“Art plays such an important role in holding small communities together!” Says 30-year-old Lauren O’Connor.
“There are so many artists in Kangaroo Valley, and I think growing up around adults who were enthusiastic about making art was a big part of why I followed my passion and became a painter.”
22-year-old Maya Britton reflects on how attending art classes with Kerrie Leishman throughout high school solidified her passion for painting the natural world.
“I’ve pretty much learned all that I know about art from Kerrie.” She says,
“During classes she’d find a feather from her guinea fowl, and we’d paint that. Or we would be walking through her garden on the way to the studio and see some flowers that we’d really want to paint.”
15-year-old Alyssa Sim and her sister Amelia have also done classes with Leishman since they were young. Sim was a finalist in the ‘Wild At Art: Threatened Species Art Competition’ in 2018 and 2019, earning her awards at the Sydney Parliament House and having her paintings displayed in the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens.
“One of my proudest achievements are paintings I have done of threatened wildlife species in New South Wales. I focussed on animals that made a huge impact on me such as Gang-Gang Cockatoos and Little Penguins.”
Britton and Sim commented on how the Kangaroo Valley Show provides a great opportunity to celebrate the talented artists within our community and preserve local histories.
“I remember as kids we all had to draw the Hampden Bridge.” Says Britton.
“Even though some didn’t have an innate appreciation for art, they still learnt about the town’s history through it.”
It’s also amazing to see the works of artists who grew up in the Valley showcased at iconic local venues, such as the mural at the Friendly Inn which O’Connor created in 2020.
“It was during my time at art school when I was still learning the ropes. It was quite ambitious because I’d never done anything like it before, especially on that scale.” She states.
“The pub is a great community space in Kangaroo Valley so I’m thrilled that so many people enjoy seeing the mural, having a drink and a meal underneath it.”
Painted following the bushfires, the banksia is featured heavily in the piece as a symbol of strength and endurance.
“I was deeply considering issues of climate change and the aesthetics of destruction. Blackened charcoal, orange and red skies, endings, and beginnings. I see the banksia as a symbol of renewal, thriving in the aftermath.”
During this time, Britton was completing her HSC visual arts major work.
“I remember trying to finish a painting in my backyard, and I couldn’t because there was ash flying everywhere. If I went outside to paint, ash would just land on my painting. All the scenes that we were used to of the lush green grass, rolling hills, and the bright blue skies were gone.” She explains.
“I always had the idea to do something related to fire, but I wasn’t sure. Kerrie and I came up with the idea to make a 3D work rather than just painting on a canvas. It wasn’t just a nature scene with trees burning in the distance, it was showing how closely impacted a lot of people in the Valley were by the bushfires.”
Through these artists’ works we can reflect on how the Valley’s natural landscapes have evolved throughout time, and revisit memories from our own lives. Keep your eyes out for upcoming exhibitions, with some of O’Connor’s work being displayed at the Upper River Hall in October during the Arts in the Valley festival.
O’Connor concludes, “If nothing else, art events give communities a place to connect and a chance to get out of our comfort zone a bit. To consider something beyond ourselves.”
