Where: Penrith Regional Gallery
When: 30th August - 22nd November
'Desert Song 2005-2105' Is the current exhibition of works by the ridiculously talented Tracey Deep at Penrith Regional Gallery. If I was to work with natural materials of a larger scale, I'd hope to capture the finesse, beauty and skill of this artist whose collection of artworks on exhibition span a decade of the artists life. The exhibition catalogue says of her practice-
As an artist, nature is not only her source of inspiration but also her medium and subject matter. She obsessively gathers all sorts of organic detritus such as dried tree branches, seed pods, kelp, raffia, and driftwood and breathes a second life into them, transforming them into ethereal, woven sculptures that enunciate her fascination for the natural world around her.
As the cold winter months slip into the scented new growth of spring, visiting this exhibition is a gentle reminder of the cyclical patterns in nature. A honing of skills in collaboration with nature present us with a celebration of all that can be found in the natural world.
Of her childhood, the catalogue essay says-
As a child, Deep spent most of her time between the park, beach or her backyard, gathering objects that she treasured but whose beauty was easily overlooked by others. Daughter of Lebanese migrants, she grew up behind a green grocer and fondly remembers the sensory excitement of exploring the forms, textures and colours in the shop. Her connection to nature was unescapable.
