachlan (Environmental Scientist) who are all passionate about the unique natural environment of Australia, in particular the native flora. Having grown up on the Northern Rivers NSW and now residing on the Gold Coast, JIL has developed a close connection to the land of South East QLD/NSW, this connection is the overriding theme of their work. 8

G o i n g G o i n g G o n e The copper banksia tree represents the plight of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a critically endangered ecological community which has lost 97% of its natural habitat. It is a home-made looking tree within the natural environment, as if a concerned local has tried to bring it back to life. Information about the Banksia Scrub is displayed on the viewing platform window. Helen Roberts creates art inspired by the Sydney environment. With qualifications in the fields of geology, science education, data management and Tai Chi, Helen has a wellrounded outlook. Living in Sydney, she sees the components of the Banksia Scrub from different aspects, painting and sculpting individual plants and their surroundings.

au g h i n g Ko o k a b u r r as The laughing of 10 LKookaburras is a quintessential Australian sound. They

bring joy to passers-by and have an iconic presentation. Their assortment will give the piece a presence, playing with repetition. The chorus of Kookaburras is singing and playing in the amphitheatre, symbolising the beauty and intensity of the lands on which we live. This artwork is about spreading the happiness of our natural environment. for

Diamando Koutsellis is the daughter of sale $100 Greek migrant parents, based on the Gadigal lands of the e ac h Listen to Eora Nation / Sydney. She is a contemporary artist who the kookas has exhibited extensively in Australia and overseas for enquire laughing over twenty-five years. Her work continues to include public via qr ▼ installations, temporary artworks and gallery exhibitions.

Sa ks h i : W it n e s s i n g Awa r e n e s s depicts the ability of a Human Being or a God to witness every event without responding in an unconscious manner. It directly relates to the model of unconscious cyclical behaviour that is healable by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT. Sakshi is the Sanskrit term that measures witnessing awareness. Leon Lester is a multi-disciplinary artist specialising in abstract painting. He also works across other mediums including; drawing, photography, sculpture and music. His collection of abstract paintings explore the limits of colour, form and dimension. The vibrant and uplifting artworks he creates are deeply informed by his commitment to his daily practice of yoga and meditation. Both his art practice and meditation allows him to investigate spirituality, movement and consciousness, which are underlying themes within his artworks. 11

Fu t u r e R e m n a n t references the intersection of the natural and the manufactured. In the future, with the world now, in many ways at a turning point, what will remain as our legacy? Will it be a new world populated by microorganisms alongside micro plastics? Will it be a world of war or peace? These ghostly relics hint at the possibilities for a fastforwarded world and ask us to take care. Pamel a Lee Brenner & Johannes Muljana have collaborated with each other in developing installation, interactive and experimental works over the last ten years. Their outdoor works have been exhibited at Sculpture in the Vineyards, Swell Sculpture Festival, Strand Ephemera in Townsville, Nocturnal Arts Wollongong, Sculpture by the Sea, Electrofringe, Unseen Sculptures and other exhibitions.

Taw n y Fr o g m o u t h Cheeky, playful and utterly captivating, Tawny Frogmouth owls appear fearless, engaging in a spontaneous staring competition, or hiding in plain sight, mimicking a branch. They thrive in urban and rural areas. They are a success story, adapting to their changing environment, while other native creatures struggle for survival. interactive art work: Sit in my belly, take a photo & leave me a message in the book.

this wo r k i s fo r sale

Renate Crow is a socially engaged artist, who lives on Wurundjeri Country in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, enquire Victoria. Crow shares her visual-sculptural practice with her via qr community through workshops and events. Her inspiration ▼ draws from nature and its creatures, to create playful, accessible artwork, often with an element of engagement. Crow was recently commissioned for a temporary artwork along ngurrak-barring trail, this piece went on to win an award at the Montalto Sculpture Prize. 13

e U r u r u oa attempts to bring together thoughts 14 Monat life/death, how things start, end, and continue, and how different cultures, family ideals and society mix and clash in these concepts. To express this we wanted to show how natural mediums (plants, flowers etc) blend with man-made products (paint, cardboard, plastic) and where they create conflict/friction. This piece is to reconcile our thoughts on the life cycle and how we can fit into its rhythm.

K arli Scarfone is originally from New Zealand, and has a strong connection to nature and her cultural heritages. Working as a florist for twenty years, her passion for creating with natural mediums spilled over to influence her as an artist, expressing the beauty found in foliage and flowers on manmade bases. As an emerging artist Karli has exhibited on the Central Coast and built many pieces for creative photo shoots. 14

LOV E S O N G The Regent honeyeater was widespread in great numbers across the eastern woodlands of Australia. Through loss of habitat, there are now not enough older males to pass on the love song, and numbers are possibly as low as 200 birds. Taronga Zoo, Birdlife Australia and Local Landcare Services have commenced a successful breeding and release program to try and reverse its decline. This work both mourns the bird’s destruction and celebrates the dedication of those working to save it. Murr ay & Burgess Ro Murray & Mandy Burgess have a collaborative art practice in Dhurag and Gundungurra country. After past lives as architects, they studied fine arts at NAS. Often recycling elements as building blocks, they create large-scale installations about the environment.

Hear the lovesong of the Regent honey-eater

T e r m it e M o u n d R e i m ag i n e d Termites build their mounds from soil mixed with their saliva and water. As a found object assemblage sculptor, however, Lane has created her artwork using street trash as the ‘soil underfoot,’ mixed with imagination and experimentation. Desk and cabinet drawers provide the infrastructure, while lost and discarded building materials in cutaways mimic the internal tunnels and air holes depicted in biology textbook diagrams. Her goal is for visitors to appreciate this amazing and overly maligned insect, as well as the versatility of reclaimed trash. Nancy D L ane (NancyDee Sculptures) is an artist-inresidence at River Studios. Her quirky artworks, made from metal, wood and tiles gathered from city streets, have appeared in many group and solo exhibitions. Committed to sustainability in her practice, Nancy hopes her creative use of unwanted trash will inspire people to follow the 5Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. 16

L e n t i c u l a r M i r r o r is an interactive, siteresponsive, and ephemeral artwork, displaying two images reflected onto the same surface. The lenticular effect uses perspective to reveal and hide two sides of a 3D sign. The work demonstrates how an image can appear and disappear upon a change in perspective, producing the unique visual effect of two images spliced together. Studio LOZ is the emerging art and spatial design practice of Leyla Oz, focussing on creating visually intriguing spatial experiences. Artworks use intentional materials that capture the illusionary phenomena which exists in our universe, creating new understandings of our own senses. Seeing something change right before our very eyes is a magical moment, and becomes a point of inquiry, questioning and ultimately curiosity, which is what Eden Gardens is all about. 17

ov i n g P l a n t is a fanciful wordplay provoking 18 Mperplexity about the meaning of the word “PLANT”. The sense is to be explained by the contex :… in the Garden!

Fr ancois Limondin is a Sydney-based visual artist; individually or within a collaborative format he has shown works in Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture at Scenic World, Eden Garden, Blake Prize Touring Exhibition, Night Sculpture Walk at Warringah, UNSW Galleries, Art2Public Travelling Exhibition, Broken Hill Regional Gallery, Hobart Art Prize, Blacktown Art Centre, Campbeltown Art Centre, Gosford Regional Gallery.

M o l ly ' s G a r d e n invites the viewer/ listener to take a moment and rest a while ~ a reminder to hold precious the tender moments we share as the seasons of life change and the hope that comes with the blossoms of spring. Madeleine Hayes is a mother, author, and lover of nature. She holds an Honours Degree with the National Art School, majoring in Ceramics. Her work has been included in exhibitions and sculpture prizes both locally and internationally. A aron Bl ake y is a New Zealand born jazz pianist/ composer based in Sydney. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of music, Blakey has also studied in New Zealand, Japan and USA. He is currently creating a body of work for his next album due for release in 2024.

This is music that plays in Molly's Garden – listen now!

o f R o s e s revisits Pierce’s past life in fashion 20 Bande ddesign and marries current multidisciplinary practices

of painting, sculpture and photography. The work is a ‘soft sculpture’ developed by scanning an existing 50kg 3D painting, to print fixed aluminium sublimation wall panels and hanging fabric in the Japanese Noren style. Sitting within the viewer is enveloped within repetitive imagery and saturated colour. The experience is of being immersed in a ‘bed of roses’ that does not discriminate: all are welcomed. Rebecca Pierce lives and works in Sydney, balancing art

bed of making with her roles of running an art gallery and her design roses silk practice. She has been a finalist in major art prizes including scarves

the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, the Mosman Art Prize, and the Heysen Prize. Primarily working with paint, inks and fine points, she frequently xpands her works to the third dimension, creating sculptures out of found or recycled objects.

$295 each in shop

se e a lso #3 3 pri m a l v en us Related graphite drawings by Simon Harris

N A I A D From the very beginning of humankind rock has played an important role in the journey of art, ritual and community. The rocks seemed to have an innate energy and majesty, and were a powerful link between early humans and their land. Naiads were the freshwater goddesses or nymphs of Greek Mythology, residing alongside lakes, rivers, springs and creeks. They cared for the body of water and its environment, including the animals, plants and their surrounding eco-system. Simon Harris was an illustrator for twenty years before a COVID epiphany led to a pursuit of fine art. Channeling his long-held fascination with stone age art, he created graphite drawings of rocks in formations suggesting the human form. One of these drawings, ‘Primal Venus’ was accepted as a finalist in the 2023 Dobell Drawing prize. This in turn led him to explore larger, three-dimensional art resulting in the large-scale sculpting cement technique that he has used for ‘Naiad’. 21

21 this wo r k i s fo r sale enquire via qr ▼

h i s p e r i n g Ca n o py is a kinetic installation 22 W prompting viewers to question conventional environmental

boundaries. It presents a symbiotic celebration of life’s interconnectivity uniting nature and human creativity. The installation features over sixty translucent, woven pods suspended from a tree, symbolizing the delicate threads linking us to the environment. These pods also offer a glimpse of a future where nature and human innovation coexist in harmony. Mink a Gillian has been a practicing artist for over twenty years. Her work includes sculpture, installation, painting, drawing. She has had over twelve solo exhibitions and has been in numerous group shows around Australia. Her work is in the Artbank collection and in the Qt Hotel in Auckland. She received a Highly Commended in the Gosford Art Prize and Commended in the Black town art prize. She lives and works in The Central Coast, NSW. 22

G o l d e n E r a explores the beauty and symbolism embedded within the stages of the lotus plant, drawing parallels to the stages of a human life. The lotus flower is an extraordinarily beautiful flower, and all its stages of growth is symbolic in eastern cultures. The form of this artwork was inspired by a dry lotus pod and is a visual metaphor for the twilight years of life, representing a golden era of wisdom, reflection, and spiritual enlightenment. The artist invites the viewers to contemplate the parallels between the stages of the lotus plant and human experience.

Julie Milton (BFA, BAD,DipEd) is an artist, curator and educator work in public and private collections. She works across a range of media: outdoor installations, painting, and photo media including digital collage. The strongest thread throughout her practice is her concern with and interest in the ongoing and rapid changes to the natural environment and its effect on the future evolution of native flora and fauna. In this work she draws parallels between the life of the lotus plant with the journey of life. 23

B r e at h e Plants enrich our lives beyond measure, our 24 very existence is solely dependent on the wondrous plant

kingdom. We forget at our peril, that without them, would occur the demise of our civilization. This installation is a collection of fallen eucalyptus saplings and branches adorned with patterns inspired by plant cells, thereby acknowledging the crucial process that occurs within these microscopic cells that provide us with the air we breathe and the food we need to survive. Georgina G ale a is an emerging conceptual visual artist from the Blue Mountains who has previously exhibited a site-specific work for Sculptures at Scenic World and for PBeat 2023. She has a degree in Fine Arts and Visual Culture. She often borrows on her background in pattern design to realise her conceptual works. 24

I n fi n it e E n ta n g l e m e n t: Fr o m T r as h to T r e as u r e Emerging from the earth, seeds of possibility for transformative new beginnings. This living, breathing artwork contains mycelium, the network of threads that normally weave beneath the soil, nourishing plant life and producing mushrooms. Here, encased in plastic, it suggests the proven potential of mycelium to eventually decompose the plastic itself, returning it as nourishment to the soil. Less than 15% of plastic is recycled in Australia. As mycelium learns, we too must learn how to collaborate with nature’s powers.

entangled Dinah Taprell, Jane Lush & Belinda Piggott share a commitment to making collaborative, social and environmental art, leading to consciousness raising and change. Their skills and experiences range across fine arts, architecture, horticulture, installation, printmaking, painting and performance. As a group they are focussing on artmaking with biomaterials, particularly mycelium. 25

e e d i n g K a i r o s T i m e is participatory and 26 Sencourages an embodied engagement with earth versus

human time, exploring notions of ecological succession, diversity, custodianship and the ancient Greek concept of Kairos. Very slowly step into the labyrinth, over time this domain of plants will seed, grow and reveal a narrative of species evolution. At the threshold, the chance to align with earth and see the critical moments for purposeful action. Le anne Thompson explores the relationships between environmental issues, cultural perspectives and ‘spaces of possibility’ beyond the traditional artworld. Her philosophy aims to forage, harvest and reuse materials and her practice includes sculpture, interactive installations and community engagement. Living and working on Dharwal and Wiradjuri lands, she aims to acknowledge and respond to old ways of knowing, science, multiple species and interdependent ecological networks. 26

T e r r e n e o f t h e e a r t h We lead such busy lives we barely leave time to stop and “smell the roses.” The artist hopes to entice the viewer to come sit, relax, take time out and have quiet reflective interaction with this figurative sculpture. The artwork offers the opportunity to enjoy the plants, birds and the insects working harmoniously to pollinate, feed, breed and create a home, conscious that whatever goes on in life, mundane or catastrophic, nature is a comforting, unwavering constant. Nicole O’Reg an worked as a structural steel fabricator before moving into art fabrication for artists and creating her own artworks. She now exhibits widely through NSW, including Defiance Gallery miniature show, Paddington; Orange Regional Gallery; Sawmillers, McMahon’s point; HIDDEN Rookwood; Mudgee portrait prize. Most recently she has won major acquisition prizes at Sculpture in the Garden Mudgee and Sculptures @ Scratchley Newcastle. 27

p r e s s i o n s e x h i b i t i o n 2 0 2 3 is a series 28 Iofmcharcoal bark rubbings enlarged and reproduced on

tall translucent fabric banners, capturing the spirit and rich textures of the remnant eucalypt forest which is Eden Gardens’ origin. As a rubbing leaves an ‘impression’ or trace of an object, elemental charcoal is the carbon residue trace of burning forests, tangible evidence of fire’s role in the ecology and human history of this forest, and a reminder of the centrality of carbon in climate change. Christina Fr ank has a drawing-based practice which encompasses various materials and media, taking the natural world as inspiration itself and as metaphor for humanity in the landscape. Resilience and fragility are often conveyed, sometimes with impermanent works. She touches on connections: to place and each other, exploring underlying rhythms and patterns of landscape, its power to shape identity. 28

S u s p e n s i o n is a forced perspective tunnel created by strings of decorated bunting extending above the turn on the aerial walkway. Inside the 'tunnel', the audience focuses on the detail of the black waterproof triangles, created from reclaimed umbrellas, and the intricate metallic green embroidery signifying growth and decay. At the turn the tunnel opens, creating viewing frames that encourage the audience to experience the expansive views of the gardens and the horizon. Allyson Adene y lives, teaches, and creates in Sydney. She uses textiles, ceramics, glass and found objects within her art practice to create sculptures and installations that engage a range of senses. Her works support humans’ dwelling and growing in the presenting physical and psychological space, rather than rushing through it. She has studied at Sydney College of the Arts and the National Art School, and recently completed a Visual Art Research Masters from the University of Sydney, exploring memory, brokenness, and hope. 29

s u n e- B i In places absent of fire, flames like those 30 Kofita paper lantern would appear in a line, with fires that have

extinguished appearing anew. If one attempted to follow the path, it would disappear in the middle. Within Japanese legend, ten to several hundred would appear, and just when one thinks they have increased, they would disappear then multiply once again. Scientifically this could be the natural combustion of petroleum, spiritually, it is a reverence for the forest, as showcased in Kitsune-bi. K ayo Yokoyama Born in Japan, Yokoyama migrated to Australia in 1997. She studied at Sydney University (BVA, MFA) and now works at a studio in Blackheath, Blue Mountains. Hot Glass is her primary medium along with papers, metal, wood and ceramics. Henryk Topolnicki After migrating to Australia from Poland in the 1990s Topolnicki worked in a metal forgery. From his Blue Mountains studio he now focuses on developing his practice in public art and installation work. 30

T h e C h a n t o f S i l e n c e is a song from past to present, and a memoir of family and friends gathering through drinking tea. Tea has an important meaning for the artist's ancestors; it can be served at ceremonies, for praying to the universe and for reconnecting with the dead. These mandalas created from,tea bags, resin, thread, wooden hoops, crystal beads, fishing line,and fairy lights, symbolise loved ones who are always in our hearts. The act of rescuing the used tea bags is a memorial. Jayanto Tan is a Gadigal and Wangal-based contemporary visual artist who was born and raised in a small town in North Sumatra. Using found objects, ceramic sculptures, authentic food, interactive performance and installation, his work often investigates how hybrid cultures can create new identities of possibility and hope. Tan holds a Masters of Fine Arts from National Art School, and has exhibited extensively in both solo and group exhibitions in Australia and overseas. He is represented by Art Atrium Sydney. 31

r r o r s This work is a warning, considering the Three 32 EPillars of this purpose: Social, Environmental and Economic.

The symbolism of the shape and colours of these inflatables refer to an explosion caused by some people, who do not make use of a recent pandemic and other conflicts and that if they do not provoke them, they also do nothing to avoid a war. Ger aldo Z amproni is a self-taught artist working exclusively with artistic projects for over two decades. His interest in the plastic and aesthetic properties of industrial objects, such as plastic, iron and foam, has been present since the very beginning of his works. Exploring a flexible process of creation, Geraldo works from what each project demands from him. What remains unaltered is the artisanal approach to industrial materials – items that are rarely produced for our eyes delight.

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U NE N E ARTHED

workshops

Our workshops embrace reuse, recycle and social responsibility – and are so much fun you’ll want to book into every one. Learning from the Eden Unearthed exhibition artists themselves is a unique opportunity to improve your own skills and express your creativity. All materials and hospitality are included, so you can just enjoy the artistic process while we look after you!

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markets

v 9.30am–3.30pm xmas market 10 December 2024 markets 10 March + Family Art Day 7 April 11 August 8 september 8 December

Eden Gardens hosts seasonal open-air markets with a selection of bespoke products created by local artistans & crafters. You'll find nature-inspired jewellery, notes & cards, ceramics, tea towels, paintings & homewares. Unique gifts for everyone!

s u n d ay march 10

info & bo okings

Art is a fantastic way for families to connect with each other and create wonderful memories With family art classes, making art from recycled products and various drop-in art activities throughout the day. Plus, a curator’s tour of Eden Unearthed especially for kids.

enriching through community Unearthing potential and talent with our community partners is always a particularly rewarding part of this exhibition. Thanks to those artists contributing to the Eden community through their workshops: the lessons being learnt about country, community and the environment are priceless. A few artists have collaborated and shared their skills with students from Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets. Special mentions to Leanne Thompson for sharing her weaving skills and enthusiasm helping students create their work Cloudscape, Helen Robert for organising to plant some Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, and to Alice Mcauliffe for her ephemeral chalk work Concrete Carpet. We have loved the inclusion of the Sustainability Award this year, and the Gardeners Award – both winning artists are to be congratulated for engaging their audience with broader themes in an inclusive way. Lastly, we hope children enjoy the Kids' Art Trail and Family Art Day, and the joy that Art in the Garden can bring.

Anna Ainsworth

Owner & Director of Eden Gardens, Front cover, clockwise from top left: Entanglement, Dinah Taprell, Foundation. Jane Lush &Director BelindaEden Piggott; Love Song, Murray & Burgess; Lenticular Mirror, Studio Loz; Going, Going, Gone, Helen Roberts. This page:, FIll, Melissa Cate Christ. Photos: Brian Rapsey

“ Gardeners are do-ers, and Fill, while seeming to be just an ordinary pile of rocks, is asking each human (and non-human!) to transform the pile in their own unique way, to contribute to the artwork as it changes throughout the six months of the exhibition. We don’t know what will happen – how exciting is that?!” that?! ”

Melissa Cate Christ Winner of Eden Unearthed 2023 for Fill (photographed by BrianRapsey)