Nadine Williams

women’s artistic works inspire

A Balaklava resident, Marie recently  celebrated her 20^th anniversary as a self-made professional artist and the 50 mosaics, paintings, prints and three-dimensional artworks formed a wonderful cross-section of her talents.

Of course, nothing is quite as sweet as having someone else buy you a gift and two Christmases ago, husband Olivier bought me one of Marie’s artists’ proofs – of “Pattering At The Port’’ a vibrant portrayal of  Port Adelaide. It buzzes with eclectic life, busy people, fish galore, boats, birds and the Port’s focal point the red lighthouse.  I love it and it is the kind of work that you never tire of admiring.

Swedish-born, Marie has had multiple shows in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney Brisbane and in Colorado and Nagoya overseas, where she has had eight solo showings.

She has won several local art competitions and has been a finalist in the Fleurieu Biennale and twice in the prestigious  Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize.

Marie came to Australia as a young teenager and soon made her mark as an international model as well as being named National Model of the Year in 1984.

Anyone who has viewed her wonderful website will see immediately that she brings zest and life to her work and a light sense of humour to her genre. Her artworks reflect Marie herself. They are colourful and happy and quirky, often laced with humour and she sometimes injects the odd social comment about the human condition.

It is no wonder she has received two SA Great Awards for the arts in 2002 and 2007.

From one woman’s gifts, the Gaara Arts collective of 18 women brought their individual works – Parallel 1930 – to the exhibition in a bus from Broken Hill.

Each unique piece highlights the activities of women and their resourcefulness during the turbulent years of 1930 when Broken Hill and areas of the Outback were emerging out of the depression. Not all 26 artworks are at Burra, but the women have published a colourful catalogue. Artists have used diverse media including oil, acrylics, etching and linoprint, sculpture, textile, pastels and watercolours – as well as galvanised iron – and a wire bust! It all reflects the diversity of women’s artistic talent.

Burra Regional Art Gallery is one of the few art spaces run by volunteers and  Lis Jones Ingman should be singled out from the hard-working committee for organising the exhibition. It attracted a record 130 people on opening day – June 26. It will be open until July 24.

See more of Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s beautiful artworks on www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

Pages: 1 2