‘Hawkesbury’ exhibition Art2Muse November 2023
I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming exhibition at Art2Muse in Woollahra, Sydney. The exhibition will take place from 14th to 27th November, with the opening Saturday 18th November. This oeuvre showcases a series of artworks inspired by my recent journey to the breathtaking Hawkesbury River region in New South Wales.
During this trip, my primary objective was to capture the essence of the landscape and the rich vegetation found within this environmentally preserved area, with a particular focus on Coba Point and the surrounding Berowra Creek area. This project was not only about visually representing the area but also delving into its historical significance, employing a variety of mediums including painting, photography, and video to create a comprehensive record.
This new collection of artwork, which depicts the Australian landscape, embodies a recurring theme present in our work: the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world.
The process of creating these paintings began with me immersing myself in the landscape, meticulously sketching and taking notes on the vegetation, colours, and textures. This initial connection with the environment led to the creation of small en plein air (in the open air) oil paintings. These smaller pieces are compiled with other documentation, which are then returned to the studio, serving as valuable resources for the development of larger pieces to be featured in the exhibition.
The following are some historical facts about the area of the Hawkesbury where we placed our interest.
COBA POINT
Coba Point is located on the western side of Berowra Creek, upstream from Marramarra Creek's entry. A survey map from 1904 shows Coba Bay, but the place's name is considerably older. The word "cobar,” means "red clay or burnt earth used to decorate the body," and is Aboriginal in origin.
Beauty Point also known as Coba Point is situated at the mouth of Coba Bay on Berowra Creek in the Hornsby Shire. The western bank of Berowra Creek, which had previously belonged to the Dharug people, was progressively inhabited by Europeans in the nineteenth century. Joseph Rae received the first property grant on Beauty Point for 40 acres (16 hectares), but by 1905, John Kelly became the owner. The beachfront portion of such site has since been partitioned with approximately sixty houses along the shoreline.
BEROWRA
Many years before European colonisation in Australia, the Berowra Creek narrative began. The Aboriginal people were the first to see and utilise the river and the larger Berowra region. Berowra Creek lies between the first nation lands of the Dhurag and Guringai people. It may have served as a gathering spot for the people rather than a traditional settlement site.
The notebooks of Lieutenant William Dawes offer yet another interpretation of the name. He translates the word “Berara”, to mean either fishhooks or shells (depending on how it is spelled). This could be a more plausible possibility as the name, Berara, was initially given to the river, and the river is home to numerous shell middens (midden: area which contains the remains of shellfish eaten by Aboriginal people). The true origin of the name Berowra remains shrouded in mystery.
BAR ISLAND
Bar Island lies near the mouth of Berowra Creek, and was formerly known as Goville Island, the reason for this is unknown. Numerous remnants of Aboriginal use are still found along the Hawkesbury River with countless layers of shell middens lining the sides of the river’s islands. Some of the middens are so densely packed with shell debris that the footprints along the edges of the creek often reveal fractured shells as they cut through. These are still found on Bar Island together with evidence of colonial settlement, including remains of a cemetery, cottage, and church.
The following are some historical facts about the area of the Hawkesbury where we placed our interest.
COBA POINT
Coba Point is located on the western side of Berowra Creek, upstream from Marramarra Creek's entry. A survey map from 1904 shows Coba Bay, but the place's name is considerably older. The word "cobar,” means "red clay or burnt earth used to decorate the body," and is Aboriginal in origin.
Beauty Point also known as Coba Point is situated at the mouth of Coba Bay on Berowra Creek in the Hornsby Shire. The western bank of Berowra Creek, which had previously belonged to the Dharug people, was progressively inhabited by Europeans in the nineteenth century. Joseph Rae received the first property grant on Beauty Point for 40 acres (16 hectares), but by 1905, John Kelly became the owner. The beachfront portion of such site has since been partitioned with approximately sixty houses along the shoreline.
BEROWRA
Many years before European colonisation in Australia, the Berowra Creek narrative began. The Aboriginal people were the first to see and utilise the river and the larger Berowra region. Berowra Creek lies between the first nation lands of the Dhurag and Guringai people. It may have served as a gathering spot for the people rather than a traditional settlement site.
The notebooks of Lieutenant William Dawes offer yet another interpretation of the name. He translates the word “Berara”, to mean either fishhooks or shells (depending on how it is spelled). This could be a more plausible possibility as the name, Berara, was initially given to the river, and the river is home to numerous shell middens (midden: area which contains the remains of shellfish eaten by Aboriginal people). The true origin of the name Berowra remains shrouded in mystery.
BAR ISLAND
Bar Island lies near the mouth of Berowra Creek, and was formerly known as Goville Island, the reason for this is unknown. Numerous remnants of Aboriginal use are still found along the Hawkesbury River with countless layers of shell middens lining the sides of the river’s islands. Some of the middens are so densely packed with shell debris that the footprints along the edges of the creek often reveal fractured shells as they cut through. These are still found on Bar Island together with evidence of colonial settlement, including remains of a cemetery, cottage, and church.
Exhibition details:
Hawkesbury
14th - 27th November
Opening 18th November
Art2Muse
Contact Katrina Hampton +61 424 809 849
katrina.hampton@art2muse.com.au
234 Jersey Road, Woollahra
Sydney, Australia