Artists' relationships with natural and urban environments are at the core of a new printmaking exhibition coming to the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery on Friday, 11 September.
Open Bite Printmakers are behind the new showcase, Reimagining the Landscape, featuring etching, monoprint, photopolymer, linocut, woodblock, collagraph and screen printing.
The Sydney-based printmaking collective of artists have worked together for more than 30 years and exhibit regularly in Sydney and regional areas. They have also participated in various international exhibitions, which include Spain, the United Kingdom and the Mokuhanga Conference in Japan.
Collective member and award-winning artist, Julie Debray, said the exhibition focused on encouraging dialogue between the artist and the audience about their own perception of the environment.
"This exhibition can bring a wide range of benefits to the local community in showcasing how artists can reinterpret the land by using unexpected materials, such as textiles, collage, or digital elements," she said.
"The landscape images can become a vessel for memories and identity that resonate with different people in a multitude of ways.
"Our diverse practices allow for individual artists to work in their chosen medium whether with traditional and more abstract techniques to experiment and explore contemporary trends whilst maintaining a high level of expertise and innovation."
Gunnedah Shire Council's Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said it was exciting to host a dynamic showcase by passionate printmakers.
"Open Bite Printmakers blend specialised techniques with storytelling to create powerful works that resonate with the viewer," she said.
"They have poured their expertise and experience into this original collection, which captures the heart of the diverse Australian landscapes we know and love."
Reimagining the Landscape will open at the Creative Arts Gallery at 6pm on Friday, 11 September and continue until Friday, 9 October.
Caption: Open Bite Printmakers' Eva Molnar with some of the works the collective will be showcasing in the upcoming exhibition at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. Image: Supplied
