A new Artists on View exhibition brings together a beautiful collection from a mother and daughter who reimagined their artistic identities over a transformative year.
The Right to Remain Silent: Art of The Sabbatical is a collaborative exhibition from Lee Trewartha and her daughter Erynn Trewartha-Lewicki.
Both had been battling physical illness and exhaustion from running businesses and they decided to take a sabbatical in a 'carefully cultivated period of solitude'.
The mother and daughter were inspired by the poem The Right to Remain Silent by Kai Siedenburg which became a 'liberating' mantra to take the time to recharge, restore and subsequently grow.
Over a year, the two artists explored 'stillness and quiet' and the act of being 'present' in the moment, not reflecting on the life they had nor the life before them.
During this time, their artistic identities took a different approach with stunning results. Lee Trewartha traded her once energetic, large black and white art works for calm, peaceful landscape pieces inspired by her garden and nature.
Erynn made illustrations and still life artworks that showed everyday items and spaces, symbolising a new way of living. By the end of the year, they both felt deeply changed by the experience.
Artist Lee Trewartha, who has a disability and was suffering from surgery complications, said the impact of the sabbatical was profound.
"Over the year of my recuperation, Erynn and I immersed ourselves in a sabbatical period, making a conscious decision to be present, rather than looking back or forward," Lee said.
"Our relationship has formed a new bond, beyond that of mother and daughter and coworkers, to that of two friends with shared experiences united by their love of creating."
Erynn Trewartha-Lewicki said the sabbatical was a chance for new artistic discoveries.
"I developed artistic skills in ways that I had not before, particularly in colour theory, tone and value. But what captured me was the still life artworks of both Georgio Morandi and Thornton Walker. I was taken by their contemporary portrayal of inanimate objects and spaces, that in all their simplicity they act as powerful metaphors for both artist's internal worlds, Erynn said.
"Inspired by this concept, I found solace in drawing, photographing and painting inanimate objects and spaces, and began producing still life artworks that forced me to slow down and reflect."
Bendigo Venues & Events Acting Manager Jacoba Kelly said the exhibition captured the joy and peace from a transformative year.
"This exhibition showcases the journey of a mother and daughter who took time out from the busyness and stresses of life, coming out the other side renewed and creatively inspired. With Mother's Day just around the corner, residents and visitors will be enthralled by the beautiful works from this family.
"The free exhibition opens this Saturday April 26 from 12pm to 4pm with an official opening celebration at 3pm. All are welcome to attend."
The Right to Remain Silent: Art of The Sabbatical is open 10am to 4pm daily from Sunday April 27 to Tuesday May 6 at Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo.
This exhibition is supported by the City of Greater Bendigo's Artists on View program.
