Three Canberra artists who for years kept their cultural cooperation alive across four continents via cyberspace, have now come together in “Storylines” - a joint exhibition of mixed media at Mawson Gallery.

Artist friends Jo Hollier, Lorna Crane and Maryann Mussared have, over the years, lived separately and at different times in Germany, Thailand, Japan, France, USA  Canada, Pambula on the south coast and of course, Canberra. 

“But wherever each of us was individually, we always shared ideas, events and images of our travels and our artists’ creative responses via email, the Internet and other modern technology such as mobile phones and digital photography,” Maryann said.

“Distance has not prevented us from communicating and sharing our creative journeys, inspiring each other and understanding each other’s creative direction.

“The creation of works for the exhibition ‘Storylines’ has given us the opportunity for an exchange of ideas that has not been interrupted by our busy personal lives, juggling families and careers,” Maryann said. 

Lorna and Maryann exhibited together from the mid 1990s before meeting Jo through her internship at the Belconnen Gallery. (Lorna and Maryann were involved with regional cultural development in Belconnen from 1998 – 2004).

The three first exhibited together in the “Journey to Strathnairn” during the 2002 ACT Heritage Festival and in a number of group shows since then.

Despite their individual artistic expressions, the artists feel the works in this exhibition show a contemporary response to a fast paced existence and how this is improved by ‘lines’ of communication and connected by individual stories. 

Maryann Mussared studied textiles, printmaking and papermaking at the Canberra School of Art for three years before completing her Bachelor of Applied Arts at the College of Fine Arts.

Her practice combines mixed media and applied techniques including gilding and collage with handmade paper, combined with spontaneous and repetitive mark making. 

She has lived in the UK, USA, Germany and France. After a number of years working in the Canberra community managing arts programs and projects, she is now  focused on her own arts practice.

Maryann’s body of work reflects on the lives of people and communities lost in the global conflicts of the 20th century and their  untold stories

Lorna Crane is an artist from the Far South Coast of NSW, based in South Pambula.  Her studies have included an Associate Diploma of Creative Art and a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong. 

She is exploring weathered and aged surfaces through the mixed media process, using a square 2D format as well as making objects. 

She has had a rich and diverse career working as a community arts worker in Canberra and with research as a Churchill Fellow. 

She is now practicing full time from her purpose built studio overlooking the Pambula Dairy Flat.  Crane’s body of work for “Storylines” responds to the universal landscape of war.

Jo Hollier’s art is informed by personal stories and memories collected during extended periods living in South East Asia.  Jo holds a Diploma in Visual Arts (Printmaking). 

On graduating she received a residency at Megalo Print Studio. She has held solo exhibitions and participated in group shows locally and interstate. Jo works in etching and mixed media to produce unique prints and limited edition etchings. 

She enjoys the unexpected results that can be achieved by the manipulation of colour on the etching plate. Her goal is to explore the experimental possibilities of the medium.
 

The exhibition begins at MAWSON GALLERY, 63 Wilkins Street, Mawson on 24 June and runs until 6 August.  The exhibition will be official opened by Mr Bill Wood at 2.30pm, Saturday 24 June. Gallery opening hours are 10.30am – 5.30pm Wednesday to Sunday or by appointment anytime.  Phone 6161 2177,  mobile 0407 006 332.

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