Art News

In the Art of Women

Fran Tomlin and Morley Grainger present their exhibitions at the Lismore Regional Art Gallery next month. Below are some of Fran Tomlin's paintings.

Two new exhibitions by artists Fran Tomlin and Morley Grainger open next Thursday, August 1, at the Lismore Regional Art Gallery.

Both exhibitions look at the artist's personal view of women's lives, but each is vastly different from the other. Fran's exhibition, Self Portrait @ 48, looks at the subject with which she is most familiar - herself.

Previously concentrating on portraying the human face, this exhibition sees Fran combining ordinary, every day objects with mysterious and often surreal scenes that have a significant personal meaning for her.

"The vision of life as seen, felt and experienced by myself, depicts a double-sided view through the chosen images, Fran said. "In other words, these paintings are not simply just what they appear to be. They can be absolutely just what they appear to be - but for myself, the artist, they are hugely symbolic of experiences I was feeling at the time of execution.

"For myself, this exhibition marks the birth of truly painting in my journey - now the work really begins!"

During her short but successful career as an artist Fran has had three paintings selected for exhibition at the Portia Geach Art Prize, was short-listed for selection in the prestigious 2002 Archibald Prize and has won various local prizes and awards.

Fran's Self Portrait @ 48 will run concurrently with a new exhibition by Toowoomba-based artist Morley Grainger, entitled Well Preserved.

Her installation consists of an open pine cupboard lined with colourful jars of faux fruit made of stitched textiles, which pays tribute to the many Australian women who, through necessity, bottled fruit and vegetables.

The exhibition is accompanied by oral histories to help the viewer understand the process of bottling. Well Preserved and Self Portrait @ 48 both run from August 2 until September 21.

The opening next Thursday will be at 5.30pm for a 6pm start.

• The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday, from 10am-4pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am-2.30pm. Entry is by donation.

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