“a beautiful and powerful exhibition”

Deb Milligan’s Opening Speech – Poetry of the Land  – 29 August 2014

Firstly I would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gunai- Kurnai people. I would also like to pay respect to all Aboriginal community elders and people past and present who have lived in the Gippsland region and have been an integral part of the history of Gippsland.

And I would like to welcome you all and thank you for coming.

I am absolutely honoured to open this exhibition. I first met both Deirdre 10 years ago when I was a Project Worker for the Women who mean Business Project. Deirdre and I went on to share an exhibition in Melbourne in 2006 and have stayed in touch ever since – I have the deepest respect for her talent.

As is the case with any artwork, these pieces reveal the way the artists view the world and their places within it. I won’t talk about all of the pieces but would like to talk about a couple in each exhibition.

Poetry of the Land – Deirdre Jack

I have a deep respect for Deirdre’s commitment to her art, the integrity of her practice and the way in which she continually seeks to extend this practice. Her subject is, and always has been, the land – specifically the Alpine region of the Great Dividing Range near where she lives.

Deirdre has created a powerful sense of place through this exhibition, which is apparent as soon as you enter. She has claimed this room as her space, her environment, and the work demonstrates a powerful connection to the land. It is peaceful and fully present.

Our earth, our environment, our landscape is alive and breathing – and this is what Deirdre seeks to capture. She has a distinctive, poetic style, a beautiful way with pattern, line, colour and texture. In her hands these elements are all ways in which to convey her connection with her world.

#2 Blacks Camp Creek 2

There is an exquisite lightness and rising breathlessness about this work – created in part by the perfectly harmonious light palette along with the simple yet assured touch of her brush. It has a shimmering, glowing sense of delicacy and movement. To me it speaks of a morning drenched with unexplored potential.

# 21 Alpine Water Course

is an elusive work with a subdued palette and lyrical mark making. Quietly and whitely liquid and graceful. Deirdre handles the medium exquisitely and with great skill. There is a strong sense of movement as well as an open expansiveness about this work. This wonderful mark making is also evident in the one next to it

#20.Hill Behind the Blue Duck 

Is in a brighter palette with a loose, free flowing technique which captures the joy of these much loved, wind swept hills. To me it speaks of an ancient, knowledgeable landscape that has its own journey, its own life. I am more familiar with this style of Deirdre’s work, with her fascination with grassy hills. I love it. But I am also deeply thrilled and excited to see an increasing abstraction in her work.

#14 Blacks Camp Creek 1

The use of colour is interesting here with the warm golden brown of the earth combining with intense irridescent blue and white violets to create a powerful other-worldly experience for the viewer. This painting speaks to me of the pure joy of being alive, of being itself, with its full clouds and dancing water.

Deirdre has a total mastery of her medium. I urge you to look closely at the mark making – the scratching, the use of glazes, the building up of rich colour. This is a rhythmic, sensual body of work. The colours and gentle textures resonate throughout the room, revealing the beauty and the strength of the land she loves so well.

This is a beautiful and powerful exhibition that reflects the strength of the artist. Congratulations.

 Deb Milligan

Creative Arts Facilitator

Regional Arts Victoria