Expressive artist showcase to grace The Gordon

TALENTED students from The Gordon in Geelong will have their artistic prowess showcased in a coming exhibition.

The cohort-led Bouquet exhibition will feature works from 12 emerging artists and explore themes such as grief, femininity, freedom and fantasy.

The varied and eclectic body of work consists of sculptures, jewellery, printing, painting and drawing.

Local artist Caleb Stokes explores the darker side of life and daemons inspired by the artist Goya.

His sculptures and ‘satantic teenage bedroom’ diorama consist of clay, paint and wire, which have been used to sculpt people with black latex and silver wings.

Carolyn Salkeld has explored the themes of grief and ageing. Her prints and drawings of her mum celebrate the beauty of ageing and a life lived. She has used dripping paint, scratched lino and discarded fishing rods to make her work.

Lily Pankhurst has made a “thought-provoking and at times graphic” sculpted book with a bloody heart and oozing intestines.

The artist has used very basic material such as canvas, paint and acorns to make mice, guts and bugs.

The Gordon’s visual arts teacher Deidre Keenaghan said all works “reflected artists’ personal stories and creative journeys”.

“This exhibition is a chance to display their amazing work and communicate their art concepts to the viewer; these concepts are as diverse as they are interesting,” she said.

“Whether it is a remake of a teenage bedroom, a miniature sculpture with a grandmother’s watch, or a sculpted book with intestines and a lifelike heart for this group, the word ‘innovative’ has been used several times to describe their approach.

“They have taken the ordinary and made the extraordinary, from found acorns to silver painted clingfilm they have stretched ideas to their limits. Their willingness to express emotion through their artworks is the real strength of this exhibition.”

Bouquet will be viewable at The Gordon Gallery, Fenwick Street, Geelong from October 18 to October 25 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 4pm.