Love.Honour.Cherish is a new emotionally-charged, nature-based sculptural exhibition by emerging contemporary sculptural basket maker, Catriona Pollard, which explores the connection and relationship we have with our environment and the beauty it shares with us.
Running from 7 – 19 October at The Lane Cove Gallery, the exhibition explores the concept of holding sacred our link to forests, bushland and trees as our ancestry is so closely connected to the earth and the vines, leaves and plants that grow from it.
Love.Honour.Cherish is a collection of beautifully woven pieces that honour and worship the earth beneath our feet and the new growth that can emerge from it.
Using only found or gifted organic material, Ms Pollard harvests plant material and salvages garden ‘waste’ to weave beautiful sculptural baskets and vessels. Her work contains nothing but the organic fibre – she uses no glue or synthetic dyes, and most don’t even use anything to bind it together, such as thread or wire.
Commenting on her exhibition, Ms Pollard explains, “This collection is about seeing the extraordinary in everyday moments. For me, it’s about being still, and letting the beauty emerge.”
“I’ve really wanted to use the materials to tell my stories and they represent every facet of me. I wanted to use nature as a way to connect with people that goes beyond physical beauty, but really touches them in a personal and profound way.”
This exhibition explores connection with nature and the juxtaposition of society’s current disconnection with it. “Walking down the street with your only view being the piece of glass in your hand checking Facebook, means that you’re missing the moments in time that nature gifts us; a beautiful sunset, the sun through the trees or leaf drifting by in the breeze.”
Ms Pollard first picked up vine to weave only a few years ago and since then she has steadily matured as an artist with a strong vision and story. Her artwork has been described as emotionally-authentic, uniquely contemporary, raw and visually stunning.
As an emerging artist, this is her first solo exhibition and she has been shortlisted as Emerging Artist of the Year Craft NSW (2014), finalist North Sydney Art Prize (2013-2015) and Mosman Art Gallery 2088 (2011-2015).
Growing up in country NSW with summers at the beach and every other school holidays camping and walking through National Parks with her family, Ms Pollard has a deep connection with the natural world around her.
“As I walk through the bush tracks around Sydney Harbour inspiration presents itself. I see a fallen tree with the roots exposed and an idea for a sculpture is illuminated. Or as I wade through the rock pools at Balmoral, the shape of the water against the rocks becomes an idea for a sculpture.”
“Weaving using organic material is about listening to what it wants to be. I may have an idea about what I’m going to create. And then I’ll pick up the material and start the sculpture and the material decides what it wants to become.”
“My work adds a contemporary layer to the ancient art form of weaving, which is often dismissed as functional craft. My work forces the viewer to review their assumptions about craft and its potential in art,” said Ms Pollard.
Exhibition details:
When: 7-19 October 2015
Where: Lane Cove Gallery, Upper Level, 164 Longueville Road, Lane Cove, NSW
Opening night: 7 October from 6.00pm
Artist talk: 10 October, 11am
Opening with special guest speaker, Jason Woodland, Interior Designer, Fanuli Furniture.
Preview of exhibition works (other images and high res images are available upon request)
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CherishHold dear, my love. Cherish the breath, the moments, your dreams and the souls around you.
Material: Watsonia, Sari Fabric |
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FlowFeel the energy. Float in the current. Let it take you to places you’ve never been.
Material: Bangalow Palm Inflorescence. |
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Soul’s JourneyOur life glides, wraps, connects & pulls apart. It has a beginning and an end. It’s a journey. A soul journey.
Material: Vine, Beach stones |
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New GrowthNew Growth is about honouring and worshiping the earth beneath our feet and the new growth that can emerge from it.
Material: Bangalow Palm Inflorescence. |
Catriona Pollard CV
I have dedicated time and energy in creating sculptures that explore my desire for “colouring outside the lines”.
I have done weaving sessions with Tim Johnson (UK), Robyn Djunginy (NAIDOC National Artist of the Year), Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Mavis Ganambarr, Meri Peach, (the late) Jim Wallis and acclaimed Australian basket artist (the late) Virginia Kaiser.
I also spend time creating ephemeral works as I have an interest in the concept of impermanence within nature, and further, the juxtaposition of society’s current disconnection with nature. I use ephemeral artworks to explore these concepts. The process of disintegration of organic material – and spending a day creating art that is simply left to disintegrate is an integral aspect of this exploration.
My baskets, vessels and sculptures have been featured in a number of exhibitions:
- 2015: Solo Exhibition 7-19 October 2015: Love.Honour.Cherish – Lane Cove Gallery
- 2014: Finalist, Emerging Artist of the Year 2015, Craft NSW
- 2015: Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival
- 2015: Mosman 2088
- 2015: Finalist, North Sydney Art Prize
- 2014: Finalist, Emerging Artist of the Year 2014, Craft NSW
- 2014: From Small Things, Basketry NSW
- 2014: Glenaeon Art Show
- 2014: Women on Boards Art Prize exhibition
- 2014: Mosman 2088
- 2013: Primrose Park Art & Craft Annual exhibition
- 2013: Glenaeon Art Show
- 2013: In Situ: Mosman Festival of Sculpture & Installation
- 2013: Finalist, North Sydney Art Prize
- 2013: “What’s a Basket?” exhibition, Basketry NSW
- 2013: Mosman 2088 exhibition
- 2012: Joint exhibition, “Common Threads”, Chrissie Cotter Gallery. The exhibition was a collection of sculptures and iPhonography
- 2011: Mosman 2088 exhibition
- 2011: In Situ: Mosman Festival of Sculpture & Installation
- 2011: Breathing Colours art gallery’s Tiered exhibition.