“My work reflects a deep connection to place, memory and nostalgia,” Dole said.
“I was originally inspired by still life and artists like Margaret Olley and Cressida Campbell, but my focus shifted after relocating to Northeast Victoria.”
Dole said the landscape became her inspiration and the outdoors her favoured studio.
“This exhibition includes some of my still life prints to reflect the journey I have travelled on to arrive in the landscape,” she said.
“Seasons of the Kilns recently opened in Bright; it captures the tobacco kilns that once defined the region.
“These works begin outdoors, responding to light and atmosphere, and some are refined in the studio to honour their historical significance.”
The kilns are powerful symbols of migration, labour and loss.
While some have been preserved as historical landmarks, and others converted into accommodation and educational displays, many are in decay.
“Through painting, I reflect on my own memories of visiting the kilns as a teenager and the stories of farmers and families — many of them Italian immigrants — who worked so hard, helped shape this land and contributed to the culture,” Dole said.
“These structures may no longer serve their original purpose, but for now they endure, as markers of a bygone era along with the resilience and the composition of the community.”
The exhibition at Teller Restaurant began on September 30 and features other art pieces from Dole’s collection as well as those from her Seasons of the Kiln series.
“Teller is a place to gather and enjoy good food, bringing people together around the table while showcasing local talent,“ Teller owner Aline Davies said.
Dole’s exhibition will be on display until December.
