Two exhibitions on offer for SALA Festival

THE Millicent Gallery is celebrating South Australian Living Artists (SALA) festival this year with two outstanding printmaking exhibitions.

SALA runs for the month of August and Millicent is showcasing works from Thumbprint Collective’s – Limestone Coast and Angela Bevan (Pip Textiles) Many Variations From Childhood, with both exhibitions opening on Sunday, August 3.

Thumbprint Collective – LIMESTONE COUNTRY

Through this exhibition, Thumbprint Collective aims to capture the evolving landscape of the Limestone Coast—its ancient sand dunes shaped by time, rugged coastal vegetation, and the quiet resilience of red gums and she oaks thriving in our environment.

Bringing together a group of printmakers, the exhibition reflects a deep reverence for the region’s natural beauty and ecological complexity.

Using a range of printmaking techniques, the artists explore the unique character of the Limestone Coast, from its windswept dunes and hardy coastal flora to the vibrant life that flourishes along its shores and wetlands.

Their prints reveal the persistence of red gums and she oaks, the graceful movement of birdlife, and the presence of boats and windfarms—symbols of both human connection and environmental tension.

This collection celebrates the shoreline as a space of delicate balance—between life above and below the waves, wetlands and birdlife, industry and wild nature, the cultivated and the untamed.

Each artwork invites reflection on the complex relationship between nature and human activity.

In a time of ecological change, these impressions serve as both tribute and call to action, reminding us that the landscapes we admire are living systems—precious, vulnerable, and worthy of protection.

Ultimately, the exhibition reflects the artists’ personal connections to the land and their responses to its evolving identity.

Viewers are invited to consider how we see and shape these environments—from ancient dunes and resilient vegetation to wetlands teeming with life and the ever-present signs of human impact.

The artworks stand as both homage and reminder: the landscapes we cherish are shaped by time—and increasingly at risk.

Exhibiting Artists.

Ruth Schubert, Anne Miles, Julie Bignell, Diana Wiseman, Libby Altschwager, Stephanie Yoannidis, Sue Shaw, Sally O’Connor, Trudy Tandberg, Marianne Tucker, Jennie Matthews, Anne Headlam, Angela Goode.

Angela Bevan (PIP Textiles) – MANY VARIATIONS FROM CHILDHOOD

Angela’s exhibition stems from a lifelong passion for printmaking and a deep interest in how images shape our understanding of the world.

Her work is inspired by Bruno Munari’s Design as Art and Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever—two influential books that left a lasting impression on her creative journey.

At the age of five, Angela received a copy of Best Word Book Ever—a book that still evokes strong emotions when she looks through its pages today.

It served as a platform for inspiration and a kind of visual dictionary, offering glimpses into different environments and situations—like life on a farm, fruit illustrations, and so many other relatable scenes.

It became a dictionary of her childhood, presented through pictures.

Much like Munari’s example of faces—where each face is made of recognizable components, yet every face is different—Angela began to think about how we interpret words like ‘insect’, ‘bird’ or ‘train’.

Each term holds endless variations, yet children are often presented with only one or two representations.

When a child’s environment is limited, so too is their understanding of the world around them.

A classic example is the way many children draw a house: a square with two windows and a triangle for a roof.

Angela’s prints aim to challenge these visual stereotypes and encourage viewers to reconsider the familiar.

This exhibition is a response to that—an invitation to break down stereotypes and expand our understanding.

When we say ‘bird’, ‘tree’, or even ‘triangle’, the possibilities are limitless – there are no boundaries.

This exhibition isn’t just for children—it’s also a retrospective for adults, with no age limit.

Certain images will resonate more strongly with some than others, but all are intended to spark connection and conversation.