WELCOME TO THE RURAL ROOM GALLERY
A VIRTUAL GALLERY SPACE FOR EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING REGIONAL ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Those who’ve been following us from the very start know that RURAL ROOM was imagined as a virtual porch – an online space where people could gather for a cup of tea, a plate of home cooked biccys or a cold beer. An inviting area where you can have a yarn, knit a jumper, play the harmonica, sing a song, and share stories from the sticks to bring greater awareness to life in the bush through creative means and people.
In recent weeks the headlines have been saturated with news about the global impact of corona virus. While people are forced to largely disconnect from public spaces and embrace life inside we hope that the work we undertake can help people re-connect with a love of stories, art, creativity, imagination and the abundance of life in the bush.
We’ve been working away on some very exciting initiatives that we’ll be rolling out over the coming year. Today we’re softly launching one of these…we’re busily creating an online gallery experience so people can enjoy exhibitions from the comfort of their couch! In the theme of our FEEL GOOD FRIDAY today we’re celebrating all things art by shining the light on regional artists and we’d like to formally welcome you to our very first gallery opening! We didn’t want to bore you with a long, wordy opening address so we created this little video to give you some background regarding who we are and what we do. Take a seat, we’ll dim the lights and press PLAY…
Now it’s time to get this arty party started! To fully appreciate the joy of this experience you’ll need to tap into your imagination, and activate visualisation. We kindly ask that you suspend disbelief, truly immerse yourself and we encourage you to purchase pieces that you like to brighten up your room permanently.
Without further ado, please shuffle through to the RURAL ROOM GALLERY! Be sure to grab a flute of bubbles as they come around the room, and you must try the canapes – absolutely delicious, one hundred per cent calorie free and in frequent circulation so you don’t miss out. The bathroom is up the back there, and in this fantastical gallery there’s an endless supply of toilet paper– we’ve got you covered. As you leave, you’ll see our interactive exhibition in the room to your right – we’d love you to contribute to this exhibition and we’ve curated some pieces to get your creative juices flowing! We really hope you enjoy the work and this dose of amazing art inspires you to get artistic yourselves this weekend!
If you’re viewing the gallery pieces on your mobile device make sure you double tap as you swipe right across the image carousel below each artist to view the entire collection.
AIMEE TIMPSON, Artist based in regional Vic
Artwork created with excitement and emotion. A touch of local environment, and a voice that carries passion and reason.
Aimee uses art as therapy. She addresses social issues and anxieties with a bold mixture of vibrant colour and text. Sometimes the artwork is a stance on something that needs to be protected and protested, or gratitude to what makes the world just right.
Aimee draws her inspiration from her children and music, which is understandable, since they are usually present when she is creating. Her artistic influences range from her own art teachers and mentors, Glenn Morgan and Jen Altman; to the likes of Pop ART extraordinaire, David Hockney, Joy Hester, Andy Warhol and Picasso. Aimee’s distinctive, vibrant, colour-mash creations are a stunning reflection of her own take on these artists styles.
Email: aimee@aimeesvisualarts.com
CARLY LECERF, ARTIST BASED IN REGIONAL WA
Carly's studio, ‘Hill View’ is based at home on five acres of land in Mount Barker Western Australia, which has an outlook that extends to the Porongurup and Stirling ranges and South to Albany. Since moving to the region eleven years ago with her husband and twin girls, Carly has been developing her painting process towards the dynamic work she produces today. Living in a rural environment, Carly has become attuned to the seasons. The changing colours and patterns within the landscape are an endless source of inspiration.
When working on a landscape, Carly aims to create an image that reveals the essence of place, attempting to blur the fringes between real, remembered and imagined scenes. Her works are visual statements attesting to a deep connection to the land, depicting terrain that is quintessentially Australian. Her original Australian landscape paintings are unique in their creation.
Carly strives to evoke memory and emotion through intuitive layering and carving, evolving to become seductive and tactile works. Each piece, attempting to capture and honor the distinct textural attributes of our landscape.
SAMANTHA MEURANT, ARTIST BASED IN REGIONAL QLD
Samantha Meurant is a contemporary artist using a variety of mediums, she also runs art workshops, a podcast and educates rural female entrepreneurs. Request a commission or visit her shop or search The Rural Compass.
“I am an artist originally from Toowoomba now living in Cunnamulla, QLD. I am a self-taught artist focusing on using mediums such as; acrylic paint, watercolour, graphite and fine tip pens. Since moving to Cunnamulla the images that inspire me are those that focus on everyday life in the outback and the beauty of florals. No subject is too big or small if the image inspires me to put a pencil or paintbrush to paper then I will capture it. I also am happy to take on commission painting. I love to try any new mediums while increasing and developing my artistic skills.
I have begun running art workshops and would love for you to contact me to organise an event or join in when there is an event open. I am also a wife, mum of one boy and uni student studying Bachelor of Primary Education.”
E: samantha.meurant@gmail.com
KATE RUTTER, CARTOONIST BASED IN REGIONAL NSW
Kate is an Aussie cartoonist whose main focus is digital cartoons and specialising in Australiana. She is a farmer’s wife and mother of two situated on the Liverpool Plains near Quirindi NSW. A self taught cartoonist influenced by rural life, farming & animals, Kate, loves to add a cheeky bit of humour to her cartoons.
”My upbringing on the family farm was very enjoyable & my grandfather’s stories intrigued me’. ‘Often a funny yarn or two was shared down the paddock while he crutched an old ewe & I applied the fly powder.” Kate says she’d like to have her own unique look/humour that says, “’m drawn by Kate Rutter!”
E: nibiru1@bigpond.com
KATE DAVIES, ARTIST BASED IN REGIONAL NSW
Kate Davies is an award winning artist who has been practicing for over 40 years ago. She uses a number of mediums to showcase and exhibit her knowledge of local flora and fauna.
"I can’t explain why I do the work I do – traveling around the countryside, taking photos, writing stories, collecting material for future artworks – I just know that is has become who I am, what I am known for. I feel at a loss when I can’t take photos, or don’t have a creative outlet. I have become accustomed to ‘being on the road’ after having lived out my suitcases for the past few decades - that’s scary! Makes me sound really ancient! I find I need to be out there searching for something – I never know what that is until it finds me. I have had to reinvent myself as the world and life around me changes, that reinvention continues as I take on remote roadtrips, venturing to places, taking on jobs I never thought I would have the courage to take on alone."
INTERACTIVE GALLERY
INTERACTIVE GALLERY INSTRUCTIONS:
Awaken your artistic spirit and create an artwork based on the theme of ‘joy’. Your artwork can be created through any medium.
Bring your friends into the gallery to celebrate your work.
Share your artistic spirit and a sense of joy wherever you go!
current works in our interactive exhibition
‘the duty of the artist’
By Dorothy Henderson - Facebook | Instagram
‘bright & beautiful’
By Amanda Barlow - Facebook | Instagram
‘TURBO’
By Bec Bignell
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR PIECES FOR US TO HANG ON OUR GALLERY WALL
We’d also like to credit Rosie Henderson for capturing footage from the Rural Room Popup Porch used in the video, Helen Carpenter for helping curate and Isobel Knowles for creating our animation.