The recent bushfires, and now Covid-19, have brought a major impact to the South East. From the ashes of the fires that destroyed so much of our region there has also come warmth, generosity and a collective community spirit that comes from so many sharing the same traumas and emotions.
Denise Straty was one of the many recovery personnel called into the region after the fires. She saw for herself the impact and she learnt of the lives of those affected.
By way of a meeting with Amanda, of Amanda's at Mogo, Denise learnt of the impact to the many South East artists and of their responses by way of art to the bushfires.
Wanting to do what she could for those she met she returned to Sydney with an idea. To hold an ‘Out of the Ashes’ exhibition next month at The Wellington Gallery – a stunningly chic warehouse space in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Waterloo.
Gallery owners Mark and Ray had generously offered the use of their exquisite venue and kindly waived any commission so that the full proceeds of each art sale would flow through to the participating South Coast artists.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, they have had to put the dream of a physical exhibition on hold for the moment, but the good news is they’ve created the exhibition as a Facebook e-gallery where they invite visitors to read artists’ posts describing their individual tales of survival during the unprecedented deadly fire season and view their spectacular artworks.
The artist profiled this week in the Beagle series is Janet Jones
Janet Jones - multi award-winning artist.
After leaving East Sydney Tech in the early sixties, Janet worked in commercial art studios in Sydney and London. Returning to Sydney in 1970, she then began her career as a freelance illustrator for the publishing and advertising industries working up until her 'seachange' to Narooma in 2005.
Janet returned to painting in 1984, joining the Royal Art Society as a student. She was awarded 'Fellow of the RAS' in 2005. She has exhibited regularly in group shows and has had several successful exhibitions.
Janet has been a finalist in many competitions, won many prizes, including People's Choice -Portia Geach Portrait Prize (finalist 7 times), People’s Choice -Basil Sellers Art Prize (finalist 4 times) and in Bowral, and prizes in Narooma including Best in Show three times, and the Eurobodalla River of Art Prize 2019. Her work hangs in both public and many private collections here and overseas.
Above: Clarice Cliff bowl with pears - Oil 510x610mm $1250
Lewis Island footbridge Oil 500x400mm $750
This footbridge was under threat of demolition some years ago as the local council no longer wanted to maintain it. I thought I should paint it before it’s demise; in the end there was such a protest by residents that it was saved.
Glasshouse Rocks from Hemys' farm Oil 450x600mm $1250
This view of the Rocks is not the usual one people see from north or south, but no less dramatic, especially at sunset. It was a challenge given the narrow window of light, and the fact that the cows were so interested they mobbed me on several occasions, licking the easel, the car, the back of the painting , and me! Had to wait for them to lose interest and wander off! Enquiries to 0422 000 469
