Meliorism

1 AUGUST - 31 AUGUST 2024

A FUNDRAISING ART EXHIBITION WITH JOAN WILSON-JONES FOR THE CARERS FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA, UNSUNG HEROS CAMPAIGN 2024

You Beside Me

Artist - Joanne Braddy

Unpaid carers are unsung heroes in our communities, often placing the needs of others before their own and sometimes at the expense of their health and wellbeing. The Carers Foundation Australia provides carers with wellbeing programs at no cost to them, being the only charity in Australia that delivers these vital programs. The Carers Foundation as a not-for-profit organisation is without government funding. Their programs come with significant costs. To continue the vital work, the Carers Foundation have set a three year goal to raise money for building a dedicated purpose built centre that will let them continue to provide their service free of the outside costs.

We invited local artists in the Moreton Bay, Brisbane and surrounding regions to submit works for the month long art exhibition MeliorismDaring to Care, a fundraising Art Event hosted by the Churn Room for The Carers Foundation of Australia - Unsung Heroes campaign.

As a proud Dayboro local, Joan Wilson-Jones is participating in the 2024 Unsung Hero's Campaign, and the Churn Room feels honoured to be hosting this special fundraising art event with her.

exhibitingartists

John Massy

Jill Lincoln

Joanne Braddy

Ulrike Forster

Leticia Collins

Ivanka Menken

Kavitha Gobinathan

Giovanna Scott

Michelle Newby

Kylie Harries

Maureen Brennan

Trudy Brooks

Amanada Gardner

After a career in secondary art teaching, John headed up the Education and Audience Development sections of the Queensland Art Gallery for a couple of decades. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and written for publications locally and further afield. Papers were presented at several conferences including those for the Asia Pacific Confederation of Arts Educators. Judging art competitions occupied his attention for over 25 years.

Now retired, John has the time and opportunities to indulge in a variety of pursuits with principal focus on collage and pottery.

A Sympathetic Ear

mixed media 37.5cm h x 30cm w

Silence may be golden, but carers deserve a sympathetic ear to unload or debrief

$200

Finding Light on a Grey Day

Caring time shared, over a cup of tea or a bowl of soup, can brighten the most challenging day Collage 32.5cm h x 27.5cm w

Reaching Out

mixed media. 26cm h x 26cm w

Reaching out to care for others, especially family members, is a characteristic of many cultures. We must make it our own.

$200

$150

I applaud the visual aspect of art. Through use of line, shape, tone, colour and texture, I can create images that are inspired by things seen or ideas thought. Hopefu

their ow

Faded Star

Collage over original photograph transferred to canvas

40.5cm h x 51cm w

Caring can be wearing - all that ‘Russian’ around - but there is a glimmer of hope if someone understands

Colours Of Compassion

photograph - 44.5cm h x 33cm w

The compassion of schoolchildren for a life lost to inhumanity is illustrated by the hundreds of folded paper cranes left at Nagasaki Peace Park

$100 $300

I applaud the visual aspect of art. Through use of line, shape, tone, colour and texture, I can create images that are inspired by things seen or ideas thought. Hopefully, the result will communicate ideas that the viewer can interpret through their own background experiences.

Together Whatever

10.5cm x 20.5cm x 5cm

Saggar fired clay

When things are rough, shared caring can bring harmony

Reconciliation

4.5cm h x 4.5cm w on 14cm x 13cm support

Gilded polymer clay with cultured pearls

A healed rift; respecting another's position; overlooking differences or not vying for supremacy brings richness to an association

The Dayboro community's spirit of kindness and fun inspires Jill's art. Her background of Graphic Art and caricatures enriches and accelerates her constant journey of learning art in its many forms.

Caring Circle - Pigeons in Portugal

Up you come

Acrylic and mixed media 40x50 unframed

Mum - I help you up as you once helped me.

$195

Caring Circle - Pigeons in Portugal

Acrylic on Canvas 45x55cm in floating frame

Every morning a very old man comes down to the old square, with his old son to feed the pigeons. Campolide, Lisbon, Portugal

$275

ARTIST

BIOGRAPHY

JOANNE BRADDY

Joanne Braddy is a mixed-media artist and disability advocate based in Brisbane, QLD Australia. Joanne’s artmaking practice is a mixed-media exploration of the self. Joanne primarily uses the techniques of painting, drawing and ceramics to create emotional self-portraits. Stylistically expressive with a tender illustrative quality. Joanne's artworks are a harmonious blend of dark, confronting imagery while exuding a gentle sense of hopefulness.

Each artwork is a new emotional journey Joanne bravely embarks upon. Joanne has lived experience with depression and has expressed the great courage she must summon to push through the darkness of her mind to see the light. Joanne finds channeling her emotions through her artwork painful at times, yet she tirelessly reveals the beauty hidden within. Joanne has beautifully described her artwork as pieces of her soul infused into the canvas.

Through her artwork, Joanne aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental health from both a societal perspective and the perspective of self. Joanne expresses that painful emotions are valid and essential to our life journey, not something to be ashamed of; they are beautiful because they are part f us all.

Lost Girl You Beside Me

Lost Girl

Acrylic 60x70

This painting is about feeling lost when dealing with long-term illness.Trying to cope can sometimes make you feel lost.

You Beside Me

Acrylic 80x90

Over the years it's just been me and you supporting each other through our illness, the bond that we have, has given each other so much strength over the years

In Solitude

Photograph - Inkjet print on archival quality paper, unframed 590 $390

My love of certain other visual mediums is often channelled into my photographs. My admiration for Australian landscape painting is subtly imprinted onto Maraboon.

$390

Inner Love Series - 1

Sculpture 17 X 10cm Earthenware Clay

Inner Love Series - 2

Sculpture - 12x10cm. Earthenware Clay

Inner Love Series - 3

Sculpture - 17x10cm Earthenware Clay

As a trained chef, I have always been intrigued by texture. I see the world in colors, lines and shapes. My approach is very methodical and my focus is on the process rather than the outcome. My work is very abstract, so the viewer can experience through color and texture. I work predominantly with acrylics, which I layer by applying the paint, taking it away or blocking areas. By adding washes, inks, silver and gold leaf, as well as embroidery, paper and beads, I give depth to my work. The intention of my art practice is to share my experiences. Working in abstracts gives me the opportunity to express my thoughts and emotions, leaving the interpretation to the viewer, giving them the opportunity to explore their own feelings.

Some Days

Layered and Stitched

Reflexions - Tomorrow is another day

Some Days

mixed Media on canvas 77x77

"Some Days" ... are better than others.

Layered and Stitched

Mixed Media and Embroidery 30x30cm

The layers on the canvas are as complex as our lives. They evolve as acrylic bases are built upon then scraped and scratched with various objects. Washes are added then manipulated and taken away. Intense areas develop with pastel, crayon and inks. Metallics add dimension and play with the light. The deliberate piercing of the canvas allows thread to be hand stitched as the creative journey reaches its conclusion. The viewer is invited to explore and make a connection, to find something that resonates with them.

Reflexions - Tomorrow is another day

Mixed Media on Canvas Board. 27.5 x 27.5

Reflections are visual echos on mirroring surfaces, but they are also what we find within us, if we are listening to our inner voice. "Tomorrow is another Day". From the ongoing "Reflections" series this work is about self reflection and that there is always another day.

$1750

$375 $225

Leticia Collins is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in botanical watercolors and abstract landscapes. Her artistic practice also includes working with charcoal, ink and occasionally clay. Leticia is deeply committed to incorporating mindfulness into her art.

A Simple Gesture

Watercolour 32x44 Framed $140

The depiction of a vase of colourful flowers in this artwork is used to symbolise the impact the seemingly simple gesture of gifting someone a bouquet of flowers can make when it comes to compassion and empathy. In modern society, the giftgiving of flowers is used for all manner of reasons - to celebrate, commiserate, console or empathize, and in this piece the artist is wanting to capture the supportive feeling of receiving a gift of flowers.

I S

New and emerging artist exploring creativity with acrylic paint and mixed media. My work is inspired by the beautiful nature of Queensland, as well as my home country of The Netherlands. A R T

Dare to Care

acrylic on Canvas, 36x36

To me the flower on the left is the person who is cared for. They receive lots of love and light from the carer which means the carer (on the right) will need to reinvent and find them self after their caring job finishes - hence the flower bud. It will take a little while until their flower blooms again and accepts the new normal. They may grow in different directions but will always be connected at the source.

The dark period is tumultuous and unclear but a flower will always find a light source to grow towards.

A R T I S T

I'm a Meanjin based pottery enthusiasist exploring clay as a medium of expression. My works are inspired by my interactions with nature and the creative process is a form of meditation for me, allowing me to find moments of serenity in the hustle bustle of life.

Blissful Solitude

Blissful Solitude

Clay

Blissful Solitude is a portrait of myself seeking to have a moment for quiet reflection. As the primary carer for my children, I often overlook my physical and mental well being. Blissful Solitude is a gentle reminder for myself and an invitation to others to find these moments of solitude to nurture oneself, to rest and rejuvenate because self-care is essential.

Stoneware

$325

A R T I S T

My work is highly nostalgic and symbolic. Wattle represents a season of change but also generosity of spirit. Friends take me on long, creekside walks; a welcome break from being a full time carer to my son. Sometimes the walk is full of banter and laughter, and other times it's about noticing the change in landscape - the smells, the sights, the sounds.

Overflow with Abundance

Overflow with Abundance

painted paper collage, acylic, pencil. 30x30cm

Sun is Out

$446

Confetti

$450 $449

Sunburst

$449

Michelle is an impressionist artist, working predominantly in watercolour and ink. Her art practice is loose in nature by the use of uninhibited pen work and sgraffito over a watercolour base resulting in her artworks taking on a feeling of movement and energy. Due to the vibrancy of her pieces, they often evoke past joyful recollections for the viewer.

I’ll Take Care of You

I’ll Take Care of You

Watercolour, ink and pencil, on canvas 40 x 40cm, framed

Caring for another is an animalistic instinct, humans sometimes forget that

$200

Kylie Harries is a multidisciplinary artist farmer exploring contemporary relationships with landscapes through topophilia – love of places infused with personal history and culture. In vibrantly coloured paintings and mixed media work, she evokes tensions of land stewardship in the Anthropocene era, and the dilemma of choice between preservation and production.

Self Talk

Wind Through the

Busy white dog with lomandra at the base of Mount Pleasant

Wildflowers

Self Talk

Aerosol Paint on Canvas 60x60

Life is short. Love yourself.

Wind Through the Wildflowers

Acrylic & Aerosol Paint on Canvas 76x61cm

Celebrating a successful regeneration of degraded farmland by turning a rocky and clay slope into a haven for Paper Daisies and native wildlife, this work expresses the profound sense of joy to be found in caring for the environment.

Busy white dog with lomandra at the base of Mount Pleasant

Acrylic and oil stick on canvas. 910x910

$550

IKylie Harries is a multidisciplinary artist farmer exploring contemporary relationships with landscapes through topophilia – love of places infused with personal history and culture. In vibrantly coloured paintings and mixed media work, she evokes tensions of land stewardship in the Anthropocene era, and the dilemma of choice between preservation and production.

Take a Rest

Cyanotype and Pastel on paper - 86cm H x 70cm W

Dance like no one ’ s watching….. then rest.

$200

B I O G R A P H Y

I am a Brisbane based artist, exploring mixed media including weaving, ceramics and more recently incorporating materials from nature and wire. My work aims to blend traditional techniques with contemporary elements. A R T I S T

M A U R E E N

B R E N N A N

Entwined

19 x 8cm Ceramics and coil weaving. Materials: porcelain, raw silk and paper thread and wire.

The delicate threads and fragile structure of the piece signify the vulnerability inherent in opening one ’ s heart to another. Just as the artwork relies on each fragile strand to maintain its form, human connections require a foundation of trust and sensitivity. Yet, within this fragility lies an undeniable strength. The resilience of the materials and the stability of the weaving highlight the robust nature of true empathy.

Trudy is a prize winning artist whose work can be found in collections in Australia and overseas. During her long art journey she has had the privilege of learning from some of Australia’s finest artists. Some of her most memorable experiences include attending workshops organized by the Flying Arts Alliance in small country towns and participating in the University of Southern Queensland’s summer schools. One of her most enjoyable experiences was teaching watercolour for the Redcliffe Art Society.

Throughout her journey Trudy has experimented with a variety of different media. She tries to find a media that will best evoke the message she is conveying to her viewers. This can vary from the subtle atmospheric, unpredictable effects of watercolour to the captivating effects of digital art. Whether it is the serene, peaceful solitude of an isolated beach or the terrifying devastation of bush fires and floods, her work entices the viewer to engage with the emotions of the piece.

Care for the Carers

collage and ink 53x63cm

In the tumultuous sea of emotion, stress, paperwork, and bureaucratic hurdles, carers navigate their way with unwavering dedication. Their existence intertwines with the challenges they face, becoming an indelible part of their identity. Yet, amidst the chaos, they must also tend to their own well-being. For if they neglect themselves, they risk fading into mere shadows of their former selves.

$350

A special thank you to all the artists who have contributed themselves and their work to this fundraising exhibition for the Carers Foundation of Australia, Unsung Heroes Campaign 2024, with Joan Wilson-Jones..

We would especially like to thank those who appreciate the art and have visited the exhibition, purchased work or bought tickets the Art Auction Soiree event to be held on the 31st August 2024.