Artists Down Under - Australia and New Zealand - November 2020

DOWN UNDERartists

Australia and New Zealand

Hi everyone and welcome to the November edition of Artists Down Under.

To all those people, including our artists who are affected by the floods, our thoughts and prayers go out to you. From Tasmania to Victoria, up through New South Wales, into Queensland, there seems to be no escaping this nasty long lasting event with houses and lives having been lost. To all the families that have been affected, we express our sincere condolences to you all.

Happy Birthday to the girls from the Digital Artists Group, who celebrate their 5th Birthday with their 60th image in their fun Chinese Whipsers Series. Wishing you many more to come.

Andrew shares a fabulous Photoshop tutorial on the Tilde or Backquote Key.

Maureen Maxwell shares a recent interview with our own artist, Dean Hohn. A fascinating interview which delves into aspects of Dean’s career, which includes Rock Art, iPad Art and his famous Bird Art. One very talented man.

Margaret Kalms has kindly put together a review of Viewfinder’s Photography from the 1970’s to Now. An exhibition at the National Library of Australia running until 13 March, 2023.

Our Featured Artist this month is Dennis Rickard. Dennis is an extremely talented artist and his style is amazing. I hope you thoroughly enjoy his images he has put together for you.

The Monthly Photographic Artists Challenge this month was “Hot Rods” - I hope you enjoy what our artists have come up with for you.

Well that’s it from me, until next month, stay safe, stay dry & care for each other.

Pam Henderson

Al BaMass - Perth City

Artists in this publication are responsible for any rights appertaining to their work.

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Fox 1

Backgrounds: Foxy Squirrell Laitha’s Designs - Jai Johnson - White Lane Studio

artists Achievements monthly down under

artists down under facebook page

The Artists Down Under Public Facebook page has been set up to allow the artists in the group to showcase their work and to enable them to share promotional information about themselves, e.g. exhbitions, awards etc...

You can find the Artists Down Under Public Facebook page at this address; https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistsDownUnder/

So, if you are an artist in the group, don’t forget to regularly share your work and information here, and to let your friends and family know about the page if they are interested in viewing the latest art and news from the group.

If you are a reader of the magazine who does not have access to the page, please click the link above and request to join. When you request to join you will be asked to answer three simple questions that will allow us to determine if you are an eligible artist who may wish to join the group and therefore be able to post on the page, or a member of the public who can view, comment and like the work on the page. It’s a great place to see some great art from this vibrant group every day!

Rosa Perry - House Of Memories

Julie Powell - Down The Rabbit Hole

Kaylene Helliwell - The Steampunk Cat

Meaghan Pryor - Autumn Showers

Sandra Dann - Gone Fishing

Three ADU members receive a special gift

Our very good Awake friends Teddi Rutschman of Foxey Squirrel and Diane Stafford from WhiteLaneStudio continue to give gifts as a reward for members of the Artists Down Under group who contribute to the ADU Facebook page by regularly posting their artworks and supporting other members with their comments.

Teddi, from Virginia, USA, is well known for her fantastic sets of digital designer backgrounds, masks and all kinds of wonderful elements ready for designers to add to or build a wondrous creation.

Teddi Rutshman can be found at http://www.foxeysquirrel.com/ http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Foxeysquirrel

Teddi has given a $10.00 voucher for one very lucky member to spend in her on-line shop.

Diane Stafford from Chester, UK, designs Photoshop textures and overlays for photo artists and photographers to use in their digital artworks. Diane has created another special kit just for Artists Down Under for the month of NOVEMBER.

Two artists will receive a Diane kit each.

Diane Stafford can be found at https://whitelanestudio.co.uk/biolinks

Gitama Day - The Recalcitrant Hat

Maureen Maxwell - A Tight Fit

Penny De Jong - Ghouls At Play

Maureen Maxwell - A Sense Of Unease

The NOVEMBER lucky winners are

Teddi Rutschman (Foxy Squirrel) Gift Voucher of $10.00 - Christina Brunton Diane Stafford (WhiteLaneStudio) Texture & Overlay Kit - Andrew Haysom - Tracey Ryan

Colin Campbell - Iconics 1979

PHOTO ARTISTIC

Sonia Pusey - Spellbound

Kim Ricci _ Farley

Louise Smith - Annabelle

Helen McLeod - The Life Cycle Of Water

Maureen Maxwell - Begone

Lynette Paul - Auckland Door

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

Helen McLeod - Who Lives Here?

Kim Ricci - Dancing Through Time

Christina Brunton - Dispersion

Christina Brunton - Golden Horns

Maureen Maxwell - The Village Mystery

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Halloween Adventure

Ilona Abou-Zolof - The Little Witch

Sonia Pusey - Who Is A Good Boy?

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

Julie Powell - The Red Queen

Julie Powell - Dark Alice

Penny De Jong - Fire Worshippers

Rosa Perry - Pumpkin Market

Gitama Day - Cybele

Rosa Perry - Waiting For Halloween

Penny De Jong - The Passage Of

Bev Terawskyj - Ebb And Flow Of Time

Rosa Perry - Time Is Adrift

Sue Masterson - Time Flows By

Prue Wright - Sands Of Time

Karen Waalwyk - Sands Through The Hourglass

ART SHOW INTERNATIONAL portrait competition

https://www.artshowinternational.com/winners-2022-portrait-5//

Congratulations goes to Margaret Kalms

For receiving an “Honourable” mention with her image “Crumbling With How Infested It Is With Rot”, and was a Finalist with her images “Brave Face Of Endometriosis Pain”, “Facing Difficult Emotions” and “Overwhelmed By Medicine”.

Margaret Kalms - Crumbling With How Infested It Is With Rot

artists

DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION

TILDE/BACKQUOTE KEY TURNS

BRUSH INTO ERASER

By Andrew Haysom

When painting or drawing with the Brush tool in Photoshop, either on an image or a mask, we often want to switch to the Eraser tool if we’ve made a mistake we want to remove. We can use the B (for Brush) and E (for Eraser) keys to switch between tools, but the Tilde/Backquote key (see Figure 1) offers us another way to switch, with one huge advantage.

When switching tools using the B and E keys, each of the tools remember their previous brush settings (which brush is being used and brush size), so the switching process often involves having to go and find the same brush and setting the size of the eraser tool.

[Fig 1 – Tilde/Backquote Key]

When drawing/painting with the brush tool, if you hold down the Tilde/Backquote key (found on most keyboards just to the left of the number 1), the Brush tool will temporarily switch to the Eraser using the same brush (and brush size) you were brushing with. Releasing the Tilde/Back quote key switches back to the Brush tool.

Please note that the tool icon doesn’t change (i.e. you won’t see the Eraser tool activate in the toolbar), but your brush acts as the Eraser until you release the Tilde/Backquote key.

This can be much quicker if you do want to erase with the same brush you were using.

SYDNEY HARBOUR

artistsUNDER

DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP,

“CHINESE WHISPERS”

STILL GOING STRONG.

This month Maureen tested me to the limits, three different genres into one design. Hmmm .... lots of fun was had.

you enjoy!

Pam Henderson

Maureen Maxwell

Pam

DENNIS

RUNNERS

Meet your artist Dennis Rickard

1. Tell us a little about yourself and where you live?

I live and work in the small country town of Numurkah in Northern Victoria. I began my Photographic journey approx 13 years ago while I was on a working trip away and decided that I should begin to Photograph the places I go to. Besides going to well known destinations I also get to go to areas off the beaten track which give me the opportunity to see places that if you went on a holiday you would not go to. Hence my camera goes to work with me every day. I now see the world around me with a different outlook to what I previously did. I have developed a great interest in movement, be it Intentional Camera Movement or Slow Shutter Speed etc, the results can be very interesting.

2. How did you become interested/get started in Photo Artistry?

I thoroughly enjoy the Post Processing of my images and learning new skills in Photoshop. As my skills increased I was looking for something more to do with my images and stumbled across Photo Artistry which gave me even more tools to be able create different images.

3. What inspires you or gives you inspiration to create your art?

As my job can involve a fair bit of driving I get to mull things over in my mind from things I see as I travel around. Some of the most ordinary items can spark a creative idea. Listening to music and some everyday sayings can also get the creative process going.

4. Do you have a certain approach to creating your art?

Going more with the flow when I have an idea seems to be my approach which at times can be a while between flashes of inspiration.

5. What does your art mean to you?

Originally starting out with Photography was very therapeutic for me and adding Photo Artistry to it has expanded my creative side which has led into using my camera more creatively in producing images more in camera with Movement.

6. Do you think since starting in photo artistry it has changed you and if so, how?

It has definitely opened my creative side and given me the ability, and the confidence to show my work which in the past might not have happened.

7. Is there anyone that you draw inspiration from?

Online I enjoy Instragram and read various Magazines and the amazing work produced by the Artists in Artists Down Under to give me inspiration.

8. Where do you see (or hope to see) your art taking you in the future ? What are your next steps?

Simply to keep improving and learning as I go along and find a bit more time to create hopefully work that inspires other people.

KOTUKU (WHITE HERON)

BRUNTON

PIXIE LIXIE

RANKMORE

artists

DOWN UNDER

Australia and New Zealand

INTERVIEW

WITH DEAN HOHN

By Maureen Maxwell

Thank you, Dean, for doing this interview.

When the Artists Down Under Group was first formed by Athalie Taylor in early 2017, you and I, plus a few other people, were involved in taking it forward.

Since then, you have been published in every edition. This is an achievement to be proud of.

We have seen you embrace many forms of art. These range from magnificent landscapes, particularly of the Tasmanian Coastline, to abstracts. You were an early adopter of iPad-based art and showed many of us how to use it.

Many galleries in Tasmania have held successful exhibitions of your work. A significant number of your images now reside in people’s homes.

iPad Art - Twirling

After doing Landscape photography for a couple years, I typed into Google “what is Fine Art Photography?”. An article in Digital Photography School by a Canadian lass came up and it showed me step by step how she had combined multiple images to create an image that got her into the finals of an art exhibition. This was at the beginning of November 2013. As my wife tells the story, after reading the article, I resurfaced 3 days later with over 100 images I had created utilising photos from my archives!

As it turned out, one of those images I entered in the Glover Art Prize for Landscape Paintings in 2014. It was selected as one of the 42 finalists! It was a real honour and a very humbling experience. I was again selected as a Glover Art Prize finalist in 2016.

I continued to create images and then just before the end of December 2013, I saw an advert online for Sebastian Michaels’ Photoshop Artistry Grunge Course. I signed up and then received notification he was starting an AWAKE course in January. I stayed up until the early morning to be able to sign up for the course as there was a limited number of places available. I got in and between the 2 courses it changed my life.

I enjoyed learning and experimenting with various techniques as my learning progressed. I found a whole new world when I started using various apps on my iPad. I shared some of what I had learned with those that were interested at the ADU Melbourne Get Together. Later on, I had an urgent trip to the US for my mother and my iPad art was extremely important in helping me deal with my time with my sick mother. Lucky for us, mum came good and after a month away I returned home with hundreds of pieces of abstract art I had created while I was away. Several pieces became part of my portfolio of pieces available from Gallery Pejean in Launceston. The complete series sold at a group exhibition and several other pieces have sold since.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN PHOTO ARTISTRY? DO YOU ENJOY A PARTICULAR STYLE OF PHOTO ARTISTRY, OR DO YOU LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND STYLES?

iPad Art - Terrestrial Garden

iPad Art - Sunset Arrival

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A KEEN PHOTOGRAPHER? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY.

I have had an interest in photography since I was young and bought my first camera when I was stationed in Japan in the US Navy. My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic ll. I didn’t really take the photography seriously and life got hectic, and I lost interest. Then in 2006 I rekindled my interest in photography and bought a Canon 1S1 Digital Point and Shoot camera. Once again, work got in my way and when the autofocus stopped working on the camera, I lost interest.

A few years passed and my late wife and I had left the Pilbara in Western Australia and moved to Tasmania. Three and a bit years later, my wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away. Prior to her passing she asked me what I wanted to do as I couldn’t stand in my garage and do wood working - I needed to get out and mix with people. I said I had always had an interest in photography and Tasmania had so much to photograph. She told me to buy my self a good camera, join a camera club and get out and mix with people. I took her at her word and did as she said. I bought myself a Canon 5Dmkll and a kit of landscape lenses. Soon after I met another photographer that had probably forgotten more about photography than I’ll ever know. He was looking for someone to mentor, so we started shooting together morning and evening weather permitting. This continued for 12 months, and he fast tracked my learning experience.

Prior to finding Photo Artistry, I had stumbled upon a rock formation in the Northwest of Tasmania in 2011 that grabbed my attention and through photographing shapes and then saturating them in iPhoto, they turned into colourful abstract art pieces. I had these printed on aluminium as a point of difference and when I showed one piece to a mate that had his own photographic gallery in Stanley, he told me the piece didn’t leave the gallery until it was sold! That was my start in the galleries. I then approached and was accepted into galleries in Launceston, Hobart, Bicheno and Penguin with my rock images and other fine art pieces I have created using all the things I have learned in Awake and the Photo Artistry teachings.

Rock Art - Cushions

Rock Art - Eye On The Cave

INTERVIEW - DEAN HOHN

I made a trip to the States to visit my family in 2019. Upon my return from the States, my mate had taken up photographing birds. I had a go at it and was instantly hooked. And that is still the case today!

Bird photography is wonderful for my mental and physical health. It gets me out in nature often just walking around taking in the beautiful environment which is very calming and then the next minute the birds appear and the adrenalin and excitement kicks in and it gives you such a high. At the same time, it doesn’t make any difference if I don’t even turn the camera on. I come home after a day out birding and I’m at peace with myself. If I’ve shared the day with Marilyn or a mate or mates, I’m very thankful for that time and experience with them as well. It’s a very therapeutic hobby for me and I’m so pleased I’ve found it.

YOU HAVE NOW DEVELOPED INTO A HIGHLY SKILLED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER. BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY IS A DIFFICULT PHOTOGRAPHIC GENRE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY THAT APPEALS TO YOU?

I love the challenge bird photography presents. You never know from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute what you’re going to find and whether you will be able to get the perfect shot of the bird. I love trying to photograph birds in flight. Some days you’re successful and others you aren’t! Even when you get a good shot of a bird in flight, I find that I’m always trying to get a better one.

Bird Art - Breaking Through Bird Art - Soaring

Bird Art - In The Morning Fog Bird Art - Autumn Escape

LEAVING ASIDE THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW YOUR CAMERA FUNCTIONS, WHAT SKILLS DOES A BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER REQUIRE?

As with all other genres of photography, you must learn to see. You need to learn composition and be aware of the background and the distance to the background to achieve the best shot possible.

You need to learn the birds that are in the area where you’re photographing. You need to do a lot of research learning their habitats, their likes, dislikes, habits, the way they move, where they like to feed, what they like to eat and the list goes on. One thing I have slowly learnt is to have patience. I’ve never been known for having much of it, but I’m learning to quiet myself and let things come to me or just to watch things unfold in front of me, which really pays off at times with great photos.

YOU LIVE IN TASMANIA WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE A HUGE VARIETY OF BIRDS, RANGING FROM THE VERY SMALL TO THE LARGE RAPTORS. MANY OF THESE SEEM TO BE UNIQUE TO TASMANIA. PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE BIRD LIFE IN TASSIE?

According to Wikipedia, a total of 383 species of bird have been recorded living in the wild on the island of Tasmania, nearby islands and islands in Bass Strait. Birds of Macquarie Island are not included in this list. Twelve species are endemic to the island of Tasmania, and most of these are common and widespread. From that number, I realise I have a lot of work yet to be done to photograph them all!

Living in Ulverstone, on the northwest coast of Tasmania, we are very fortunate to have an abundance of birdlife in our area. We are fortunate to have everything from shore birds right up to and including the White-bellied Sea Eagles as well as the Wedge-tailed Eagles in our area. We are fortunate to be surrounded by farmland as well as native bush, so we tend to get a great variety of small birds, several species of honeyeaters and a wide variety of raptors. It really is a birding paradise in this area.

We are also very fortunate to live next to the Leven River and we have Leven River Cruises operating several types of cruises up the Leven River, including birding cruises. The prize bird on the cruise is the Azure Kingfisher, but it’s not uncommon to come back with having sighted or heard over 20 species for the day.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY TAKING YOU IN THE FUTURE?

These days I primarily spend my time out in nature photographing birds, but every once in a while, I get the desire to create a piece of art. When that happens, I enjoy the time spent creating and then I’m back out in nature which is good for my mental and physical health. I don’t have any specific plans creatively for the future, but plan to continue doing as I am for the foreseeable future.

INTERVIEW

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

I am married to Marilyn Patton, a very talented artist who specialises in oil painting, charcoal portraits and now is exploring print making. With us both working in the visual arts, many things are common to both our genres of art, so there is always something to talk about and it’s wonderful to have someone to explore ideas with and to seek critiques from, as we develop a piece of art.

Marilyn and I share a studio in Deloraine Creative Studios in Deloraine, Tasmania. We both display our work there and Marilyn goes there to paint a couple days every second week. I find it difficult to work there because I need my computer for my work, so I often go birding in the area while she paints.

CLOSING COMMENTS

I encourage anyone who has a desire to have their work in a gallery to put together a portfolio of your work, contact the gallery you would like to have represent you and make an appointment to meet with them and discuss with them if they feel your work would fit well with the gallery

It takes courage to take that first step, but once you’ve taken it, the following steps become easier. Believe in yourself, your work, and just put yourself out there. If you have no interest in galleries, that’s perfectly fine as well. Just enjoy your art, your journey and be happy in what you do.

Nautica

iPad Art - Water Abstract

Seaweed And Maple

Alpine Delight

artists

DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

VIEWFINDER

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE 1970S TO NOW

By Margaret Kalms

The Forward in the catalogue of the exhibition Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now states that the National Library of Australia has over a million photographs! A selection of 125 have been gathered in Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now, currently on display at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

The 125 photos spanning over 50 years show with amazing candid clarity a vibrant country coping with enormous changes. Photography has developed, is now in full colour with technology more accessible for ordinary people. Each room is themed; People, Play, Work, Environment, Built Environment and All Events Great and Small.

Featured are highlights such as former Prime Minister Whitlam who pours soil into the hand of a Gurindji traditional land owner and Rock Island Bend on the Franklin River, an image that was pivotal in saving the Franklin River. A stunningly poignant image is The Last Candle, AIDS Vigil, 1993. Recent inclusions feature floods in Gippsland in 2007 and Brisbane 1974, bushfire at Beaconsfield 1994 and bushfire summer 2019 and impacts of Covid-19 2020 and 2021.

Many moments are captured evoking the feelings and experiences of the past. As a Baby boomer, I’ve been witness to so many of the events featured, creating for me, a heightened experience of walking down memory lane. I felt an immediacy, a presence, when looking at the photos even in the photos of events that I didn’t personally experience.

As photographers, we also have the power to create iconic images of our own era for future generations to see what life was like for us.

4 photos from the exhibition:

1. Rennie Ellis, Surfer Boys and Girls on Beach, Lorne, 1975. Very typical of teenagers in the 70s and 80s was lying in the sun for hours to gain a suntan. It was in the mid to late 80s that the risks of skin cancer were publicised and the fashion for sunbathing began to decline. Now this generation has aged, Australia does indeed have high skin cancer rates.

2. Rennie Ellis, Jenny Bannister and Girls, Melbourne Cup, 1978. First Tuesday of November is Melbourne Cup Day. It’s now a public holiday in ACT. Many people gather for a flutter and to socialise. Dressing up is part of the event, some people going to great effort to wear a stunning outfit. There is also a photo of a ladies luncheon from 1990 and sea gulls scavaging the remains at Flemmington Racecourse after the crowds departed in 2009.

3. Matthew Sleeth, Residents of a Retirement Home are Wheeled onto the Footpath to Watch the Queen, Western Freeway, Friday 24 March 2000. Australia has a long relationship with the British royalty especially Queen Elizabeth II. This photo reminds me that the Queen was not simply a figure-head monarch. She visited Australia many times and she became fond of this country. It was sad that she died recently.

4. William Yang, Rainbow Angel Wings, New Mardi Gras, 2003.Sydney Madi Gras is always a flamboyant event. Many attendees spend months preparing their costumes. Here, an intimate and reassuring pat has been captured. I’ve only been once, but watched on TV many times. I love the vitality of life expressed in the Mardi Gras.

This is only a small sample from the exhibition. Every image tells a story, making a visit to this exhibition extremely worthwhile. Continues until 13 March 2023, exclusive to Canberra, entry is free and no booking required.

Roger Garwood, Volunteers Work in Groups with Children in the Hydroptherapy Pool at the Sir David Brand Centre, Perth, February 1989, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136970905

courtesy Roger Garwood

Dave Tacon, Flemington Eagles Striker Osman, Representing the Flemington High Rise Housing Commission Flats, Lets Fly with a Corner Cross, Atherton Reserve, Fitzroy, Victoria, 10 September 2005, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137108517

courtesy Dave Tacon

Dave Tacon, Australian Renton Millar, World Champion Professional Skateboarder, Performs a Method Air Above a Half Pipe Ramp, Before a Crowd of Young Onlookers at Prahran, Victoria, 8 April 2009, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137927722

courtesy Dave Tacon

Martin Mischkulnig, Warralong, Western Australia, 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-691608047

courtesy Martin Mischkulnig

Jon Rhodes, Jimmy Sing, Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales, 1974, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2171057193

courtesy Jon Rhodes

Jon Rhodes, Sunshine, West Melbourne, Victoria, 1974, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2171057212

courtesy Jon Rhodes

Jon Rhodes, Paul Jackson, Dubbo, News South Wales, 1973, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2147881601

courtesy Jon Rhodes

Rennie Ellis, Hippie, Kings Cross, 1970-1971, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145154046

courtesy of the Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

Rennie Ellis, Surfer Boys and Girls on Beach, Lorne, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145150096

courtesy of the Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

Rennie Ellis, Jenny Bannister and Girls, Melbourne Cup, 1978, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145167899

courtesy of the Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

Mervyn Bishop, Self-portrait of Aboriginal Photographer Mervyn Bishop, Sydney, 1989, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153510920

copyright courtesy Mervyn Bishop and Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney

Matthew Sleeth, Residents of a Retirement Home are Wheeled onto the Footpath to Watch the Queen, Western Freeway, Friday 24 March 2000, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145875044

copyright courtesy Matthew Sleeth and Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney

Tracey Moffatt, Self Portrait, 1999, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138164623

courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney

William Yang, Madelaine and Eileen Nom Chong, Braidwood, 1990, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146595971

courtesy William Yang

William Yang, Rainbow Angel Wings, New Mardi Gras, 2003, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136950531

courtesy William Yang

Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now

is exclusive to Canberra and opens at the National Library of Australia on Friday 16 September 2022, running until Monday 13 March 2023.

***These images may only be used in conjunction with editorial coverage of the Viewfinder: Pho tography from the 1970s to Now exhibition at the National Library of Australia. These images can not be cropped or overwritten. Prior approval in writing required for use as a cover. Caption details must accompany reproductions of the images.

Ilona Abou-Zolof

Christina Brunton

Pam Henderson

Prue Wright

Karen Waalwyk

Penny De Jong

Julie Powell

Jenne Jackson

Maureen Maxwell

Andrew Haysom - Three Very Hot Rods

Bev Terawyskj - Hot Rods

artists

DOWN UNDER

adu artists business advertisements

Helping Women with Endometriosis

Art by Margaret Kalms

When I first heard about endometriosis I felt a deep compassion and need to do what I could to help. Women with endometriosis suffer debilitating pain, disruptive symptoms and often endure multiple operations simply to function normally. Few people are patient when listening to descriptions of pain, symptoms or illness. This can have the effect of silencing people who are ill.

My compassion inspires my photoart which I show in presentations to raise awareness. I joined Awake to teach me advanced Photoshop skills, specifically to expand my photoartistic skills to create imaginative and dramatic images.

My photoart opens dialogue enabling freer expression of hidden feelings, experiences too private to mention in ordinary conversation. I create photoart inspired by the concerns of women with endometriosis. Several women have said that the process of imaging their suffering has helped them to face their pain and illness. There is immense strength in being heard. I want my photoart to become visual screams!!

26 women with endometriosis have told me about their experiences. They spoke to me about their concerns and collaborated during the photo session. We explored meanings of body, ideas of self and impacts of illness together, agreeing which ideas we would explore photographically. My photos are often carefully arranged, but that doesn’t mean they are fake. They represent the personal truth and experiences of 26 women with endometriosis. These women are remembering and acting out their OWN experiences. They choose their own stance and facial expression. Women with endometriosis are the only people who truly know what endometriosis FEELS like.

Unfortunately endometriosis is relatively common; an estimated 1 in 10 women living with endometriosis, being over 175,000,000 women worldwide! And an estimated 500,000 women in Australia! Their experiences are heart-breaking. Regular illness and debilitating pain result in missed education and poor career opportunities leaving them women vulnerable to poverty.

Women with endometriosis need real medical progress to reduce their suffering. I passionately desire to raise money for endometriosis research so that faster diagnoses are made and more effective treatments are found. To raise money for endometriosis research, I host events and sell products on Redbubble. Recently I gave $3,000 to Canberra Endometriosis Centre!

Share ‘EndoWomanArt’ with your friends on social media to raise awareness and money for women’s health!

We all need clothes & household goods. Buy yourself a treat or buy a special gift for your friends. Make your shopping count!

Remember 50% of profit goes to endometriosis research!

https://www.redbubble.com/ people/EndoWomanArt/shop

Follow ‘Life with Endometriosis’: https://www.facebook.com/ LifeWithEndometriosis

See Margaret Kalms photoart, ‘Life with Endometriosis’: http://www.endowomanart.com

Margaret Kalms

Stripes