MEDIA
RELEASE
28 April 2015
May Exhibitions
Tuggeranong Arts Centre proudly presents an all-female cast of exhibitors with two new exhibitions
opening in May. Welcoming a familiar artist returning to the Centre as well as a group of international
artists, the exhibitions offer a vibrant and colourful celebration of identity, expression, emotion and
experimentation within art forms, from the female perspective.
Mr Raul Gangotena, the Ambassador of Ecuador will open Identities an exhibition by the Achala Art
Collective and From Far and Beyond an exhibition featuring works by Gosia Orzechowska and Claire
Wastiaux on Saturday 9 May, at 2pm. Both exhibitions continue until Saturday 30 May.
From Far and Beyond is an exhibition by two women from culturally diverse backgrounds, who now
reside in Canberra. Gosia Orzechowska originally comes from Poland, and Claire Wastiaux from
France. With two apparently opposing styles, they are together in the gallery with their exhibition which
is a study on the possibility for abstract and illustrative painting to meet on the agreement of colour.
Gosia’s paintings will be familiar to audiences, with her recognisable style of whimsical portraits and
dreamy landscapes. As well as previous exhibitions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Gosia has exhibited
widely in the Canberra region in recent years. For this exhibition she explores the connections made
through colours and the communication between artist and audience.
Claire’s work is concerned with the interplay between space, form and shape but above all with the
unpredictable nature of colour and light. Having lived and worked in several countries over recent years,
Claire’s painting has been influenced by the symbolism of colour, lines and calligraphic gesture and has
led to her current work exploring the interaction and juxtaposition of colour.
Identities is an exhibition by the Achala Art Collective, presented by the Embassy of Ecuador. The 6
female artist are Christine Chemin, Ximena Coello, Alba Lucia Erazo Almeida, Maria Augusta
Fernandez de Cordova, Salome Lalama and Elizabeth Taipe. Having exhibited as a group since 2006,
the collective have presented work in countries as far afield as Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Malaysia,
Canada and Turkey.
The central theme for the group is a desire to share their culture and identity through art. The exhibition
features a collaborative work representing elements of the daily Ecuadorian culture such as the myths,
legends and festivals which are strongly rooted in the collective imagination.
Elsewhere in the exhibition, visitors see the different styles and media favoured by each artist ranging
from acrylic and oil paintings on canvas to digital photography, in figurative, abstract and realistic
styles.
For interviews or photo opportunities please contact Cassidy on 6293 1443 or 0405 485 288
Media contact: Cassidy Richens, 0405 485 288, 6293 1443 or
cassidy.richens@tuggeranongarts.com.au
1