Gabrielle Courtenay Traces
6 – 30 September 2017
TRACES My work has been constantly evolving conceptually and spiritually over the last few years. Traces is a return to my exploration of sculpture, a feature of my early career and an expansion of my lifelong fascination with the symbology of religion, love, birth, death, creation and renewal. In Traces the new work combines the landscape with painted aged wooden panels. Using organic materials as symbols of transformation, fire - ash, forest – wood and flotsam from the sea; they are altered to evoke universal themes that connect the planet and cultures over time and space. Looking at the Moon thinking of the Sea, 2016 that combines charcoal and color pencils sees further exploration of the move away from a monochromatic palette. The return to color has given my work a renewed sense of freedom. Experimenting on old plywood sheet I have worked more instinctively not using my usual direct references but drawing directly onto on the stained timber panels, carving and molding the surface. In the use of dreamlike symbolism and their shadowy illusion to global themes they follow in the tradition of early vanitas paintings. The sense of transience that is inherent in the symbols of vanitas has become more tangible in Traces. The use of burnt timber in my painting and sculptures also has symbolic associations with many religions and cultures. Ash as used in Christian symbology and as fire is used by Aboriginal people to renew the landscape. Both leave a trace of ash as evidence of a transformative process. Globally the use of ash also hints at climate change, deforestation, urban renewal and connections to the ancient past when charcoal was first used to draw on cave walls. Working with organic matter, found objects, symbology or global themes Traces underlines the timeless connections that exist within cultures. Gabrielle Courtenay 2017
Looking at the Moon Thinking of the Sea (2016) timber boat, pencil, charcoal, chalk pastel, gesso on plywood 128 x 128 x 5 cm $6,600
Spiritwalker (2017) bone, found timbers, epoxy, acrylic 108 x 16 x 17 cm $2,900
Birth of Lotus (2017) pencil, charcoal, chalk, pastel, gesso on plywood 120 x 120 cm $6,600
A Touch of Ash (2016) burnt timber, epoxy, gold leaf, pigment acrylic 64.5 x 20 x 11 cm $2,900
Convergence #1 (2017) charcoal, acrylic, vinyl on found timber 56 x 41 cm $3,000
Convergence #2 (2017) charcoal, acrylic, vinyl on found timber 73 x 41 cm $3,500
Into the Cosmos (2015) bronze on timber base 26 x 18.5 x 24 cm 4 edition of 12 $3,300
Are we the Damned ( 2017) acrylic, vinyl, pencil, pastel on plywood 60 x 60 cm $3,500
Purgatory (2017) found & burnt timber, horn, fimo, epoxy, silver leaf, oil, acrylic, pigment 65 x 43 x 27 cm $4,000
Navigating the Unseen (2017) acrylic, vinyl, pencil, pastel on plywood 60 x 60 cm $3,500
Madame Butterfly (2015) burnt timber, coral, doll’s head, fimo 21 x 7 x 7 cm Glass Display case 62 x 26 X 26cm $2,500
The Squall (2017) charcoal, acrylic, vinyl pigment on found timber 53 x 49 cm $3,000
The Unseen (2017) pencil, acrylic, vinyl, oil, pigment on found timber 73 x 39 cm $3,600
Smoke and Mirrors ( 2017) acrylic, vinyl, pencil, pastel on plywood 60 x 60 cm $3,500
Gabrielle Courtenay CV Born lives Sydney Education 1986 Graduate Diploma in Professional Art Studies 1977 1974 2013 2011 2010 2008 2006 2005 2004 1985 2015 2013 2012 2012 2011 2011 2009 2008 2007 2006 2006 2005 2005 2003 2002 2000 1998 1994 1985 2016
2015 2014
2013 2012
2011 2010
Graduate of Education in Art Bachelor of Science in Architecture Residencies + Awards Visual Artist Genre Leader- Artology Remix Project Hill End Artist in Residence Program Red Gate Gallery Residency Program ‘6 x 6’ Artists Connecting Community Project – Beyond Empathy Iliri Artist Scholar Program Residency Bundanon Trust Artist in Residence Program Hill End Artist in Residence Program nd Shell Australia Acquisition Art Prize, 2 place Solo Exhibitions Phosphoresce Navigating Dark Waters Wunderkammer Series Journey to ‘no man’s land’ The Project Wall Colliding Worlds Colliding Worlds Chasing Tumbleweed EDGE EDGE Penumbra White Lines White Lines White Lines New Painting Allure Allure Shift Foil D’Stilled Courtenay Selected Group Exhibitions John Leslie Art Prize 2016 Bruny Island Art Prize Sunshine Coast Art Prize Prize 2016 th 39 Alice Art Prize 2016 Fishers Ghost Award 2015 rd 43 Muswellbrook Art Prize Platform 2014 Without a Shadow of a Dao Tidal.14 City of Devonport Art Award Finalist 2014 City of Albany Art Prize Paddington Art Prize Fishers Ghost Art Award 2013 Semi- Finalist Doug Moran Portrait Prize 2013 st 61 Blake Prize Portia Geach Memorial Art Prize 2012 Mosman Art Prize 12 R & M McGivern Art Prize 2012 Finalist, Charlatan Ink Art Prize 2011 BSG Small Artworks Award 2011 Tidal: City of Devonport Award 10000 Lethbridge Art Award 2010
Sydney College of Advanced Education, City Art Institute Sydney Teachers College University Of New South Wales th Performance AGNSW 13 July Haeflingers Cottage, Hill End, NSW Beijing, China Moree, NSW Ochre House, Fowlers Gap Bundanon, Shoalhaven, NSW Haeflingers Cottage, Hill End Melbourne, VIC William Street Studio, Paddington Sydney Anita Traverso Gallery, Melbourne Block Projects, Melbourne James Dorahy Project Space, Sydney Anita Traverso Gallery, Melbourne Depot 11 Gallery, Danks St. Waterloo Anita Traverso Gallery, Melbourne Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney Anita Traverso Gallery, Melbourne Mary Place Gallery. Paddington Sydney Bathurst Regional Art Gallery Mary Place Gallery. Paddington Sydney SPAN Galleries, Melbourne SPAN Galleries, Melbourne Bark Modern Art, Hong Kong The Depot Gallery, Waterloo Sydney Mary Place Gallery. Paddington Sydney Mary Place Gallery. Paddington Sydney ROM Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney Hogarth Gallery Sydney Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC Alonnah Hall, Allonnah, Bruny Island TAS Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD Araluen Arts Centre, NT Campbelltown Arts Centre Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Metro Arts Gallery Brisbane AT_Salon 2, Anita Traverso Gallery Devonport Regional Gallery, TAS Albany, WA National Council of Jewish Women’s Hall, NSW Campbelltown Arts Centre Online SH Erwin Gallery, Sydney SH Erwin Gallery, Sydney Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney Maroondah Art Gallery , VIC Carlton Arms Hotel, New York BSG Gallery, Melbourne Devonport Regional Gallery, TAS Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
2009
2008
2007 2006 2005 2004 1986 1985
Redlands Art Award 2010 New to the Walls 2010 City of Albany Art Prize 2009 Stan & Maureen Duke Gold Coast Art Prize 2009 The Manning Art Prize Mount Eyre Vineyards Art Prize 2009 Prometheus Visual Arts Award th 57 Blake Prize Sunshine Coast Art Prize ‘08 Mosman Art Prize 08 th 35 Alice Art Prize 2008 Drawcard 2008 Crossroads Into Abstract Journey 3, Courtenay + Nicholas + Way Conrad Jupiter’s Art Prize Mosman Art Prize City of Whyalla Art Prize Art on the Rocks 2005 Willoughby Art Prize Waverley Art Prize Cromwell’s Touring Art Prize Blake Art Prize Graven Images Sculpture ‘85 Collections Artbank, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery Bundanon Trust, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
2016 2014 2012 2011
2008 2007 2006 2006 2004 2003 2002 2000 1985
Selected Bibliography ‘The Ones to Watch’ ART/EDIT Winter 2016, ‘Expect the Unexpected’ U on Sunday, ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ Vogue Living Sept/Oct 12 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b5ptUZ19yM www.youtube.com/watch?v=GirXzOuEtEQ SMH. Open Gallery, Spectrum, Lynne Dwyer ” SMH. The (Sydney) Magazine Issue # 95, Mar,011 ‘Desert of the Real’ Anne Lin, Arts, Time Out Sydney ’Bewitching Beauty’ Drew Sheldrick Art Market Report‘,Editors Choice,Issue 26,07 ARTNOTES NSW Art Monthly #190 June. ‘Penumbra’ Exhibition Notes by Jackie Dunn ‘White Lines’ Exhibition Notes by Jackie Dunn “Shadows on Porcelain’ Anna Clabburn ‘Allure’ Ingrid Hoffmann, Exhibition Notes Australian Art Collector, October Sydney Morning Herald, Arts Review, Australian,
Redland Art Gallery, QLD New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery, WA Albany, WA Gold Coast City Art Gallery,QLD Manning Regional Art Gallery Rex Livingston Art Dealer, Surry Hills All Saints Anglican School, Merimac, QLD National Art School, Sydney Caloundra Regional Art Gallery Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman Araluen Centre, Alice Springs, National Art School, Sydney Toyota Community Spirit Gallery, Melbourne Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor Anita Traverso Gallery, Melbourne Gold Coast, Queensland Mosman Art Gallery Whyalla, South Australia Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Willoughby Civic Center, Sydney Bondi Beach Primary School, Sydney Sydney, Melbourne, London, Washington Exhibition Centre, Sydney Western Australian Art Gallery Melbourne New Norcia Gallery Collection, WA Private Collections Australia & Overseas
Sunday Mail 24 Aug 14
“Colliding Worlds’ March 12-13,2011 Box Office Art. 16-22 April, Wentworth Courier & Southern Courier 28.05.08 Into Abstract’ Catalogue.Hawkesbury Regional Gallery Western Advocate Mon May 11 & Sat May 22, Pol - Arts in Australia. Summer Edition
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