PIECE OF PLACE/FINDING OUR WAY HOME

Lizz Murphy/Kate O'Connor opening Friday 6 pm

'Here we are/where are we?' an old regular would frequently say at the local pub, on his visits to Binalong. I'm thinking it kinda sums up what Kate O'Connor and I are exploring in our linked exhibitions Finding our Way Home (Kate) and Piece of Place. They open together on Friday, November 4 at 6 pm — no formalities — just wine, nibbles, pizza pieces in The Hive at the rear of Café on Queen, Queen Street, Binalong. We have each painted over thirty works most of which are just 10 x 10 cm or 15 x 15 cm. It's a buy-and-take-away scenario — and we hope you do!

Working in acrylic and paint-pen on tiny canvases, Kate has created paintings, maps and verse — landscape, abstracted imagery, coded poems, landmarks and memories — helping her map 'the way home.' I track, I trace the outline of a past I cannot place/I make histories in the clouds/The branch, that one bird song at three — Finding our Way Home is supported by the Yass Valley Arts Trail.

I have worked in acrylic paint with found text on canvas, capturing vintage objects (and memories) from over the years and also created a sequence of Tree Haiga — close-ups of bark and leaves with haiku poems representing my place. roots run deep/knot old and new/rephrasing/the song of you — Piece of Place is supported by a Southern Tablelands Arts Micro Grant (a Covid initiative).

The exhibitions continue over the weekend from 10 am to 4 pm as part of the Yass Valley Arts Trail which is responsible for an explosion of art across the region November 5-6. Visit their Facebook page to find out more. 

More Yass Valley Arts Trail events in Binalong:

Same venue — still a space or two in Poetree my tree-themed workshop, Sunday at 10 am — contact me on lizzmurphy7[at]gmail[dot]com And in the afternoon all are welcome at Binalong Arts Group's pop-up Brush with Poetry (coordinator Robyn Sykes) featuring Sarah St Vincent Welch. Includes tree themes — join in the open mike with a tree poem (or any). Sunday 2-4 pm. Visit nearby exhibitions/open studios at the Old Bakery Gallery and Peter Minson Art Glass.