Biophilia by Lyn McDonald
Broadly speaking
Biophilia is humankind's innate biological connection with nature. Scientific study suggests that our tendency to affiliate with nature is inherent to our psychological and physical development. It helps to explain why a garden view or a rural landscape can captivate us and enhance our lives and well-being through connection with nature.
Natural materials such as wool, cotton and silk combine with alchemic processes such as felting, rusting and eco-dying, evolving into images that reflect the local environment and create a distinct sense of place.
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| Artist Lyn McDonald in front of Falling to Pieces 1 |
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| Detail from In Memorium 2019 |
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| Detail from My Garden 1 |
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| Microcosm 2019 | | | | | |
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| Opening night celebrations |
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| Rivers Run 2019 |
Waste not want not by Val Robinson
Historically ordinary folk in society had little disposable income so that a penny saved was important. No chain stores of comsumer goods to lure dollars from the pocket. An old adage Waste not, Want not encouraged thrift. The contemporary version is Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.
Reflecting on pioneer women and their thrifty use of everyday type goods, the dress, worn till threadbare, was reused, cut down or remade for other uses. Within the cross section of the tree trunk or branch, bark and rings, markings and patterns of the tree are rich with possibilities for machine stitching, using a variety of scrap fabrics. Though there are 24 small pieces in this exhibition there appears to be no reduction in the studio stash.
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| Artists: L: Lyn McDonald R: Val Robinson |
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| The Dress Installation 1-7 |
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| Detail from Water in Dry Land |
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| Trees Installation 1-8 |
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| Close up detail from Trees Installation |
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| Val Robinson discussing her work |
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Val and Lyn supported their exhibitions by holding workshops throughout the month of August. Thank you to all that attended.
