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| The Web of Community - Anita |
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| The Poatina Tree - Jo |
Forty canvases. Forty depictions
of community life in the Poatina: This is
your Life art exhibition were unveiled yesterday as entrants, residents and
visitors gathered for the opening in our village’s gallery in rural Tasmania. With
entries from toddlers right through to pensioners, it was fascinating to see
the variety of subject matter central to each picture.
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| Sunrise - Eva aged 7 |
Paintings, drawings,
collages and multi-media adorned the canvases, and what I especially enjoyed
discovering was the quality of some of the children’s works, easily mistaken
for adult entries. For some, their relationship to the landscape and natural
environment was foremost, whereas others portrayed aspects of community life
important to them, or challenged us to consider the ramifications of European colonisation
on Australia’s island State.
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| The Year of Living Simply - Tabitha |
Sharing this space with only
a hundred other people means we interact with each other on a very regular
basis, be it in passing at the store, post office, gift shop, school or cafes,
or at the various community events designed to bring residents together. Not
only do such activities provide opportunities to get better acquainted, but long
lasting relationships are often formed as we work alongside each other
fulfilling roles that keep the village running, as well as relating to visitors
as they break their journey, or come to stay for conferences and retreats.
Living in a small rural community
is not to everyone’s liking, but themes of sharing, contemplation, caring, appreciation,
fun, exploration, family, unity, and vulnerability were foremost in the art
works, saying plenty about how much this committed group of people has invested
in its common life. And with the beauty of the bush and the mountain as a
backdrop, who wouldn’t want to be here.
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| Exploration - Luke |
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| I'm not who you think I am - Chris |
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| Untitled - Keith |
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| Contemplation - Suzanne |
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| You see, I feel - Wynsome |
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| A Robin's Blessing - Jill |
Living in a small rural community
is not to everyone’s liking, but themes of sharing, contemplation, caring, appreciation,
fun, exploration, family, unity, and vulnerability were foremost in the art
works, saying plenty about how much this committed group of people has invested
in its common life. And with the beauty of the bush and the mountain as a
backdrop, who wouldn’t want to be here.
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