J A M E S S M E AT O N
LOVE LETTER
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J A M E S S M E AT O N LOVE LETTER | 2022
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From a fog of international and state border closures, lockdown restrictions, five kilometre radiuses, and separation from loved ones appeared a group of paintings that spoke of magic. T h i s w a s a p l a c e w h e r e b l a c k a n d w h i t e c r e a t e d c o l o u r.
I
found
it
shocking
that
from
the
depths
of
winter
arose
works
of
such
joyous
sublimation.
S u d d e n l y a l i v e w a s a s w a y, a y e a r n i n g , a r e a l m o f p e r f u m e d s h a d o w s , w a r m w i n d s , o c e a n b i r d s soaring, pelagic currents, a mysterious littoral, low hanging moons, the sun, breaking dawns, dreams and dreamers, earthquakes and a land alive.
It seemed these paintings were love letters to a place, a time, to someone…
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OCEAN TEMPLE, 2020 acrylic on canvas 130 x 120 cm
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LOVER’S COVE, 2020 PELAGIC LINE, 2020 D AW N L A G O O N , 2 0 2 0 acrylic on marine ply 60 x 40 cm
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LOVE LETTER, 2019-20 acrylic on canvas 180 x 240 cm (diptych)
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TRADE WINDS, 2020 T I D A L WA LT Z , 2 0 2 0 OCEAN QUEEN, 2020 acrylic on marine ply 60 x 40 cm
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LOVER’S OCEAN, 2020 acrylic on canvas 180 x 160 cm
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L I T TO R A L E C H O , 2 0 2 0 OCEAN TEMPLE, 2020 O C E A N WA N D E R E R , 2 0 2 0 acrylic on marine ply 60 x 40 cm
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James Smeaton, born 1964, is a Melbourne-based contemporary artist best known for his richly nuanced paintings and drawings that explore the language of abstraction, personal narrative and modalities of the sea. Early works focused on signs and systems of maritime communication and the imposing physical structures that dominate the waterfront on Port Phillip Bay. Smeaton’s deep affinity and connection with the Australian coastline and Indonesian archipelago has led to his most recent practice which focuses on painterly gesture in relation to landscape, figuration and a sense of time and place.
EDUCATION 1983-5 Bachelor of Fine Art, Chisholm Institute of Technology (now Monash University), Melbourne 1982 Foundation Year, Prahran College of Advanced Education, Melbourne SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018 2015 2015 2013 2011 2009 2006 2005 2004 2003 2003 2002 2000 1998 1996 1995 1993 1991 1990
The Wallace Line, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne Holy Water, Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney Contemporary Sweeping Water, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne Ceremony, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne Voyage, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne Devil bend, The Red Sea, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne Construct, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Sighted, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney Dock, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Gem Pier, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Mapping, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney Chart, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Vessel, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne International Code, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne Untitled (Semaphore), Mary Place Gallery, Sydney Sound in Fog, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne William Mora Galleries, Melbourne William Mora Galleries, Melbourne William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
RETROSPECTIVE 2009 James Smeaton: Work from the studio 1993-2009, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 2 September - 11 October 2009 AWARDS & PRIZES 2006 2005 1998 1995 1991 1985
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, acquired work on paper Winner, Tattersalls Contemporary Art Prize Finalist, Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship Williamstown Art Prize, Melbourne Finalist, Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship Work on Paper Prize, Chisholm Institute of Technology
COLLECTIONS National Gallery of Victoria Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Gippsland Art Gallery Holmesglen Collection Applied Chemicals International, Melbourne Artbank, Sydney Council of Adult Education, Melbourne Deakin University Collection, Geelong Gadens Ridgeway, Melbourne Monash University Collection, Melbourne National Australia Bank Collection, Melbourne Tamar Collection, Launceston University of Southern Queensland Western Mining Corporation 18
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2020 Sydney Contemporary, Carriage Works, Online 2001- 2021 Artists for Kids Culture, Various Galleries, Melbourne 2019 Art is Our Nature, Silverleaf Art Box Gallery, Melbourne 2017 Winter Salon, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne 2017 Photo by Martin Kantor, BRIGHTSPACE, St Kilda 2017 Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney Contemporary 2016 Birds: FLight Paths in Australian Art, Mornington Regional Gallery 2015 Sydney Contemporary, Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney 2015 Australian Artists in Bali - 1930s to Now, Mclellend Sculpture Park and Gallery 2016 Summer Salon, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne 2014 Twenty Fourteen, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne 2013 Sea of Dreams 2, 1915-2013, Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery 2007 Devilbend, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery 2007 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Nellie Castern Gallery 2007 Melbourne Savage Club Art Prize (Centenary Exhibition, 9x5) 2006 Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, works on paper 2005 Tattersalls Contemporary Art Prize, Newport Substation Heritage building 2002 Contemporary Highlights from the Deakin University Art Collection, Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne 2002 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne 2001 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Mira Gallery, Melbourne 2000 2000 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington 2000 Celebrating the Exquisite Corpse, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, (then touring) 2000 Opening 2000, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1999 Landmark, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington 1998 Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, NGV, Melbourne and NGA, Canberra then touring 1998 The Speed Show, George Gallery, Melbourne 1996 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong 1995 Recent Acquisitions: Deakin University Art Collection, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong Systems of Communication, Allez les Filles, Columbus, Ohio, USA 1995 NON: Artists Against Nuclear Testing, Greenpeace Fundraising Exhibition, Melbourne. 1995 Past its Shelf Life, Meridian Gallery, Melbourne 1995 Herald Sun Art Prize, Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne 1994-95 Four Point Bearing, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart 1994 The Curator’s Egg, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London 1993 Postal Box Show, 5th Australian Sculpture Triennial, Linden Gallery, Melbourne 1993 Rumb Line, sets for a performance by Josie Daw 1992 Works on paper, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne 1992 Sight Regained, Westpac Gallery, Victorian Arts Cenre, Melbourne 1991 Artworkz Three: The BP Australia Acquistive Prize, Caulfield Arts Complex, Melbourne 1991 Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, NGA, Canberra then touring
WITH SPECIAL THANKS Bronte Smeaton Godwin Bradbeer Flynn Smeaton Shelley Best Dewi Lestari Sophie Foley Andrew Curtis
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