an exhibition launching TOYOTA community spirit gallery
BRIDGE connecting emerging and established artists and the diverse communities of Hobsons Bay and Port Phillip
july 7 to september 30 gallery hours thursday & Friday 1pm to 6pm or by appointment inquiries phone ken wong 03 9690 0902
BRIDGE
Toyota Community Spirit Gallery The Toyota Community Spirit Gallery is an initiative of the Toyota Community Spirit program. The Toyota Community Spirit Gallery aims to provide space for artists from the City of Port Phillip and City of Hobsons Bay to exhibit their work. Toyota is pleased to present our inaugural exhibition, BRIDGE curated by Ken Wong. This project has been assisted by the Hobsons Bay City Council and the City of Port Phillip.
BRIDGE Exhibiting Artists Sue Anderson Joan Craggs O.A.M. Mahmoud Zein Elabdin Pete Groves Trevor Hawkins Graham Hunwick Peter Liiri Neil McIrvine Anne Middleton Carl Reis Geoffrey Ricardo James Smeaton Elizabeth Stoney Oleh Witer Curator Ken Wong
Thanks to
Katarina Persic, Hobsons Bay City Council Sharyn Dawson, City of Port Phillip Cath Templeton, Toyota Community Spirit Eliza Swinton, Toyota Mary-Anne Doyle, Toyota
Invitation & catalogue concept design, Watch Tower Studio
Sue Anderson
BRIDGE
Community of Hobsons Bay
represented by Australian Galleries
Biography 1962 Born Geelong, Victoria 1980-82 Bachelor Education (Art and Craft), Melbourne State College
Good Morning Galahs Lithograph 2003 76cm x 56cm
Solo Exhibitions 1984,86 Rhumbarallas Gallery, Melbourne 1990 The Women's Gallery, Melbourne 1992 Mildura Art Gallery, Victoria 1994 Paintings and Pastels, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 1996 Recent Work, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 1998 Peripheral Vision, Geelong Art Gallery, 1999 Recent Work, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 2000 New Paintings & Drawings, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 2001 Recent Work, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 2004 Wake-up Calls, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 2004 Suitcase Series, Shanghai, China 2004 Natural Selections, The Depot Gallery, Sydney
Group Exhibitions 1986 The Tea Chest Prize (winner), Rhumbarallas 1988 Right Here Right Now, National Touring Exhibition 1990 Pressing Issues, Latrobe Library, State Library, Victoria Churchie Exhibition, Drawing Award, Brisbane 1992 Chaumont Poster Exhibition, France 1994 Original Prints, Australian Galleries, Sydney Domain of the Other; An exploration into community arts by 10 women artists, National Gallery of Victoria 1995 Williamstown Art Prize, Best Local Artist Award, Melbourne 1996 Dominique Segan Drawing Prize, Castlemaine, Broken Hill City Art Prize Exhibition 1997 Knock Knock, Australian Galleries and Images International, Hong Kong 1998 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery; Freemantle Print Prize, Fremantle 1999 Pleasure, Australian Galleries, Melbourne 2000 John Leslie Art Prize (judges commendation), Sale, Victoria 2001 Tattersalls Club Art Prize (Landscape Painting); Brisbane William Buckley Rediscovered, Geelong Art Gallery and Mornington Peninsula Art Gallery 2002 John Leslie Art Prize, Sale, Victoria & Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize, Melbourne
BRIDGE
Community of Hobsons Bay
Joan Craggs O.A.M.
Biography I am featured in Max Germain Artists and Galleries of Australia, a comprehensive listing of artists in Australia and was previously a member of Victorian Artists Association and Australian Guild of Realist Artists for many years, having had tuition from Shirley Bourne and other artists of note. Born in Ivanhoe, I grew up in Sunshine since the age of four. I began painting at an early age being surrounded by an arts loving family involved in painting and music. At the early age of 16 I won first prize in the oil painting section of the Royal Melbourne Show three years in succession, followed by many further awards. In 1976 ran Craggsdan Gallery in Altona for many years, which is now my very busy studio where I paint and teach in all mediums. I have taught painting and drawing for over 30 years locally in the Hobsons Bay area and derive great pleasure from passing on my knowledge to others.
Resting at Williamstown Watercolour 2004 70cm x 57cm
In 1978 I, along with my husband Derek, formed the Altona Artists Association, now The Hobsons Bay Arts Society Inc. and also run the Palette Pals Art Group who travel many parts of Australia twice yearly on painting holidays. For eight years (1986-1993) I ran the Festival of Arts in Altona, an event run over three days incorporating all the art forms - Visual art, Music, Dance, Calisthenics, exhibitions and demonstrations. This festival was assisted partly by Council and was a major event for fund raising to benefit the State Emergency Service. I have featured in many exhibitions, three solo and recently in 2003 Hobsons Bay Council presented my work in an exhibition within the Council Building which was very successful. I have work represented in many countries such as Germany, Japan, China, America and England and have work hung in many corporate companies. In 1993 I was awarded Citizen of the Year, in 2002 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal and in 2003 received a Centenary Medal for my contributions to the arts in Hobsons Bay. I regularly enter my work in various art shows and have been rewarded with many awards over the years, including Best in Show Bayside Festival Art Show 3 times and 8 First Prizes, plus awards in other events such as the Police Exhibition, Altona Artist Association, Hobsons Bay Arts Society, Werribee, Bacchus Marsh, and Woodend Art Shows and others. These awards are a thrill, but painting for awards is not of interest to me as I primarily paint for pleasure and to share my work for the pleasure of others.
Mahmoud Zein Elabdin
BRIDGE
Community of Hobsons Bay
Crocodile Watching Polymer paint, varnish 2004 100cm x 120cm
Biography Education: 1985-1989, Fine Arts Degree, Polytechnic Fine Arts College, Sudan "The sea breathes life into me. At home in Sudan, the Red Sea was full of promise and threat; in Williamstown I feel lapping waters embracing me. It is like coming home". Solo Exhibitions 1990, 1991 Khartoum University, Sudan 1993 Hilton International Hotel, Sudan 1994 Goeth Institute, Sudan 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 Cairo Berlin Gallery, Cairo, Egypt 2001 Axiom Gallery, North Melbourne. 2002 Gabriel Gallery Footscray Community Arts 2002 & 2003 Art Affairs Gallery Carlton, Melbourne 2003 Customs Wharf Gallery, Williamstown Group Exhibitions 1992 Goethe Institute, Khartoum, Sudan 1993 Sudanese Environment Society, Sudan 1993 Sudanese National Museum, Sudan 1993 Sudanese Arabic Academy, Sudan 1993 Bashir EIriah Library, Sudanese Theatre 1995 UNESCO, Friendship Hall, Sudan 1996 American University, under the auspices of the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group, Cairo 1996 St Andrews African Arts program, Cairo 2001 Adult Multi-cultural Education Services, Melbourne 2002 Manningham Art Gallery, Melbourne 2002 Equal Opportunity Board, Melbourne 2004 Melbourne Affordable Art Show
Joint Exhibitions 2002 Convent Gallery, Daylesford, Victoria 2003 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza 2003 Convent Gallery, Daylesford 2004 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza Artist in residence 2001-2003 Footscray Community Arts Centre 2004 Arts Victoria, Artists in Schools Program, St Paul's College, Coburg Commissions 2001 African Festival, Footscray Community Arts Centre 2001 Western Region Health Centre, Melbourne 2001 Melbourne City Mission, Melbourne 2000 Adult-Migrant Education Services, Artwork website & brochure Collections Victorian Premiers Office, Multi cultural Arts Victoria, Western Regional Health services, Rupert Betherios Collection Melbourne & in collections in London, Cairo, Sydney, Singapore, Khartoum, Auckland.
BRIDGE
Community of Port Phillip
Pete Groves represented by Watch Tower Studio
Market Day Acrylic on canvas 2004 122cm x 102cm
Biography Pete Groves was born in Melbourne in 1967 and graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from Swinburne Institute of Technology, Melbourne in 1989. He lived in Mexico during the mid 1990's where he began his career as a full time artist, being highly inspired and influenced by the works of Rivera and Kahlo. Since returning to Australia in 1998, he has worked from his studio in St Kilda, producing a string of highly successful solo exhibitions. Over the past six years, he has emerged as one of the City of Port Phillip's most popular and collectable artist's. His work is inspired by everyday life and the subtle interactions between people, nature and their environment. Solo Exhibitions 2003 Inside, Out and About, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia 2002 Recent Paintings, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia 2001 Buoyant, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia 2000 Halcyon, Watch Tower Studio, Melbourne, Australia 1999 Trees, Tribes and Beaches, Watch Tower Studio, Melbourne, Australia 1998 Mexico en Espiritu, Watch Tower Studio, Melbourne, Australia 1997 Pete Groves, Casa Collection Gallery, San Francisco, USA Selected Group Exhibitions 2004 120 Degrees of Separation, Linden, Melbourne, Australia 2003 Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia, Bark Modern Art , Hong Kong 2003 St Kilda Bowling Club Studios, Metropolis Gallery Melbourne, Australia 2003 Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia 2003 Canterbury Art Exhibition, Canterbury School, Melbourne, Australia 2002 Manyung Gallery, December Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia 2002 Artists at Treasury Place, Deputy Premier’s Office, Melbourne, Australia 2002 Carey Arts Council Exhibition, Carey Grammar, Melbourne, Australia 2002 Canterbury Art Exhibition, Canterbury Schoo,l Melbourne, Australia 2002 Manyung Gallery, March Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia 2001 Views of the Mornington Peninsula, Manyung Gallery Melbourne, Australia
Peter Liiri
BRIDGE Community of Hobsons Bay
Untitled (yellow with pink bars) Mixed media on board 2004 152cm x 92cm
Biography 1954 Born Tampere, Finland 1959 Arrived Australia 1975 RMIT Melbourne 1978-1980 Degree Fine Art, PIT, Melbourne Peter has had an association with both Port Phillip and Hobsons Bay for many years. Between 1982-1995 he lived in St Kilda. In March 1995 he moved to his current address in Altona. His upcoming solo exhibition The Black Lake, will be held at Legge Gallery in Sydney from July 27 to August 14. Solo Exhibitions 1981 Pinacotheca, Melbourne 1984 & 1985 United Artists Gallery, Melbourne 1989 Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne 1989 Linden Gallery, Melbourne 1991 Chapman Gallery, Sydney 1991 Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne 1992 & 1994 Legge Gallery, Sydney 1994 Gallery at Tolarno, Melbourne 1996 Pitspace Gallery, PIT 2000-03 Legge Gallery, Sydney 2003 Wyndham Culture Centre
Group Exhibitions 1980 Graduate Exhibition, Pitspace Gallery 1982 Preston to Phillip, Reconnaissance Gallery 1983-1986 University Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra 1986 The First Look, Phillip Morris Arts Gallery, Canberra 1984-1988 St Kilda Festival Acquisitive Exhibitions, Linden Gallery, Melbourne 1989 St Kilda 2, Linden Gallery, Melbourne 1989 Australian Art, The Jewish Museum of Australia 1990 ACAF2, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne 1990 Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne 1990-1993 VTU CUCL Art Competition, Caulfield Arts Complex, Melbourne 1992 Works on Paper & Gallery Artists, Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne 1992 ACAF2, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne 1993 Figuration, Legge Gallery, Melbourne 1994 Love & Ruin, Art & St Kilda in the 20th Century, St Kilda Town Hall, Melbourne 1994 ACAF3, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne 1994 Surroundings, Linden Gallery, Melbourne 2002 Williamstown Smorgon Art Prize - winner best local 2003 Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize - winner best 2D
BRIDGE
Neil McIrvine
Community of Port Phillip
represented by Jackman Gallery Biography Born in Dundee, Scotland, 1959. Immigrated to Australia in 1990. I have been painting all my life and have had no formal training. My exhibitions over the past six years have been sell-outs and as a result I became a full-time artist two years ago. I was born an artist and am privileged to now be able to practice my craft every day and earn a living doing what I was put on this earth to do. Artist Statement The basis of my work is the human form, and I try to capture the human spirit from that physical base. Kandinsky called this spirit the “Stimmung”, which translates to ‘essence’. This is the unseen, a feeling you get when you see something; you can’t touch it, taste it, hear it, or smell it, but you know it’s there. Beauty, both internal and external, is one of the most powerful forces we as humans have and I try to capture that in the male and female form. The combination of chiaroscuro, gold, silver and bronze metallic oil paint and thick impasto texture give the works an extra dimension, it makes them almost ethereal. I find that being a full time artist demands a blend of creativity and discipline. For me, it is important that I achieve this balance and continue to enjoy doing the work. I learn something from every painting I do, and the latest one is always my favourite…..until the next one. Solo Exhibitions 2004 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2004 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, Victoria. 2003 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2003 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, Victoria. 2002 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2002 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, Victoria. 2001 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2001 Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, Victoria. 2000 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. Group Exhibitions 2004 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2004 Gallery M, South Melbourne, Victoria. 2003 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2002 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2002 Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 2001 Agora Gallery, Soho, New York City. 2001 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 2001 Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 2001 Southside Arts, offices of the Hon John Thwaites, Deputy Premier of Victoria. 2000 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne.
I miss you Oil on canvas 2003 183cm x 61cm
2000 Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 2000 Southside Arts, offices of the Hon John Thwaites, Deputy Premier of Victoria. 1999 Jackman Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. 1999 Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 1996 Roar Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne. 1995 Emerging Artists Group Show, Mile End, Adelaide. 1995 Art Images, Norwood, Adelaide. 1991, 1989, 1988 Contemporary Art Society of Dundee, Dundee
Anne Middleton
BRIDGE
Community of Port Phillip
represented by Albert Park Gallery
Untitled Oil on linen 2001 152cm x 203cm
Biography 1995 Diploma of Techniques in Mural Painting, Il Laboratorio per Affresco di Vainella, Prato Italy 1985-1988 Bachelor of Education (Arts & Crafts) Melbourne College of Advanced Education/Melbourne University (Distinctions) Solo Exhibitions 1998 Span Galleries Melbourne CREASES 1999 Hotel Sofitel Melbourne SOURCE 2000 Hotel Sofitel Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Exhibition 2001 Hotel Sofitel Melbourne FRONDS, Fenix Restaurant Melbourne Public Collections Tuscan region Italy; Coburg Peninsula Sanctuary board, Gurig National Park Australia; Il Laboratorio per Affresco di Vainella Prato, Italy Additional Studies Bogliasio Foundation Fellowship, Genoa Italy, September/October 2004 Group Exhibitions 1989 Massoni Gallery, Melbourne Australia: oil paintings, Womens Gallery, Melbourne Australia: oil paintings 1995 Palazzo Massi, Arezzo, Italy 1998 Aboriginal Art Galleries of Australia, Melbourne: FUSE 1999 Old Treasury, Melbourne THE DEEP SOUTH 2002 Charles Nodrom Gallery THE PAINTED FOLD 2003 Albert Park Gallery, LUSH 2004 Albert Park Gallery, Artist in Residence, 2004
Carl Reis
BRIDGE
Community of Port Phillip
Transient Urban Landscape #7 Oil on canvas 2003 138cm X 91cm
Biography English born, Melbourne raised Carl Reis has been involved in the creative field for several years through his work in the display/exhibition/design arena. Originally trained as a sign writer, Carl’s talent developed and led him into the design arena within the display/exhibition and retail environment. It was from this point that Carl recognized another need within himself and commenced his journey into the creative field of contemporary modern oil painting. It was through his concept work developed in painting classes with local artist Lynda Gibbs at Gasworks, that Carl began to contemplate the relationship between the landscape and life in the 21st Century. A resident in the Port Phillip area for over 15 years, Carl was able to fully develop this theme of the ‘blurred landscape’ through out 2003,when he secured studio space at Gasworks. Carl created a new body of work developed around the theme of the transient landscape, from both an urban and rural perspective. These impressive works depict the landscape in an innovative and exciting form – capturing a moment moving through space and transcending time. With each painting we are reminded how “life in the 21st century” has accelerated to the point where the moment becomes a blur. Carl has boldly used colour and composition to effectively communicate movement in a manner that transcends the landscape and delivers us to a point of clarity and tranquility. Throughout 2004, Carl continues to explore his relationship with the urban landscape with larger scale paintings and the view of another solo and joint exhibition towards the end of the year. Exhibitions 2003 Solo Exhibition, Metropolis Gallery, St Kilda, Victoria 2004 Group Exhibition “People & Place”, Gasworks, Albert Park, Victoria 2004 Group Exhibition “Winter”, Miller Gallery, Hampton, Victoria Carl’s strong connection with the Port Phillip community began nearly 20 years ago when he was first drawn to the area and it’s creative community. Initially settling in Albert Park, Carl quickly developed an affinity with the local community and environment supporting and participating in local community based activities. It has been through his experience observing the transient lifestyle that is now an integral part of the Port Phillip culture that initially drew Carl into exploring the transient urban landscape.
Geoffrey Ricardo
BRIDGE
Community of Hobsons Bay
represented by Australian Galleries
Rapunzel 1 - heart intaglio 2002 146cm x 69cm
Rapunzel 5 - arbour intaglio 2002 146cm x69cm
Rapunzel 3 - ladder intaglio 2002 146cm x 69cm
Biography Geoffrey Ricardo is a Melbourne based artist who essentially employs a figurative based narrative language in printmaking, painting and sculpture. Drawing on a heritage of Surrealism and figurative expressionism the work explores personal and broader issues. Often tinged with black humour and a feeling of the absurd the images are in one way or another a comment on the human condition. On first encounter the images are slightly satirical, comic or absurd, underlying this there is a deeper questioning of human nature "I have been working from a studio that I share with Peter Lancaster and Bill Young which relocated to Brooklyn 5 years ago, both are master printers that I have shared a studio and worked collaboratively with for almost 15 years. I have now lived in Brooklyn for almost 3 years and now call Brooklyn home". Career Born in 1964 Frankston, Victoria, Australia. Studied Fine Art (printmaking and painting) at C.I.T. Post Graduate and Masters of Fine Art in printmaking at Monash University. Worked as a print assistant at Bill Young Studios editioning intaglio prints. Sessional lecturer at Monash University for 7 years and has been a sessional lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts since 2000, Residencies at Canberra school of Art and U.W.A. and recently at the Bairnsdale Regional Hospital. Has held regular solo and group exhibitions since 1990. Represented in various public and private collections in Australia and overseas. Represented by Australian Galleries in Melbourne and Sydney
BRIDGE
James Smeaton
Community of Hobsons Bay
represented by William Mora Galleries
Gem Pier Acrylic on canvas 2003 200cm x 300cm
Biography Born in Melbourne in 1964. Education 1983-1985 Bachelor of Fine Art, Chisholm Institute of Technology (now Monash University), Melbourne. 1982 Foundation Year, Prahran College of Advanced Education, Melbourne James Smeaton's powerful large scale painting depicts Gem Pier, the historical Williamstown icon first built in 1839. This piece is continuous with the nautical theme which Smeaton has been exploring through his artwork for over ten years. The pier is relevant to Smeaton's work as a place of transience for arrival and departure from the sea - the beginning and end point for many journeys. 'Gem Pier' marks an important moment in Smeaton's work, also a departure and arrival. Whilst maintaining the conceptual qualities of previous works it is a departure from the formal qualities of his more recent abstract works. It is a return to the more representational works which he made earlier in his career that pictured maritime structures. After his journey through abstraction Smeaton re-visits this figurative ground with freshness. In 'Gem Pier' the force of Solo Exhibitions 2003 Gem Pier, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 2003 Mapping, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney 2002 Chart, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 2000 Vessel, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1998 International Code, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1996 Untitled (Semaphore), Mary Place Gallery, Sydney 1995 Sound in Fog, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1993, 1991, 1990 William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Collections Applied Chemicals International, Artbank, , Council of Adult Education, Deakin University Collection, Gadens Ridgeway, Monash University Collection, National Australia Bank Collection,Tamar Collection, University of Southern Queensland, Western Mining Corporation
Selected Group Exhibitions 2002 Contemporary Highlights from the Deakin University Art Collection, Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne 2002 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne 2001 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Mira Gallery, Melbourne 2000 2000 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington 2000 Celebrating the Exquisite Corpse, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, then touring 2000 Opening 2000, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1999-2000 Landmark, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington 1998 Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, then touring
Elizabeth Stoney
BRIDGE
Community of Port Phillip
represented by Middle Park Gallery
Biography Elizabeth Stoney has had formal art tuition in Chinese brush calligraphy and painting which stems from her academic studies in China and Melbourne. In ‘western’ painting traditions she has absorbed much of what she knows from the rigorous painting environment that she grew up in. For the past five years Stoney and her mother Judith having been painting full-time from their studios at Middle Park Gallery - the art practice is centred on commissioned work - much of it portraiture, as well as an annual exhibition of paintings which usually present a particular thematic series. Education B.A [Asian Studies] from Shanghai Normal University, Central University of Minority Cultures, Beijing and Victoria University, Melbourne Iron Tree : Wulgulmerang Station Acrylic polmer, metallic pigments on canvas 2003 182cm x 126cm
Artist Statement IronTree : Wulgulmerang Station [trans: ‘Where’re you going?’] depicts the day after bush-fires passed through Northern Victoria. The mangled corrugated iron seen nestled into and suspended from the charred tree was, just the day before, the roof on a shearing shed a kilometre away - ripped from it’s moorings by the tornado-like fire. The painting explores how the manufactured and the organic have been forced into a certain agreement of form...in the same way that such a devastating natural event can awkwardly galvanise the city and the country in mutual effort. Exhibitions 2004 Exhibition “Sunday Nudes” Middle Park Gallery 2003 Showing of 20 works at the James Thomas Doorman Historical Gallery - Lord Howe Island Exhibition 2003 AFM Wharehouse Middle Park Gallery 2002 Curator and co-exhibitor of Chinese Calligraphy featuring Professor of Fine Art, Ren Ping from Hangzhou University, China 2002 new york angels : Exhibition 777, Sixth Avenue, New York City 2002 new york angels & inland seas, Middle Park Gallery 2001 Mural extending over eight shop fronts for the Middle Park Street festival, Brush ‘n’ Bristle Studio Gallery 2000 Mural extending over eight shop fronts for the Middle Park Street Festival 1999 Inaugural Exhibition Brush ’n’ Bristle Studio Gallery
Oleh Witer
BRIDGE
Community of Port Phillip
Mormodes buccinator Oil on linen 2003 134cm x 184.5cm
Biography 1958 Born Canberra ACT 1976 Foundation Year (Fine Art) Riverina CAE 1977-79 Diploma of Fine Art (painting) Prahan CAE 1983-84 Lived and worked in London 1985-91 Founded, recorded and toured worldwide with Australian musical group sensation Big Pig Oleh Witer is an accomplished artist whose talent extends across several mediums. Currently working with traditional painting mediums and techniques, Oleh creates pictures which fuse abstract concepts with representational imagery. He currently works from his studio at Gasworks Arts Park in Albert Park. His recent works draw subject matter from nature and geometry and he continues to develop previous themes of scale, colour and a pictorial study of light and shadow. Exhibitions 2003 Gasworks Artists Exhibition Gasworks Arts Park 2003 Cochsencansia Gasworks theatre Foyer Gallery 2002 Larger than Life Patrizia Autore Gallery Melbourne 2002, 2001, 2000 Gasworks Artists Exhibition Gasworks Arts Park 1999 Exchanging Places Ray Hughes Gallery Sydney 1997 You Need Hands George Gallery Melbourne 1997 Gas Art Linden Gallery Melbourne 1996 Still Life George Gallery - Melbourne