Creative artwork on show

CREATIVE: Mount Gambier artists and friends Chrissy Pudney and Glenys Hughes show off some of their works which are on display at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex for the exhibition Surroundings.
CREATIVE: Mount Gambier artists and friends Chrissy Pudney and Glenys Hughes show off some of their works which are on display at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex for the exhibition Surroundings.

DRAWING inspiration from their surroundings, local artists and friends Chrissy Pudney and Glenys Hughes have together created a colourful exhibition of their finest work for the Port MacDonnell Community Complex.

Aptly titled Surroundings, the exhibition brings together their passion for the world around them through a range of textile pieces, in basketry, ceramics and silk work.

Using materials gathered from across the country during a six-month holiday with her husband last year, Ms Pudney said it was fantastic to be able to show both locals and tourists what can be made from simple items.

“Exhibitions are about sharing and showing people what can be done and encouraging people to have a go,” she said.

“Many of the materials used in my pieces were found on my travels and although when you first see them they do not look like much, they can be transformed into something beautiful.

“I also wrote notes in my journal throughout the six-month holiday with ideas for pieces that I will come back to some day.”

Creating scarves, dresses and other pieces out of silk, Ms Hughes said she looks to the ocean, her garden and home for exquisite colour combinations which are abundant in this collection.

“Silk is great to work with, you can do many different things with it and the colour is always spectacular,” she said.

“The dress which is on display was created through inspiration from the ocean.”

Already planning next year’s exhibition, Ms Pudney said she plans to focus on paper and recycled old books.

“You get a lot of the same people coming to the area for holidays each year, so it is always good to change what the focus is,” she said.

“However, this could change throughout the year as I always have lots of different projects on the go.”

Surroundings will be on show in the foyer to the art gallery at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex until February 28.

The centre is open seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 8pm Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.