AN image from 1924 featuring girls and women on Canaipa/Russell Island holding armfuls of wildflowers was one source of inspiration for Redland artists preparing for an exhibition at Redland Art Gallery.
A century later, that “Gathering wildflowers on Russell Island” image both intrigued and inspired the artists as they embarked on a Canaipa-based artist retreat in July.
Were the flowers that grew so prolifically in the 1920s still growing on the island today? Could they still be found on other islands in the Bay?
The answers and the artist responses can now be seen at Redland Art Gallery from April 6.
A series of new Redland-inspired work forms the local component of the Wildflowering by Design exhibition.
The touring exhibition presents works by Queensland artists who work across the art and design spectrum.
In each location, the curators have worked with the local gallery artists to explore local ecologies and wildflowers, taking a fresh look at the botanical and wildflower heritage in the particular region.
One of the curators, Sue Davis, is from the Sunshine Coast and says of planning for the Redland exhibition,
“Many artists and creatives have made their homes on various Moreton Bay Islands.
“Therefore in planning for the Redland edition of ‘Wildflowering by Design’ we turned to them, and to collectives we knew who have previously worked in the environmental art field.
“This included artists from ‘Canaipa Mudlines’ and ‘Canaipa Connections’.
“We were also fortunate to involve senior Quandamooka artist Sonja Carmichael, who was able to join us for our ‘Canaipa Wildflowering Retreat’.”
This is the latest in the series of Wild/flower Women exhibitions.
Varying iterations of these exhibitions, with numerous artists, have shown previously at Wondai, Warwick, Bribie Island Seaside Museum and Gympie.
The exhibition is curated by Dr Davis and Dr Lisa Chandler from the Sunshine Coast.
Artists featured come from Brisbane to the Bundaberg region including Rose Barrowcliffe, Nai Nai Bird, Renata Buziak, Donna Davis, Joolie Gibbs, Anne Harris, Nicole Jakins, Shelley Pisani, Edith Rewa, Cara Ann Simpson, Marni Stuart and Emma Thorp.
Work by Redland artists for the local component of the show include Tricia Dobson, Sharon Jewell, Maria Cleary, Sonja Carmichael, Jen Conde, Siobhan Demeester, Sara Za Enback, Beverly Jensen, Julie Menzies, Jenny Sanzaro-Nishimura, Meg Spratt and Sandy Ward.
The community are invited to attend the official exhibition opening on Sunday, April 6 at 10am.
Free entry –to book for the opening visit artgallery.redland.qld.gov.au/programs/public-programs.
The exhibition will show at Redland Art Gallery until June 3.
