Dromkeen Gallery’s Winter Exhibition ‘A Moment’s Pause’ has been unveiled, and it features a very important message.
Featured artist Mark Wilson is displaying illustrations from his children’s book, The Last Tree, alongside works from other local artists, in the exhibition that invites visitors to pause, take a moment and connect with the world around them.
His story was inspired by his childhood, growing up in East Gippsland in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and watching the surrounding forest he loved grow smaller and smaller.
“It really starts with the tree, with the life in, under it and around it,” he said.
“You see in the distance, in one of the panoramic shots of the tree … you can see a blank space at the other end of the forest, on the horizon line, just sort of hills.
“Later on in the book as the story develops you see the emergence of a city in that space so its sort of the slow development of a city and how it slowly encroaches on the tree.
“The idea is that trees will survive, and we can help them survive. In this case, just a seed from the tree is released and floats on the breeze to cross the river out of the city and establishes itself in a new little forest.”
A talented artist and author, Wilson’s exhibition and story puts a “positive bend on something we could get really depressed about”.
He said the exhibition is worth checking out, for the works of all talented artists on display and as well as seeing the historic homestead which houses the gallery.
The exhibition was launched on Saturday, June 7 at Dromkeen and will run during the winter months.
Georgia Tacey
