Stockyard Gallery is delighted to present Feather and Frond, a stunning new exhibition featuring the work of two talented South Gippsland artists, Greer Arnott and Maddie Gatehouse.
The exhibition runs from 27th November to 29th December, with an opening event on Sunday, 30th November from 2-3pm. The gallery will be filled with large sculptural birds, exquisite landscapes, and nature-inspired ceramics that celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
Greer Arnott creates art that encourages reflection and appreciation of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. As both a ceramicist and painter, she draws inspiration from the junction between agricultural land and remnant Australian bush.
Her background in environmental education and naturalist studies deeply informs her work, evident in her hand-sculpted native Australian birds and acrylic landscape paintings. These iconic landscapes and their inhabitants are reflected in all forms of her art.
"Feather & Frond" follows Greer's enormously popular previous exhibition "Plumage & Place."
"I love birds and it is an absolute joy to sculpt and create these beautiful creatures," Greer said. "I hope that you love them too, only when we love something will we want to protect it."
For South Gippsland artist Maddie Gatehouse, this exhibition marks her debut as a ceramicist, bringing together her roles as mother, teacher, and artist.
Maddie draws inspiration from the sensory and visual delights of natural, found objects and the landscapes they come from. Her work playfully replicates the sorts of treasures a child might gather in their pockets, transforming them into delicate ceramic vessels with exaggerated form, pattern, colour, and texture.
"I feel most at peace when exploring the beach, forest or garden, and aim to evoke that same sense of calm curiosity through my ceramics," Maddie explained.
Her pieces are shaped by memories of her childhood garden in South Gippsland, years spent exploring national parks with her family, and a longing to reconnect with nature during her time living in suburban Melbourne.
