William Ferguson
My Dream Time and Spirit of Place
30 Jun - 23 Jul 2016

Drinks with the Artist: Saturday, 2 July 2-4 pm

Closing this week: "The Journey", an exhibition of recent paintings by Mary Raphael, on view at the gallery until Saturday, June 25. View the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/mary-raphael-the-journey-2016.html
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Exhibition focus of the week: Mary Raphael’s miniatures

A selection of ten small paintings (nos 24-33, 12.7 x 17.8 cm, $120 each) provide an insight into Mary Raphael’s working methods. Each work appears as a “stream of consciousness” vignette where the artist lays out designs and colour schemes that presage her large-scale compositions. These small-scale works are notable for their richly textured surfaces, complex colour nuances, and fleeting atmospheric effects of places visited or remembered.

 The exhibition is current until June 25.
View the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/mary-raphael-the-journey-2016.html

Work of the Week: Mary Raphael, “Being at Peace”
(no 20, acrylic on canvas, 45 x 45 cm, $450)

This small work by Mary Raphael evokes the feeling of looking down at the small islands and sand bars when flying over the coastal parts of Australia. The vastness of the blue/green ocean is broken by the sands breaking through the sea surface, creating a contrasting pattern of the warm earthy tones with the cool colours of the surrounding seas. There is a lovely textural quality to this work incorporating the blending of the blues and greens contrasted with the browns, ochres and yellow. The palette knife has been used to good effect, giving a ‘breaking through’ appearance of islands or sand bars, while also giving a clear directional quality.

The exhibition is current until June 25.
​View the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/mary-raphael-the-journey-2016.html

Work of the Week: Mary Raphael, “Gold and Amber Shades” (no 15, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 152 cm, $1,600)

When talking about her works, Mary Raphael explains that while she is influenced by landscape, she eschews depicting a particular site or place. Rather, Raphael re-imagines the landscape from her memory and aims to express the experience of the place, its unique local colours, and the varied terrain. As the title of the painting suggests, “Gold and Amber Shades” is executed in a delicate range of pale yellows, ochres, and oranges. The carefully applied passages of greys and blacks create the depth of vision and perspective. The ghostly outlines of vegetation introduce a sense of elegant movement to convey peace and calm within the painting. The complex layering of pigments creates a gentle undulation on the surface of the canvas and conveys the landscape’s textured terrain.   

The exhibition is current until June 25. View the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/mary-raphael-the-journey-2016.html

Mary Raphael "The Journey" - see more photos from the exhibition opening at https://www.facebook.com/mary.raphael.7. The exhibition is current until June 25. View the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/mary-raphael-the-journey-2016.html