CELEBRATING and sharing the work of local artists, Bellingen’s Nexus Gallery continues its community mission with new exhibitions opening from 5 November to 1 December.

The official opening is at 2pm on Sunday 5 November.

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‘Visual Imagery’ is the title of the Main Gallery exhibition showing the work of four artists, all from the Bellingen Shire region.

The exhibition features painters Carol Simons, Penel Gamble and Chetan Bloemhard, and ceramicist Sandy Robinson.

In the Studio Gallery, painter Ruth Randall-George from Nambucca Heads displays her work in an exhibition entitled ‘Art Emerges from Imagination’.

The artists share comments with News Of The Area.

“Art is my way of expressing the appreciation I feel for the beauty of the natural world,” Carol Simons said.

“I enjoy focusing in on detail, from the unique patterns in bark and leaves, the beauty and vast variety of flowers, to the fascinating shapes and forms of seeds and seed pods, as well as how the light changes through the day and seasons.

“I use a wide range of mediums in my work.”

For Penel Gamble, art gives her licence to play.

“I love to paint, draw and create.

“I don’t restrict myself to any particular medium, subject, or style.

“I often endeavour to tell visual stories which leave room for interpretation.

“Serious or playful, my work is most successful when my intent, or pure joy in creating the work, makes a connection with the viewer.”

Chetan Bloemhard’s paintings celebrate “the beauty, diversity and connection that shines through everything”.

“Time stops in the emerging play of paints, creating unexpected colours, shapes and form,” Chetan said.

“The process is always surprising, and the question remains… is it finished?”

Sandy Robinson is passionate about all aspects of working with clay.

“I hand build and throw on a wheel – porcelain, stoneware and grogged raku clays, and fire in electric and gas kilns.

“I am often inspired by firing outdoors using smoke as decoration on white clay.

“I like the contrast of black and white but also the beautiful copper and turquoise lustres created by starving the glaze of oxygen,” she said.

Showing in the Studio Gallery, Ruth Randall-George told NOTA, “I have been drawing and painting for most of my life.

“I have travelled extensively, including time spent living in Malaysia as well as Texas, where I continued my art studies.”

She has also journey to England and Canada to further broaden her experience and abilities.

“My preferred medium is working with oils and this exhibition combines realism with contemporary and vibrant colour, my works arising from both my imagination and nature, inspired by the beautiful Nambucca Valley, where I live and work.”

By Andrea FERRARI