Producing visual art is a satisfying and addictive activity, but sharing it with the world and trying to cut through all the visual noise out there is an exercise in frustration. This inevitably cultivates festering self-doubt – ‘why would people want to see this stuff?’, ‘why should I add to all the visual rubbish in the world?’ and ‘isn’t this just an insanely narcissistic exercise?’. But those times when your work is judged to be included in competitive exhibitions feel like some kind of vindication.
A roundabout way of saying how very happy I am that my work Sacred/Profane Triptych has been selected for inclusion in the upcoming biennial Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award. My friends and fans will know that this work was shown quite recently in my exhibition Palimpsest, so it may look familiar.
The Hazelhurst Gallery and Arts Centre has provided great support for my work since it opened in 2000, particularly through the opportunity it provides for local artists to exhibit in the Community Gallery, now renamed the Broadhurst Gallery. It’s a really lovely art space with a great cafe and garden, so please do come and visit the show, from Friday May 19 to Sunday 16 July.
