Lose yourself in the city scapes of Venice

Sunshine Coast Council proudly presents the Venetian Visions exhibition by New South Wales artist Catherine O’Donnell at Caloundra Regional Gallery until Sunday 12 August 2012.

In 2009 Catherine O’Donnell won the Albury Art Prize which allows artists to choose a residency anywhere in the world with a $20,000 budget. Catherine chose Venice.

Ms O’Donnell said as an artist practice can be solitary and often isolating but winning the Albury Art Prize provided an opportunity which she would otherwise not have had.

"With the prize money I travelled to Venice in Italy to undertake a drawing residency with the Scuola International di Grafica in Venice," said Ms O’Donnell.

"The residency provided me with a unique opportunity to interact and engage with committed artists and scholars from other countries as well as the broader community at large. This not only allowed me to grow but provided me with an opportunity to look beyond the Australian shores for new inspiration and opportunities to expand and enrich my practice.

"My time in Venice also enabled me to develop technically and conceptually, to experiment and reflect on my art practice, while at the same time expose me to the rich cultural heritage of art and architecture found in Venice.

"The opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Renaissance masters and be immersed in the culture and history of Venice was an extraordinary opportunity unparallel here in Australia."

Ms O’Donnell’s primary interest is in light, shadow and geometry and her focus is the everyday, commonly overlooked, urban environment. This exhibition explores the compositional potential and underlying symmetry of the urban streetscapes within Venice. Using artificial light sources with the strong directional sunlight to animate the buildings and allowing them to reveal a story for themselves.

Residents and visitors are welcome to attend the official opening at 6pm on Friday 13 July hosted by the Friends, Caloundra Regional Gallery Inc.

The Venetian Visions public program includes the following events:

Thursday 26 July, 10.30am: Perfect Blend - an informative talk over morning tea. Free event, bookings essential.

Thursday 26 July, 3.30 to 4.30pm: Children’s guided tour for children aged 6 to 14 years. Free event, bookings essential.

Saturday 4 August, 10am to noon: Kids Club - free children’s art activities.

For bookings and further information please call Caloundra Regional Gallery on 5420 8299.