Joyful patterns of the ordinary

AFTER fifteen years of collaboration, backyard beehives have inspired artists Margaret Delahunty Spencer and Mary van den Broek’s latest exhibition.

Now showing at the newly configured Backspace Gallery, Our place and… is a painter and a sculptor’s ongoing “investigation” into the ordinary movements of life, and their roles as mothers.

When pitching this work to the gallery’s curator, Delahunty Spencer said coincidentally both she and van den Broek had buzzing ideas.

“It just so happened that I had these hives in my garden, I’d already started making some pieces and Mary had sculptures she was working on with bees,” she said.

“We’re looking at the work of the ordinary. Just the business, the patterns and the routines that bees do without great fanfare. They just go about their life’s patterns and play a vital part in our food source.”

Delahunty Spencer and van den Broek noticed parallels between the things that swarm in the yard and themselves.

“We looked at our role as mothers and nurturers, and how you go through the same patterning and routines, all to provide an environment for our children, friends and all to grow,” Delahunty Spencer said.

“There’s a lot of references to domestic life in the show, like my favourite bowls, the business around the kitchen, and the way I move. The routines that we follow give us comfort.

“Some of my pieces are to do with being tethered or untethered, because now my children have all gone, where’s my role? Now, it’s the earth, nature and art that keep me tethered.”

Having worked together for so long, the pair aren’t precious. Delahunty Spencer and van den Broek value each other’s opinion, they experiment and play together.

“We meet once a fortnight, we talk about art, look at what we’re doing and support each other.

“We’re advocates of play. Once we forget how to play, we lose the ability to see the light heartedness of life. Our place and… looks at the less serious parts,” Delahunty Spencer said. “I think people will find it quite a joyful exhibition.”

Our place and… is open until this Sunday, 6 October at Backspace Gallery. Entry is via the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s main entrance on Lydiard Street.