Sarah Bell
Tender Waters
March 23 - April 14 2024
Sarah Bell
Tender Waters is a collection of paintings made over time and in quiet observation of pristine waterways around my home on the Mornington Peninsula, Boon Wurrung/Bunurong lands, and extending to the east coast of Australia. Throughout my artistic practice, life-giving water has been a recurring theme, connecting to an archetypal feminine expression of the landscape. The places in these landscapes reflect personal histories, and where I sit in deep listening and observation of bird and animal movements; a kind of rewilding of the self.
These living elements weave themselves into the artwork, either as symbolic motifs or integral narrative threads. In doing so, I seek to underline the profound interdependence between creature and landscape and the ongoing impact of colonisation of the land and climatic events. Still, an element of playfulness infuses the creation of these artworks, evident in whimsical details, such as the placement of stars or flowers within my compositions.
The subject matter in Tender waters includes the juxtaposition of pristine rivers marred by weeds post-Black Summer fires, ephemeral ponds flourishing with marsh flowers and damselflies following the La Niña rains, and the graceful, yet peculiar presence of Black Swans floating beyond the shoreline on Warn’Marrin (Westernport Bay). The paintings in this exhibition delve into the subtle interplay of light, atmosphere, and the ever-shifting climatic forces that leave their mark on the landscape. Ultimately, my art is a reflection of my curiosity and reverence for the natural world and its interconnectedness, inviting viewers to contemplate
their own relationship with the environment.
Sarah Bell is a painter who lives and works from Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula,Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education from Monash University.
Sarah worked as an art educator for 14 years, specialising in inquiry-based pedagogy until transitioning to her art practice, full-time from 2018. She continues to apply an inquiry-based approach into her artistic process and studio practices. Sarah paints primarily in oils and her process involves much time gathering visual information while painting en plein air, using watercolours and gouache on paper.
Sarah has held four solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. She was a finalist in the Lens Mist Awards, St. Kevin’s Art Award and Omnia Art Prize. Sarah recently curated the group show In Land, presenting five artists’ diverse approaches to the landscape, Little Oberon Gallery in 2023. She has a loyal following of collectors across Mornington Peninsula, throughout Australia and overseas.
Sarah is a regular exhibitor in the Salon at & Gallery Australia, Sorrento where she participated in the 2022 group show, Scape at & Gallery, Federation Square pop-up, Melbourne.
Tender Waters is Sarah Bell’s debut solo show at &Gallery Australia and continues from 23rd March to 14th April.
Memory Poem
Tender Waters
you have come to me in dreams a life ravaged over and over, you have rebuilt yourself and we meet again both older and carrying stories of wildfires and regeneration an abandoned child whose wondrous reckless thoughts await audience
a lyrebird’s morning medley to say be witness I am here and made of many beautiful things
soft memory breath of mint bush prickly vines, tearing at skin a thicket of weeds upon your banks a casting aside though you remain faithful oceans of deep time held in embodied memories
a softness of deep fresh water you remain the incoming the outgoing ever present tide forming me
A circular river story
Written by Sarah Bell Yuin Lands, 2023.Sales: Julie Collins - Director gallery@djprojects.net 0417324 795 Free delivery and installation within Victoria. Shipping arranged interstate and Overseas. & Gallery accepts Art Money www.artmoney.com 21 Morce Ave Sorrento, Victoria, Australia www.andgalleryaustralia.net & Gallery is part of the djprojects family of art related businesses. www.djprojects.net
1. View from Lover’s Lane
Oil on canvas
63cm x 63cm Framed in American Ash $1,200
2. Sleeping, Floating, Dreaming when the Darkness Descends in Balbirooroo
Oil on canvas
61cm x 69cm Framed in Flooded Gum
3. Pardalote Pool
Oil on canvas
63cm x 69cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,250
4. When the Spoonbill Walked By Oil on canvas
63cm x 69cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,250
5. High Tide, Dawn Mist 2023
Oil on canvas
63cm x 63cm Float framed in Flooded Gum
$1,200
6. Last Glimmer, La Niña Ephemeral Pond
Oil on canvas
76cm x 83cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,850
7. Stars and Moon, Mirrored in your Being
Oil on canvas
76cm x 83cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,850
8. Marsh Flowers and Damselfly at the Dipping Pool
Oil on canvas
103cm x 103cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$2,250
9. Say You’ll Watch Over Me 2023
Oil on Linen
69cm x 79cm Float framed in Flooded Gum
$1,950
10. We were Bathed in Ultramarine
Oil on canvas
79cm x 103cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,950
11. Atmospheric Forces
Oil on canvas
93cm x 93cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,950
12. Black Swans Enchanted by the Eventide
Oil on canvas
79cm x 158cm Diptych framed in Flooded Gum $3,600
13. Homecoming Oil on canvas
93cm x 93cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,950
14. I Come into the Prescence of Still Water
Oil on Canvas
66cm x 61cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,250
15. Arcadia
Oil on canvas
Diptych. 69cm x 122cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,750
16. Black Swan and Cumbungi
Monoprint on paper
40cm x 49cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$600
17. Dipping Pool, Spring
Watercolour and oil pastel on paper
37cm x 45cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$650
18. La Niña Dipping Pool Balbirooroo II
Watercolour and oil pastel on paper
78cm x 59cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,200
19. La Niña Dipping Pool Balbirooroo I
Watercolour and oil pastel on paper
78cm x 59cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,200
Available works not in exhibition
20. Sermon to my Love
Oil on canvas
79cm x 103cm Framed in Flooded Gum $1,950
21. The River Remains
Oil on canvas
63cm x 63cm Framed in Flooded Gum
$1,200
22. Noon with the Purple Swamp Hens
Oil on canvas
63cm x 63cm Framed in American Ash $1,200
Education
Sarah Bell C.V.
1985 Victorian College of the Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts /Degree
1994 RMIT, Mosaic Technology, International Specialised Skills
2004 Postgraduate Diploma of Education, Monash University
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Tender Waters. And Gallery Australia
2021 ‘Life is but a Dream’ online/studio
2017 ‘Transience’ Kingston Arts G3 Space, Parkdale
2001 ‘Soul Dreaming’ Artistcare Gallery South Melbourne
1990 ‘Evolving’ Linden Gallery, St Kilda
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 Curated ‘IN LAND’: 5 Artists’ diverse approach to the landscape. Little Oberon Gallery.
2022 ‘In Full Sun’ group show, Gallery Jones and Framehouse.
2022 SCAPE Group show, & Gallery, Federation Square.
2020 The Overwintering Project - Wall of Wings, Oak Hill Gallery, Mornington
1989 ‘Environmental’ State Bank Galleria
1989 St Kilda Festival Acquisition, Linden Gallery
1988 St Kilda 1, Linden Gallery
Finalist
2022 Omnia Art Prize Finalist
2021 Finalist St. Kevin’s Art Award
2017 ‘Lens Mist’ finalist, Kingston Arts G3 Space, Melbourne
1987 Flinders Art Exhibition - Printmaking Award
1987 Spring Drawing Show, Mornington Art Gallery
1986 Emerging Printmakers, 70 Arden St Group Printmakers, 70 Arden St Kilda Festival, Linden Gallery
Collaborations
2011 Vicki Couzens and Geelong Grammar School Indigenous Scholars, Possum Skin Cloak project
Press
Herald Sun Editorial, February 2017 - Transience
The Weekly Review, Stonnington 2013, Art Educator profile.
The Age, 1985, Gary Catalano/Group Printmakers, 70 Arden St
Awards
2010 Geelong Grammar School Foundation Board Award, for studies in Reggio Emilia, Italy
1986 Flinders Art Exhibition - Sheila Kirk Award for printmaking
1983 and 1984 Victorian College of the Arts, printmaking award