It’s really hard for us to appreciate landscape painting. Maybe its residual damage from harrowing high school essays on the Heidelberg School, who knows. James McMahon Dale in his exhibition “The Navigator”, has taken the traditional landscape and cut the fat. All that remains is recognisable objects, leaving your (or our) imagination to fill in the gaps. We loved it!
Many of the works were interchangeable panels, painted on both sides which could be rotated and re-positioned withing their frames. This was to hint at the changing perspectives of the landscape. Also a great way to allow a viewer to become involved in the composition of the work. It was hands-off for the opening, but lucky buyers will have fun at home
Those who made it to the fabulous galleryeight for the opening deserve special credit. Firstly because anyone who gets out to support the art scene is rad, and secondly because the weather was abysmal. It was cold, windy, dark and flash flooding. But what better way is there to escape the misery outside than stepping into a nice warm gallery with some amazing art and sipping a glass of wine? Yep, there isn’t a better way, think about that.
