Betty Bray, Annabel Butler, Viola Dominello, Merran Esson, Rachel Fairfax & Ashley Frost
Deck the Walls
1 December - 19 December
View exhibition catalogue
A time of celebration and overindulgence, December has returned to Sydney covered in tinsel and all things Christmas. Adding to the cheer, Deck the Walls is a rich display of diverse artists represented at Stella Downer Fine Art. From paintings to ceramics, artists BETTY BRAY, ANNABEL BUTLER, VIOLA DOMINELLO, MERRAN ESSON, RACHEL FAIRFAX and ASHLEY FROST are here to ring in the final exhibition of the year.
MERRAN ESSON's works speak of an affinity with the land. The ceramic sculptures are imbued with an industrial nature, conjuring up memories of corrugated iron tanks, rusting fences and the geology of the land. Craning your head around, down and inside the vessel, there is always something more to discover.
ASHLEY FROST's works are stunning coastal vistas of from where you'd rather be. Painting in the sublime hours of the early morning, FROST's coastal works capture first light and its changing dance atop the water in textured and tactile renderings.
Incorporating both painting and ceramics into her practice, RACHEL FAIRFAX depicts scenes from the coastline of Coogee to the burnt outback that are quintessentially Australian. The soft washes speak of a lightness of hand, evoking a painterly stillness in the works that immerse you in their reflection.
BETTY BRAY has an eye for colour, selectively paring the landscape back to its most striking visual elements. Playing with colour and tone, the vivid works capture the essence of landscapes that maintain a familiarity in their surreal obscurity.
With a delicate sensibility VIOLA DOMINELLO deftly switches between watercolour and oil paints to respond to the felt experience. Working en plein air, DOMINELLO's painterly gestures and calligraphic marks create works alive with movement and energy.
ANNABEL BUTLER plays on perception and perspective, creating impressions of landscapes that are informed by personal interpretation. The loose brushwork speaks of a well-honed practice, playing with form and repetition to create landscapes that are imbued with a sense of memory of place.
