An artist’s life – 2

We were never told it would be easy. What we were told was that it would be worth it.

After all the trials and tribulations that go into both the painting of the paintings and the hanging of the paintings, Sally’s exhibition opening was nothing less than a stunning success. The joyful party atmosphere throughout the packed crowd of around 100 at the Eucalypt Gallery cafe, where an electric enthusiasm continually bubbled up in excited conversation, was one of those rewarding moments in every artist’s life that somehow makes it all worthwhile.

Heather Rose, Tasmanian business woman of the year, novelist and environmental activist, officially opened the exhibition with a speech that was touching and passionate in its heartfelt response to both Sally and her paintings. A few excerpts follow:

Sally’s work is extraordinarily accomplished, rich with not only the technical skill it takes to bring these paintings into being – but with a spiritual wisdom and an ability to tune herself in to frequencies not many of us choose to listen to – let alone harness for artistic purpose.

Like many writers, Sally has no sense of the end at the beginning. It is a mystical journey. And from this process which can take many months for one painting to be completed – Sally’s steady hand and fine brush work, infinite patience and fine layer of oil paint upon fine layer of oil paint – these eight paintings have emerged over the past two years. Their themes differ but they are all mandalas in one form or other – a sacred circle traditionally associated with healing and meditation.

It would be easy to call it new age – but I don’t believe it is. I see that it taps into what Joseph Campbell would refer to as our ancient sense of symbolism. Our ancient understanding of things beyond our ability to grasp. And of course these paintings are also the product of Sally’s deep interest in Buddhism, Taoism and Chinese medicine.

Sally’s paintings are not for the faint-hearted. They are for the adventurous, the seeker, the observer.  They demand a level of interaction from the viewer. They can be unsettling, inspiring, eerie, unbalancing and balancing. … they speak to those who are ready to hear.

The exhibition opening was on Sunday. After a day off on Monday catching up on needed sleep, by Tuesday Sally was back at work. Not in the studio, but down at her Moonstone Mandala temple putting the finishing touches on its construction. Another adventurous project in an artist’s sometimes uneasy, but always worthy life.