Unique: The latest Benalla Art Gallery Shop exhibition features pieces created by local artist Liz Walker.
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Throughout August in the Gallery Shop, Benalla Art Gallery presents Take a walk on the wild side, an exhibition of small sculptural works by Liz Walker.
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Ms Walker uses recycled roofing iron, wire, vintage copper, and brass to replicate found and gathered natural objects, including feathers, eucalyptus leaves, small wire nests, grasses, and other vegetation.
“Each fragment was collected while out walking in Benalla, Mansfield and Wodonga, taken back to the studio, studied at length, and then reconstructed out of collected metals using my late father’s much-used hand tools,” Ms Walker said.
“The simple act of walking is something most of us enjoy, but wandering around and stopping to observe, to pick up, hold and feel is something else again.
“It reminds us of the breathtaking beauty of nature and our own small place in a world that is far more creative, intelligent and resourceful than we could ever hope to be.”
Artistic: Liz Walker creates art from materials she finds walking around the north east.
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For many years, Ms Walker has been spending time in her family holiday home in Jamieson, 30 minutes from Mansfield.
During these stays she explores the towns throughout east and north-east Victoria.
She has exhibited widely in group and solo exhibitions, undertaken public artworks, received awards, grants and residencies, and her work is held in public and private collections in Australia and overseas.
“Collecting, repurposing and extending the material possibilities of natural ephemera and recycled domestic objects play a key role in my practice, which investigates contemporary social and environmental concerns,” she said.
“I use an extensive range of resources to construct sculpture, assemblage, installations and ephemeral site specific responses to people, time and place, and am fascinated by the visual language created by the elements and time; willingly exploiting this to magnify the underlying issues.”
On display: Take a walk on the wild side will be displayed at the Benalla Art Gallery shop until August 31.
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Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash predicts a great response.
“Audiences will be delighted by these works, which, although made of raw metals and scrap material, are deceptively organic,” Mr Nash said.
In January, Benalla Art Gallery announced a process for artists of the region to apply for rotational, monthly exhibitions in the Gallery Shop glass cabinets.
The program is designed to better promote and support local and regional creative practices.
Ms Walker’s exhibition follows successful installations by Pauline Fraser, Maggie Hollins, Lorna Hobbs, Susie Buykx, Joan Mullarvey, and the Border and North East Basketmakers Group.
Take a walk on the wild side is on display at the Benalla Art Gallery shop until August 31.
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