Last chance to see olive tree-inspired show

AN exhibition celebrating the beauty, history and symbolism of the olive tree at Dudley House in View Street is in its last days, closing on Monday.

Ancient Roots in the New World, curated by Ceilidh Meo (an olive grower), brings together a diverse group of Bendigo region artists and craftspeople including visual artist and graphic designer Amanda Peluso, sculptor Andre Sardone, photographer and sculptor Ben Wrigley, fine art photographer and digital artist Lauren Starr, plus multi-genre practitioner Rhayven Jane.

It features works across a range of media – sculptural and industrial installations, performance art, drawing, textiles, ceramics and items made from olive trees such as beads, teas, oil, soap, and even pickled fruit.

Ms Meo said the exhibition was inspired by the daily, changing beauty of her own olive grove.

“The aim is to showcase the bounty, beauty, history and symbolism of the olive tree through food and artworks made from or inspired by local specimens,” she said.

“This exhibition is about bringing a sense of the sacred back to our food – a sense of appreciation and wonder for the abundance around us and the people who create it.”

Ancient Roots in the New World is also a fundraiser for startup costs for the Long Road Olive Co-operative, a not-for-profit co-operative of small-scale olive growers with between 1-3000 trees.

Artworks are not expected to be donated by the artists – instead, they’ve set a reserve price for their works, with the Olive Co-operative to take a 30 per cent commission.