'Gathered 2' 2018

Inner North Art Prize winner

hand built ceramic - H9 x W16 x L49cm

Prize theme ‘Lure of the local’

Artists statement - I grew up looking across open country to the horizon. When I moved to Sydney as a young adult I adapted to the closed-in city environment. It wasn’t until moving to Canberra in 1990 that I understood that I feel most comfortable in an environment where I can see the horizon. The inner north, and Canberra in general, is designed to give glimpses of the landscape unencumbered by man-made structures. ‘Gathered’ was developed while thinking about horizon, the need I have to see into the far distance, and how living in the inner north gives me opportunities to satisfy this need. Several times every week, I walk on Mount Majura or Mount Ainslie. There are places on the mountains that are particular favorites. The white-trunked gums with their fleshy, smooth bark, an under story of native grasses, and leaf and bark litter. The points where, looking into the distance, you can see the hills gathered around. ‘Gathered’ speaks of white bark, smooth trunks and distant layered hills.