Rebecca Rath - In season by demetria verduci

Rebecca Rath

In Season

Credits Published by Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre on the occasion of the exhibition

Rebecca Rath ~ In Season Exhibition Dates ~ 13 June to 26 July 2015 Exhibition Opening ~ Friday 12 June 2015 Exhibition opening kindly sponsored by Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Corner of Bridge & William Streets, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre is a non-profit facility and resource servicing the Upper Hunter Region, owned and operated by Muswellbrook Shire Council Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre is a proud member of Regional and Public Galleries of NSW Works for sale may be reserved by making a part payment but must be fully paid for prior to the close of the exhibition or the purchaser will forfeit their deposit. Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre accepts cash, cheque or EFTPOS payments. If you have any questions please consult the Arts Centre staff. Muswellbrook Shire Council takes a commission of 30% from all works sold (included in the purchase price as listed in this catalogue). This commission is used for the future purchase of art works for the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.

Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware. All artworks purchased from the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre are acquired ‘as is’, and are subject to all defects as supplied by the artist. © Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre All images copyright of the artist

Rebecca Rath

In Season

Artist Residency, June 2014, La Macina di San Cresci,

developmental part of an artist’s professional practice.

Greve, Chianti, Italy - a place for creation, presentation

and documentation of contemporary art in all its

incarnations – weekly, monthly or even year-long

forms... to accommodate and imagine new forms of

projects. Some residencies are for artists only or can

dialogue within the context of art and culture.

accommodate

residency

can

family

found

many

members.

different

Some

are

philanthropic and others the artist has to fund or Having been successful in an application to attend La

partially fund themselves. Others have a stipend and/

Macina di San Cresci residency, my family and I

or offer other facilities such as a studio or even

travelled to the beautiful and historic town of Greve in

accommodation. They are found worldwide and within

Chianti, 50km south of Florence, last year to spend a

all different types of business forms e.g. national

month at the artistic oasis. Steeped in history, the

parks,

residency is set amongst the grounds of the oldest

universities, galleries, private schools to name just a

standing church in Florence, San Cresci. Some of the

few.

environmental

groups,

artistic

hubs,

first recorded history dates back to the 10th century where pilgrims to Rome would stay at the church and

We were extremely fortunate to find a residency which

leave their valued possessions to be collected on their

was located in the heart of Tuscany, 40 mins from

homeward return.

Florence. Surrounded by the hills of the wine and olive growing Chianti region and set amongst the historic

La Macina means ‘the millstone’ in Italian and in the

building of San Cresci. We had a wonderful apartment

bowels of the villa you can find the original olive press

with views of Chianti, plus I had a fully equipped

used by the monks during former times. The history

studio and access to great facilities 24/7. The entire

includes modern times with the famous French

residency was a very special and unique experience.

philosopher Guy Debord living there as a child. Today the new tenants of the estate (still owned by the

The self-directed project, which I undertook during the

Catholic Church) have lovingly restored the church and

residency, was a body of work based on the local

villa to house up to 5 artists at any one time. The

produce and ceramics of the Chianti area. Italy is

owners, architect Demetria (Mimma) Verduci and

renowned for its relaxed lifestyle with beautiful healthy

world

Duccio

food, which is grown in abundance. I was inspired by

Trassinelli, opened up the residency to welcome

the weekly village markets where we would buy our

international artists about 15 years ago. The estate is

fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers. The

an oasis for artists across all disciplines. When we

produce was delicious both visually and to taste. This

stayed there we shared the facilities with three other

coupled with our evening communal meal with our

artists including a choreographer, visual artist and

fellow artists and hosts, inspired me to create my

another graphic designer/visual artist all from the USA.

body of work – In Season. Our hosts Mimma and

An artist residency is a profound and important

Duccio were wonderful and welcoming. Many nights

renowned

light

sculptor

Professor

R ebecca Ra th

were spent in their beautiful garden talking broken

English and Italian, eating delicious food and drinking

experimental and layered. It is evidence of a journey of

contemporary

local wine together with the other resident artists. I

searching and discovering. It is about finding my

realised that an intrinsic part of Italian culture was the

mark; my handwriting style. About delving into the

communal sharing of food. Food brought people

subconscious

together and evening times were a celebration of

unknown. It’s about tapping into the realm where

sharing the day’s events together with a meal.

anything is possible. When artists are asked “Where

Focusing on local seasonal produce which I bought

does it come from?”, many don’t have a direct

from the local market, I did preliminary sketches,

answer, but often say that they switch off and let it

which eventually I translated into larger drawings to

simply evolve. Time stops and magic happens. This is

emphasise the importance of the subject matter.

specific with drawing; it is immediate and explorative.

Georgia O’Keeffe once wrote: “I decided that if I could

Intimate and direct. It is a direct tap into the artistic

paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore

mind and the emotive response of the artist. A simple

its beauty”.

mark can express a great deal about the creator, the

and

drawing

practice

out

aspects

gestural,

the

hand of the artist. As I live on a vineyard in the Hunter Valley and have a family vegetable and fruit garden, I am conscious of

This amazing experience has spurred my interest into

the seasons and eating produce directly sourced from

contemporary drawing practice to the point where I

the garden. Eating with the seasons has a direct effect

have started my Masters of Creative Practice majoring

on your health and wellbeing. All drawings created

in drawing. I look forward to the journey artistically and

there and subsequently in Australia are watercolour,

returning in 2016 to the artistic oasis of San Cresci -

charcoal, pastel and conté on Fabriano paper. The

the place which fuelled my passion for contemporary

paper I use is made in Italy (Fabriano) and of a very

drawing.

high quality. It is a heavy weighted paper (300gsm) and can withstand vigorous treatment. It is cold

Grazie mille for coming to the exhibition.

pressed and therefore has a textured surface, which I really enjoy. I utilise this aspect and love working on the ground creating frottage (texture) in the drawings. I used this process in Italy and took the work outside

Rebecca Rath June, 2015

the studio and onto the floor of the church. It was wonderful to create a site specific work while there and think about the many pilgrims over the 1000 years who have trodden on the ground where I was drawing. There are still remnants of renaissance frescos on the ceiling of the church.

In Season

R ebecca Ra th

Italy

Fragole (Strawberries)

Ravanelli (Radishes)

2014, watercolour and charcoal on Fabriano paper

2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano

140 x 124 cm

paper

NFS

140 x 126 cm NFS

R ebecca Ra th

Pomodori (Tomatoes)

Uva (Grapes)

2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano

paper

140 x 121 cm

140 x 123 cm

NFS

In Season

Pears and Mimmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate 2014, watercolour and charcoal on Fabriano paper 122 x 140 cm NFS

Tomatoes and Greve plate 2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 114 x 140 cm NFS

R ebecca Ra th

Drawings

Sunflower - Homage to Van Gogh

Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)

Remembrance Poppy

(Helianthus)

2014, watercolour, charcoal and

(Papaver rhoeas)

2014, watercolour, charcoal and

pastel on Fabriano paper

2014, watercolour, charcoal and

pastel on Fabriano paper

150 x 115 cm

pastel on Fabriano paper

150 x 115 cm

$1,900.00 (unframed)

150 x 115 cm $3,500.00 (framed)

R ebecca Ra th

Flowering Night Cereus Cactus 2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 110 x 140 cm $3,500.00 (framed)

In Season

King Protea (Protea cynaroides) 2015, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 150 x 117 cm $3,500.00 (framed)

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) 2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 118 x 150 cm $1,900.00 (unframed)

R ebecca Ra th

Peony (Paeoniaceae)

Roses (The Three Graces)

2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel

2015, watercolour, charcoal, pastel and

on Fabriano paper

gesso on Fabriano paper

118 x 118 cm

118 x 120 cm

$1,900.00 (unframed)

$3,500.00 (framed)

Still life with rose, water lily and violet

Purple Water Lily, (Nymphaeaceae)

2015, watercolour, charcoal and pastel

2014, watercolour, charcoal and pastel

on Fabriano paper

124 x 128 cm

128 x 128 cm

$1,900.00 (unframed)

$3,500.00 (framed)

In Season

Still life with pears, Auntyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate and Balinese cloth 2015, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 114 x 140 cm $1,900.00 (unframed)

Still life with pears, Sandyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate and Balinese cloth 2015, watercolour, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper 116 x 140 cm $3,500.00 (framed)

R ebecca Ra th

Monotypes

Still life with garden figs, Sandyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate and

Still life with Fordwich oranges, Sandyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate and

Balinese cloth

Balinese plate

2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper

76 x 56 cm

$690.00 (framed)

R ebecca Ra th

Still life with Fordwich lemons, Anniversary plate and

Still life with peaches, Mimmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plate and

Balinese cloth

2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper

76 x 56 cm

$690.00 (framed)

In Season

Flowering Night Cereus Cactus I 2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper 56 x 76 cm $350.00 (unframed)

Flowering Night Cereus Cactus II 2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper 56 x 76 cm $690.00 (framed)

R ebecca Ra th

Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) I

Bearded Iris (Iris

2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper

germanica) II

76 x 56 cm

2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper

$350.00 (unframed)

76 x 56 cm $690.00 (framed)

In Season

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) I 2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper 56 x 76 cm $690.00 (framed)

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) II 2014, acrylic monotype and pastel on Fabriano paper 56 x 76 cm $350.00 (unframed)

R ebecca Ra th

Rebecca Rath BFA HONS Assoc. Dip Arts (Fine Arts) Currently enrolled in Masters of Creative Practice

in Australia, Italy, USA and Asia and can be found at

(Charles Sturt Uni), Rebecca received her Bachelor of

Kerrie

Fine Arts Honours from University of NSW and an

International Art (Italy).

Lowe

Gallery,

(Australia)

and

Trevisan

Associate Diploma Arts (Fine Arts) from North Sydney Technical College. Her education has also lead to

Work experience includes an internship at AGNSW,

mentorship

James

Services Officer at the Australian Museum, Auction

Whitington (Crown Street Press), courses at NAS

assistant at Lawson’s Auctions, Gallery coordinator for

including ‘Painting outside the Square’ with Tony

three commercial galleries, Gallery assistant at Manly

Scott,

with

‘Drawing’

the

master

with

Lynne

printmaker

‘Linocut

Art Gallery and Museum and board member for

printmaking’ with GW Bot and ‘Connecting You in the

Eastaway,

community arts groups and funding panels including

Regions and Beyond’ with NAVA.

2014 Arts Upper Hunter CASP. She has been a professional artist for 10 years and is available to

Her practice is diverse and includes oil painting,

teach experimental drawing workshops for school and

printmaking, mixed media and contemporary drawing

community groups.

and is inspired by her local landscape of the Hunter Valley. She has held many solo and group shows both

For more information or to arrange a viewing at

nationally and internationally and has completed four

Rebecca’s Pokolbin studio please see the below.

artist residencies including two in Italy, Germany and Australia. During the most recent residency in Chianti,

Website: www.rebeccarath.com.au

Italy,

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RebeccaRathArtist

she

completed

large

scale

gestural

contemporary drawings based on the local produce

Instagram: @rebecca_rath_

and ceramics of the area. The work produced reflects

Twitter: @rebecca_rath_

the rich Tuscan culture inherent in the area where she

Oggl: @beckyrath

lived for a month and will be exhibited at Muswellbrook

LinkedIn: Rebecca Rath

Regional Arts Centre in 2015. Throughout her professional practice she has received many awards including Critics' Choice Award 2013 and 2015 at Trevisan International Art (Italy), Singleton Art Prize 2012 and was a finalist in the 2013 Muswellbrook Art Prize. Her work has been published

In Season