PAINTED SEASONS: Times for Hunting and Food Gathering
ReDot Fine Art Gallery is extremely honoured to be hosting the first ever solo show for Eva, a Walmajarri woman born on Christmas Creek Station in early 1958. During her early years she shifted between several Stations as she followed her parents, her father being a stockman and her mother a home helper.
Eva paints her Grandmother’s country and the laws that she was taught by her. She paints her style of seasons and bush tucker inspired by her childhood memories of winter rains and the cold weather; an unusual departure from the normal dreamtime interpretations of many of her fellow Mangkaja Art Resource Agency artists.
PAINTED SEASONS: Times for Hunting and Food Gathering, is a collection of 15 major works on canvas by Eva, the largest body of work that has ever been amassed in one show over a period of almost two years. Her work is in such demand that it normally sells before ever leaving the art centre studio, usually to travelling collectors or enthusiasts who fall in love, whilst visiting the community in Fitzroy Crossing, with her intricate interpretations of the seasonal changes in the North Western deserts.
Remarking on her work, art coordinator Wes Maselli says of her work:
“Individuation and total distraction. I’ve never known a mother to look after so many kids, 9 of her own by birth, but many more. Managing this many kids can be chaotic, yet Eva manages them with a fine, positive rhythm. I imagine if she is not attending to kids, Eva is painting and vice versa. Likewise, each painted line a trill-voiced placation, each painting a lullaby.”
The exhibition begins on Wednesday 16th September and runs until Saturday 17th October 2015. The opening reception will be held on Thursday 1st October 2015, 7:30 to 9:30 pm and will be attended in person by Eva and her husband Johnny, along with Mangkaja Art Centre Manager Belinda Cook, in what will be their first ever trip to Singapore.