Zom Osborne, Beetledance, pen on paper, 59cm x 64cm
Nadine Abensur, of the beautiful Art Piece Gallery in Mullumbimby has gathered together a new exhibition, Playing on the Edge, with three Northern Rivers artists whose drawings are both intriguing and mysterious, writes Candida Baker. Abensur has also put together a superb menu for anyone wanting to attend her upcoming Spring Supper to celebrate the opening of the exhibition this week.
Sometimes in life you meet someone – and you know, absolutely, that they are heading in the right direction, that everything is pointing towards a destiny that they are imagining and creating for themselves.
Artist Oksana Waterfall is one of those people. I had the privilege of meeting her at Lismore TAFE some years ago when she was studying visual art, and it was obvious from her fierce determination and talent that she was heading for a lifetime career in the arts. Since then Waterfall has been widely exhibited, and has won numerous awards for her quirky and original drawings. In her current work Waterfall delves deep into the objects of childhood memories.
When I think of Mandy Nolan’s art, it’s her vivid paintings that spring to mind, but in this exhibition, Playing on the Edge, the Byron shire based comedian shows us not only her more whimsical side, but her politer side, with endearing illustrations that could easily grace a children’s book. In her drawings Nolan allows herself the rare luxury of allowing her hand to roam freely in a kind of “unconscious doodling or fiddling” when she feels she has something a little more whimsical or softer to say. Or unusually for the normally raucous Nolan, because there are (believe it or not) occasions when she doesn’t want to say anything at all.
Zom Osborne lives in the rainforest, and her connection to and love of nature is obvious in all her work. Osborne’s work has that great artistic skill of being both appealing and unsettling at the same time. While she is intrigued by the connections we make with each other and the objects we acquire during our lives, Osborne is touched by the energies she senses in the unseen and the immaterial.
Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby
Playing on the Edge: Oksana Waterfall, Zom Osborne and Mandy Nolan
Thursday 9th October
Open to the public 6.00 pm – 7.00pm
Then
Sit down dinner with the artists from 7.30 pm
$68.00 per head
Bookings essential
6684 3446
Spring Supper Menu
The fresh flavours of spring brought to you from Nadine Abensur’s kitchen and garden
Antipasti on the table to start
Asparagus Tart with roasted cherry tomatoes
Market fish with roasted fennel and black olive salsa
Rosemary roasted potatoes
Chargrilled vegetables with an orange and pistachio salsa
Rocket and Pecan Salad with Goat’s cheese and rosebud infused dressing
A berry meringue
and a chocolate surprise
