Two new exhibitions are now on display in the Little Gallery: Finding Place by Cheryl Sims and Life Lines by June Wilson.
Cheryl Sims is a diverse artist who works in both 2D and 3D formats and in varying medium, from printmaking, painting and sculpture. The abstract works in Finding Place are mostly done in encaustics, which the artist feels best represent her life's story.
The exhibition takes us through Cheryl's personal journey from being displaced as a child and unable to verbally communicate how she felt. Not knowing where she belonged affected her self-esteem and it has taken Sims a lifetime to find confidence in who she is and where she belongs.
Encaustics is an ancient wax painting technique from 4th century BC, which involves a planned process adding pigment to wax to obtain the colours desired. Some of Sims' paintings have more than100 layers of wax and each layer needs to be heated to fuse.
Sims obtained a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania, Launceston, in 2011 and she is a longstanding member of the North West Art Circle. She has taken part in many judged exhibitions, notably the 2018 Artentwine, Sculpture Biennial, Tamar Valley, the Esk Exhibition 2013 and 2018 at Eskleigh and the Celebration Eskleigh Art Collection at Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery in Launceston in 2017. In 2013 she won the Tasmanian Art Award at Eskleigh.
Life Lines is an exhibition of portraits by June Wilson. Wilson, who is well known for her landscape art, has with this exhibition delved into her deep interest in the challenges that are faced by multicultural families, and in particularly the female members.
June's interest in cultural differences emerged shortly after arriving in Tasmania as an impressionable 13-year-old. Relocating from another country, she was faced with overt and covert discrimination, despite herself being Caucasian and having a strong Tasmanian family heritage.
Pastel, which has a 300-year-old history in portrait art, is the is the medium – for these works where Wilson endeavours to sensitively portray women of different cultures and their personal characteristics. Each portrait is accompanied by the sitter's own words and Junes' notes about the person.
Wilson has always had a desire and passion for art and has trained under some of Australia's finest painters such as Leoni Duff, Lyn Dieffenbach and Judith Drew to name a few. Wilson is also well known as an art teacher with well over 20 years teaching experience. She won the Major award Rotary ArtEx, 2014, the North West Art Circle People's Choice Award in 2014 and she was the 2015 Tas Art Winner City of Burnie Award.
June Wilson's and Cheryl Sims' exhibitions form part of the annual Little Gallery Program for establishing Tasmanian artists. The Little Gallery Project Space is available to emerging and early career contemporary Tasmanian artists and promotes experimentation in 2D and 3D art, critical thinking and engaging concepts.
Exhibition Opening: 24 January, 6pm
Garth Murphy, Building Designer and Construction Manager, will speak on Finding Place and Leann Wilson, Executive Director, Regional Economic Solutions, will speak on Life Lines.
Exhibition Dates: 11 January - 9 February 2020
