Ash Bolt
The Friends of the Geelong Botanic Gardens will present the seventh biennial ‘Inspired by Nature’ exhibition next month.
This ‘Inspired by Nature 7’ exhibition will be held at the Exhibition Gallery at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus from March 5 to April 1 and will feature over 70 artworks by 21 students and their tutors.
Friends of the Geelong Botanic Gardens president Denise Feldman said many of the artists featured had received awards for their work and were represented in botanical art collections both nationally and internationally.
“Of note are the works by Amanda Ahmed, Amanda Blake Sutterby, Deborah Chirnside, Rosemary Donnelly, Craig Lidgerwood, and John Pastoriza-Piñol,” she said.
“If you follow these artists’ works at exhibitions, on Facebook or Instagram, this is an opportunity to view their works firsthand.”
Feldman said it was particularly pleasing to showcase Pastoriza-Piñol, whose artworks have been included in the both Highgrove Florilegium and Transylvania Florilegium, projects created under the aegis of the HRH Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation.
Feldman said the exhibition would show off the beauty of nature.
“We are showcasing a very eclectic range of subjects, all inspired by nature, and nature’s detail is depicted in watercolour or gauche paintings, or graphite drawings,” she said.
“There is something for everyone who loves the world of art and plants.
“Botanical art and botanical illustration have a long history throughout the world. Before cameras it was the only means of recording the anatomical features of plants. While fashions in the world of art have come and gone, botanical art has continued to feature in botany, horticulture and in fine art.
“Our prestigious exhibition recognises the important role of botanical art but in a more contemporary way, and records the beauty and complexity of what is becoming even more important today; our green environment.
“If we can encourage others to value and nurture the environment so it can be sustained for future generations through such exhibitions, we have achieved our goal.”
