Artist set to launch poetry collection

Kirsten Johnston is a Mount Gambier based writer and visual artist. Over the past few years, her artistic pursuits have been front and centre of a number of exhibitions; art competitions and an artist-in-residence stint at the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre. Now she is set to showcase her writing schools with the unveiling of her first published collection of poetry – Minutiae.

Born in Melbourne, growing up in Perth and regional Victoria, and having called the Limestone Coast home for the past 25 years, Minutiae brings together works from recent years and a smattering of earlier pieces included in a range of magazines and journals.

Kirsten will be launching her poetry collection at an author event at the Mount Gambier Library on Sunday, September 17, at 2pm and you can book your place by calling (08)8721 2540 or online https://bit.ly/3P1xnkw

Art has been a part of Kristen’s life for more than a decade, starting with local artist Ann Carpenter’s TAFE classes. That was in 2008 and five years later painting found its way into her repertoire with Kirsten taking her work seriously a couple of year ago. “I had always been interested in art but never really had the opportunity to do it,” Kirsten said. “Once I had my family I did have the time and I needed some sort of outlet.”

Now she treats her art practice as a job. “I do try and do it every day,” Kirsten said. “I can often only do it for an hour or so as my work needs time to dry and I certainly want to make sure I don’t stop enjoying it. I always have three or four things on the go. I am not a full time artist but it is on my mind all the time.” And her art practice, which has a focus on abstract creations, has a lovely synergy with her passion for writing – Kirsten keeps a blog—Everyday Thoughts of an Artist and now her debut poetry collection Minutiae, which will be available for sale at the book launch on Sunday.