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Artist statement

In1996 I commenced work on an ongoing project ‘The History of Salt . . .’ The process of salting has developed gradually as an expression of the idea that the psychology of Australia as a people, as well as our perception of our own history, is inextricably linked to that interim period that was spent at sea during our ancestors’ migration to Australia. ‘The History of Salt . . .’ among other things, allows me to investigate and respond to how we perceive history both personally and culturally. The corrosive nature of salt provides an aesthetic and cultural metaphor for the attrition of memory and a colonial past.

This and related projects such as ‘Come Fill the Cup …’ have developed to include photography, film making, music and installation. The installations utilise works on paper, original video, found film and texts, and historical artifacts to form contexts for contemporary readings of the past Recurring themes are:

* Ambivalence and paradox, which are the residue of the migration process, and are filtered to a lesser or greater degree by generations.

* Weaving: a family tradition, if now only conceptual.

* Separation, loss and belonging.

* The place of religion in culture.

Bio

* Born in Broken Hill, grew up in Glenelg, South Australia.

* Studied Art at the SA School of Art and The National Gallery School (Victorian College of the Arts) 1969 – 1973.

* Awarded Painting Prize National Gallery School 1973

* Held one-man, two-man shows and participated in numerous group exhibitions in Adelaide and Melbourne until leaving for London in 1974.

* Moved to Sydney in 1984, to Bundeena, south of Sydney in 1990.

* 1996 commenced work on ‘The History of Salt . . .’

* 1996 – 2016 Continued work on ‘The History of Salt . . .’, exhibited in Bundeena, Sutherland Shire and Sydney.

Exhibitions

* 2017 ‘Palimpsest’ Exhibition with Belinda Allen  – Broadhurst Gallery, Sydney

* 2015 Finalist, Art on Paper Award Exhibition – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2014 ‘Recovering Roots …’, Two Man Show, Hazelhurst Community Gallery, Sydney

* 2012 ‘Alien in our midst’, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney (for Head On Photo Festival)

* 2011 One man exhibition ‘Settling Dust … ‘. Hazelhurst Community Gallery, Sydney

* 2011 Hula Dreams, Gallery East, Clovelly, Sydney

* 2010 Finalist, Sydney Life, Art and About Exhibition Hyde Park: Mikhail and the Dust Storm

* 2010 After The Bell: Hurstville City Museum and Gallery, Sydney

* 2007 Finalist, Art on Paper Award Exhibition – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney. Winner: Local Artist Award.

* 2005 Southern Exposure 4: God’s Own Country- Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2003 Finalist, Art on Paper Award Exhibition – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2003 Southern Exposure 3: Food For Thought – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2002 ‘The History of Salt . . .’ One Man Show – Hazelhurst Community Gallery, Sydney

* 2002 Southern Exposure 2: National Park – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2001 Southern Exposure 1- Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2001 Centenary of Federation Exhibition – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2001 Finalist, Art on Paper Award Exhibition – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 2000 Southern Sydney Artists – Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney

* 1999 ‘The History of Salt . . .’ Two Man Show PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney

* 1998 The AAP Bundeena Artists Exhibition, AAP Centre, Sydney

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* Various Group Shows

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* 1973 One Man Show – Lombard St Gallery, North Adelaide

*1971  ‘Outlook 71’  – Art Gallery of South Australia

*1971  ‘C.A.S. Survey 71’ – R.S.A.S.A. Gallery Adelaide

* ‘1971  Two Man Show ‘ME’ with Mark Thompson C.A.S. Gallery Adelaide