Bauhinia Bicentennial Art Gallery at Springsure

Geoffrey Head – “Over the Fence”

This collection of paintings is inspired by the natural landscape seen over the fence at the rear of our property. The exhibition is celebration of observed suburban landscape through the interpretation of its unique character and composition using a dynamic visual language.

We have never lived so close to natural bushland before and although still in suburbia, our new location has provided us with the enjoyment of living close to nature. The fence barrier keeps the regular planned landscape of our property separate from the haphazard natural environment, but it is still possible to observe and, interact to some extent with the range of flora living beyond it.  In these works, I have presented images influenced by the plant forms that I see every day developed from recorded snapshots of this vegetation over time.

There exists a variety of vegetation over the fence, including grasses, rushes, gums, melaleucas, and the environmental pest, Leucaena which is in abundance. Also represented is the blue butterfly-pea vine and wild passionfruit.

In these works, I am trying to escape the conventional landscape composition arrangement of foreground, midground, background and sky, to view the landscape in a more unconventional way. After the manipulation of photographic images of the natural landscape using digital processes, the natural, organic forms are transformed into vibrant lines and shapes. The viewpoint taken means that most works do not have a definite sky area and in most cases the depth is shallow.

I have used exaggerated colours suggested by the manipulated images to create more dynamic interest in the quiet, natural forms that exist in this borrowed landscape. This accentuates and celebrates the various grasses and plants and their surrounding environment, providing a more contemporary representation of the Australian bush. The images also serve as a reminder of the importance of these suburban environments and how they should be valued and respected as significant ecosystems.

The exhibition communicates themes of celebration and respect for the natural environment which most people can respond to. My aim is to share these ideas with others in similar regional areas where suburban landscapes can be overlooked and threatened by industrial and housing development.

Geoffrey Head – Bio

Born and raised in Rockhampton, Geoffrey completed his post-secondary studies in visual art and education in Brisbane. He completed study in Visual Arts at the Central Tech College majoring in painting and drawing. He then attended Kelvin Grove College of Teacher Education before starting a teaching career in Visual Arts at Mt Morgan State high School. He completed a BA majoring in Ancient History and German at the University of Qld in 1987.

Geoffrey has been living and working in Gladstone as an artist and art educator in both secondary and tertiary sectors for the past 43 years.

During this time, his art practice has focussed primarily on painting and drawing with the inclusion of printmaking in more recent years. His work has been exhibited in several solo and numerous group exhibitions.

Working with the lino cut and screen-printing mediums, Geoffrey has completed a series of prints of local buildings in both Gladstone and Rockhampton.

His painting and drawing works involve stylized imagery depicting the natural and built environment, figures, or forms of texts.

More recent work reflects a response to Geoffrey’s surroundings – both the natural landscape and the built environment.

Exhibition on display 19 April – 27th May 2023

Gallery opening hours: Mon – Fri 9.00am – 5.00pm (closed 1-2pm) / Saturday 9.00am – 12.00pm

“Hybrid Greening” – Veronika Zeil & Nanette Balchin

Hybrid Greening is an immersive experience where traditional art form meets science and technology. Art and science are coming together in an exhibition of works by Central Queensland artists Veronika Zeil and Nanette Balchin.

Today’s world relies on industrial production principles at a high cost to human and nature’s wellbeing. Hybrid Greening is an exhibition of new work by contemporary artists who will create interactive semi-abstract artworks imagining and inspiring new perspectives of coexistence with nature and renewed empathy for other living beings aimed at regenerating ecosystems.

A collaborative exhibition developed and presented by Veronika Zeil and Nanette Balchin, Hybrid Greening is an interactive, immersive exhibition that invites audiences to participate in an experience of plant-human interspecies hybridisation.

“The calm and quiet of the forest brings clarity. Through Hybrid Greening, we want to be part of the solution that places all living beings as the voice for a better sustainable future. Forests are living beings, are both complex and simple, and, in my mind, create hope. The narrative is to be ‘experienced’. It’s about exploring surfaces closely to appreciate nature, its diversity, complexity, and beauty.” , Nanette Balchin.

Through the exhibition, the artists put forward an alternative future, one where people are part-plant, part-human, where there is a balance and harmony between humans and mother nature. The artworks present concepts of shared existence and self-awareness. Through these artworks, the exhibition aims to encourage the audience to think about their position in the world and how they can be empathetic to one another and other living beings that co-habitat the planet.

“Landscape is an emotional, vibrating, living, breathing space – a space human beings encroach on and do not know how to handle. Each path is taken, and each line of thought followed affects another and impacts something else; everything is linked. From ecosystems to farming and mining, humans leave small to gigantic footprints,” said Veronika Zeil. Hybrid Greening invites the audiences to immerse and interact with the artworks. The exhibition highlights the audiences’ physical senses, sight, sound, touch.

“We have created an all-sensory space that forms an altered future. It is a space for audiences to slow down, enter a hybrid space of part-new ecology, part-therapy, and experience colour, textures, and sound. In their exhibition journey, the audience will view their world from an altered perspective, the perspective of a plant.” added Veronika Zeil.

“Collectively, the artworks aim to capture the spirit of a forest, to experience a moment in time and a sense of deep connection to forests and nature. They invite interaction and arouse a desire to touch and explore, to see the beauty in the smallest things; connection interaction and observation are at the heart of the experience. Through quiet interaction, a bridge to awareness is built where the viewer seeks solace and appreciation of the visual narrative of a forest” added Nanette Balchin.

Join us for the opening event and meet the artists for a walk and talk on Thursday 1 June at 5.00pm at the Springsure Art Gallery. All welcome.

Exhibition is on display in the Springsure Art Gallery from 1 June – 8 July 2023.

Opening Hours Mon – Fri 9.00 am – 5.00 pm (closed 1-2pm) / Saturday 9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Opening hours

Monday: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Tuesday: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Wednesday: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Thursday: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Friday: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm
Sunday: CLOSED

The Bauhinia Bicentennial Art Gallery – Springsure Art Awards are held annually in March. Established and emerging local artists of all ages can submit entries in up to seven categories, with prize money ranging up to $2,000 for council’s Acquisitive Award.

For more information head to our BBAG Annual Art Awards – Springsure page

For information on exhibiting with the BBAG or the Emerald Art Gallery contact us on 1300 242 686 or email chgalleries@chrc.qld.gov.au.