Earthy: Nature and Essence, 2007

Cara Stevens Artist’s Statement

Using natural colours, textures and simplified structural compositions I construct works of art evocative of the natural world. I enjoy looking at the way the environment is structured by breaking down the elements into basic components combining formal structure and informal shapes. These elements are visual references such as composition, horizon lines, tree lines, texture and colour. The collage technique forms a significant visual language in my work and allows me to mix mediums together to enhance the sense of environment and landscape. From a hilltop lookout or an aerial vista you would see from a plane, to close up, intimate textures of bark, sticks, leaves and stones – these are the inspiration for my work.

Short Biography

Cara moved to Port Douglas in Far North Queensland in 1994. Since then she has been working as a visual artist, using the area’s wide scale of natural beauty for inspiration. Cara met Josh Simons in 2000, and since then they have developed a great working as well as personal relationship. Josh hand makes all of Cara’s frames from locally acquired timbers which include Silky Oak, Kwila, Queensland Maple, Spotted Gum, various Wattles, Blackbean, Jarrah and a variety of recycled timbers gathered around the Port Douglas area. The natural timber frames are an important part of the artwork, allowing each piece to have its own sense of depth and dimension.

Education

1991–1993: Bachelor of Visual Arts Majoring in Drawing, Ballarat University, Ballarat, Victoria.

Selected Exhibitions

2006: Postcard Show, Linden Gallery, St Kilda, VIC; 2005: The Hidden Gallery, Port Douglas, QLD; Art Sydney, Royal Hall of Industries, Fox Studios, NSW; Art Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, VIC; Emerge, Albert Park Gallery, Albert Park, VIC; 2002: Picnic at Boulder Creek, Boulder Creek Gallery, Whyanbeel, QLD; 1993: Graduating Exhibition, Ballarat University, Ballarat, VIC.

Awards

1993: National Gallery of Victoria Award for final year folio of works; 1992: Macarthur Gallery Award for 2nd year folio of works.

List of Works Title Elements of Land and Sea Landmarks Beach Elements 1- 4 Natural Elements 1- 6 Gorge Boulders 1 & 2 Landmaps 1- 4 Terrain series 1 - 6 Fire Water 1 & 2

Medium Mixed media on canvas Mixed media on canvas Mixed media in black timber Mixed media in Spotted Gum Mixed media in black timber Mixed media on timber panel Mixed media on timber panel Mixed media on canvas Mixed media on canvas

Dimensions 92 x 150cm 100 x 100cm 62 x 62cm ea 27 x 102cm ea 27 x 102cm ea 30 x 120cm ea 30 x 240cm ea 120 x 40cm 120 x 40cm

Year 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007

Earthy: Nature and Essence in the Work of Tijn Meulendijks, Yoshie Mizuno and Cara Stevens is an exhibition that reveals a level of awareness reflecting the artists’ experiences with the natural world.

Each artist has a deep affinity for materials and texture, producing two and three-dimensional works of both subtlety and vivid presence. Mizuno’s work is based on the feminine subconscious mind and its relationship to Japanese culture while being profoundly influenced by the northern Australian landscape. Cara Stevens draws inspiration and influences from the environment and has an interest in the juxtaposition of textures using elements evocative of earth, sky and sea. Meulendijks presents innovative works that engage with the essence of growth and the lifecycle of particular plants creating sculptural pieces of refined simplicity and unexpected beauty. copyright remains with the artists and authors Exhibition Curator, Russell Milledge KickArts Director, Rae O’Connell

23 November 2007 to 23 February 2008

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Tijn Meulendijks Artist’s Statement

Sculptural intervention into space and use of organic material are the focus points of my installation. In the double height gallery space I have utilised two suspended works as a way to define its vertical aspect. The visual quality of these suspended works is enhanced by the arboreal origins of the material selected. With this, I believe, when a naturally occurring organic form is artificially suspended it must be hanging during its natural growth creation to reach the origin and authenticity of the final sculptural form. When working with the inherent characteristics of a chosen plant material, I make choices that involve appreciating the continuity and growth cycle of each particular species.

This sensitivity is continued through my working method, for instance connecting plant parts between the internodes, or at the branching points. This is an attempt to work from the material, rather than with the material.

Education

2002-2004 Master of Floral Art, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

Recent Solo Exhibitions

2007: Untitled, Cairns Regional Gallery, QLD; 2006: Typha Latifolia, Cell Art Space, Cairns, QLD; 2005: Actions of Origin, Cell Art Space, Cairns, QLD; 2003: Vegetative Objects and Installations, Centre for the Arts, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2007: Arc Biennial, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, QLD; Natura est ars, Umbrella studios, Townsville, QLD; Flight, KickArts Contemporary Arts, Cairns, QLD; Transience, The Upholstery, Cairns Regional Gallery, QLD; 2006: Postcard exhibition, Cairns Regional Gallery, QLD; Synapse, The Upholstery, Cairns, QLD; 2004: Food for Thought, Hertogenbosh, The Netherlands.

Yoshie Mizuno Artist’s Statement

The five woven forms that comprise the installation Offering Flowers have been created using cane, string and Japanese washi paper flowers.

Like many of my previous works, this installation is strongly inspired by Buddhism. As a child I carried out family duties which included leaving offerings of food and flowers every morning at a Buddhist shrine. At this time I would always pray to the Buddha for protection of my family and for our ancestors to rest in peace.

Offering Flowers is specially dedicated to the artist’s mother, who passed away last year. Through this artwork, Mizuno prays for her mother to rest in peace.

Short Biography

Yoshie Mizuno was born in Japan and moved to Australia in 1987. Since moving to Australia, Mizuno has been involved in a number of artist communities nationally and overseas. Mizuno’s work explores her life and her relationship to Japanese culture via the use of contemporary textile and fibre art. These works have come to focus more on the Zen Buddhism philosophy as her life has evolved through its spiritual influence, as well as other aspects of Japanese culture.

Through the process of creating her art work, Mizuno has come to recognise how important it is to keep connected to one’s culture while living overseas.

Recent Solo Exhibitions

2004: Satori, 24HR ART Gallery, NT; Satori, Bendara Budaya, Jakarta Indonesia; 2003: Mushin, Japan Foundation Cultural Centre, Sydney, NSW; Mushin, ZAB Gallery, Melbourne, VIC; Sei, NTU Gallery, Darwin, NT; 2001: Border, Sika Gallery, Ubud, Bali Indonesia; 2000: Land of the Memory, Darwin Visual Arts Association, Darwin, NT.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2005-2008: Echoes of Home, Museum of Brisbane (traveling exhibition); 2006: YOE Exhibition, Canberra Museum and Gallery, ACT; 2004: Paint It Black III, Indigo Gallery, Jakarta; 2003: The Human Rights Art Award and Exhibition, Northern Territory Government; 10th Anniversary in Japan Cultural Centre, Sydney, NSW; The Hutchins Art Prize, Hobart, Tasmania; Route Number 4, Darwin Visual Arts Association, NT; 2002: Organic Matters, Art Back touring exhibition, NT; 2001: Ki, Duo exhibition NTU Gallery, Darwin, NT; International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Fibre Art, Pittsburgh, USA; Organic Matters, Darwin Visual Arts Association, Darwin,NT; 2000: Demountable, 24HR ART Gallery, Darwin, NT; The Print show, Darwin Visual Arts Association, Darwin,NT; Hatched (Health Way national graduate show), Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, WA; 1997: Poly Tech, New Zealand; 1995: Blue Stocking Day, Northern Territory University, Darwin, NT.

Awards

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2003: Top End Women’s Legal Service Award for Outstanding Female Artist; 1999: Awarded The NTU Students’ Union PICA exhibition Prize.

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