Eleven artists got together at “Little Kickerbell” in July 2018. There was much chatter about art and a lot of art making. THE RESULT… THIS EXHIBITION. ORIGINALLY SHOWN AT WALCHA GALLERY OF ART, IT NOW COMES TO GALLERY 126 and opens on Friday 6th September at 5pm.
KICKERBELL A R T I S T S
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ocated on the Liverpool Plains near Quirindi, “Little Kickerbell” homestead dates back to the 1820s, when John Blaxland, elder brother of the explorer Gregory Blaxland, settled on the land. With the help of convicts, he established a grazing property. The 1830s stone coach house, and another stone building (possibly a schoolhouse) remain as evidence of his colonisation. Currently owned by husband and wife team Cathy Armstrong, a caterer, and Rowen Matthews, an artist, it is run as an event venue with accommodation, food and workshops. The artists came from Mackay, the Central Coast, Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Tamworth, Armidale and the South Coast and spent a week at “Little Kickerbell”. Each artist set up an easel around the property, painting plein air, and returning to the homestead in the evening for a fire pit show and tell session. Predominantly landscape painters, some artists produced the artwork in situ, while others treated it as a plenary session, with the works later produced back in their studios. The Liverpool Plains is a unique landscape with vistas aplenty.
14 New England focus.
Michelle Hungerford from Tamworth said, “It’s always about getting headspace when you paint outside, which frees the mind of all domesticity and allows the creative process to begin.” Sandra McMahon, also from Tamworth, produced lined landscapes while immersing herself at “Little Kickerbell”. Artists Tim Allen and Rhett Brewer, from the Blue Mountains, and Brad Short, from Mackay, spend a lot of time in the landscape producing drawings and paintings, whereas Stuart Boggs and Rowen Matthews are more studio based artists. Alison Mackay, who is based on the south coast of New South Wales, produced drawings and paintings of the interior of the homestead. A more abstract approach was undertaken by Central Coast artist, Felicity O’Connor and the Blue Mountains based Ruth le Cheminant. While each artist worked solo, the camaraderie of a group painting trip provided inspiration and encouragement, therefore lessening the solitary experience of art making. In addition, it produced wonderful artworks which will be on display from the 6th September at Gallery 126 Armidale. Please come along to the opening.