Narrogin Renewal Exhibition shows many forms

Arts Narrogin’s latest exhibition, Drawing Together: Renewal, will soon be wrapping up its showcase of original artworks.

Caitlin Stewart, the manager of Arts Narrogin, said the exhibition’s theme of renewal was devised after the peak of COVID-19 in WA, but artists had since drawn inspiration from many different areas.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work and work together towards a common theme,” Ms Stewart said.

“It’s a community exhibition that is looking for a positive, acknowledging the things that had happened with COVID but not dwelling on it.

“Whether that was renewal of the self or renewal of the land around them or renewal of the built environment as well.”

With this expanded understanding of renewal, the exhibition’s format has also changed from its original focus on two-dimensional artworks to a greater collection of “drawn” pieces.

“The initial idea was to have an exhibition with works connected to drawing but that could be expanded to drawing in any kind of form, whether that was sculptural or with wire,” Ms Stewart said.

Williams artist Ned Crossley said his drawing, Resurgence of Deralynia,showed a decimated natural landscape which was just starting to return.

“I went through Israelite Bay and travelled way up through the Great Western Woodlands, really to take a break and find a bit of renewal,” Crossley said.

“That country had just been completely decimated and burnt at Christmas last year. It was dead, burnt black and awaiting renewal.

“I was trying to get a sense of optimism in that scene. The sky was particularly encouraging, full of clouds.”

The idea of natural renewal was also a motivator for Brookton artist Sharon Williams in her pieces, Spring and Naturally Wool.

“Nature inspires me, that's where my inspiration comes from,” Williams said.

The exhibition is on show at the NEXIS gallery until Friday.

For details, contact Arts Narrogin.