Street Rhythm Exhibition

Come along to a solo exhibition of some works that I have created during my time at the Glen Huntly Studio.

The pieces in this show will span both the urban portraits and the local street scenes that are around me in my day to day environment.

Whilst there is a focus on urban rhythms within my neighbourhood there is also a focus on the painterly rhythms that I have explored during this time.

Developing both compositions and painterly techniques has been a steady learning process during this time, and trying to contain my zest for colour and movement can be a challenge.

I hope that my exhibition ‘Street Rhythm’ reflects something of the curiosity I feel in noticing the various personalities an urban environment has to offer; in the character of its people, the activity at different times of the day, a suburb at night or a city celebrating sport.

‘Street Rhythm’ is a subject that has many layers and one that I have only just touched on here.

Street Rhythm Exhibition

Chapel Off Chapel Foyer Gallery

12 Little Chapel St,

Prahran

Opens 21st May 2019 until 9th June

Open Daily 12pm - 5pm

Photos from the opening night.

A wonderful evening.

Street Rhythm

Exhibition of paintings by Kate Birrell

21stMay 2019 – 9thJune 2019

Chapel off Chapel Foyer Gallery

Prahran

Artist Statement 

Street Rhythm is a collection of works that I have done over the last few years. These paintings reflect upon my time working from a studio based in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Huntly.

 The exhibition follows both the rhythms of the street that I have observed, and have been immersed within, as well as the rhythms of my own painterly inclinations.

 I am interested in people and character and the various ways in which they interact with their urban environment, be it at work or leisure or some other daily occupation.

 I am interested in people just as they are, and therefore often rely on the quick snap shot on a mobile phone in order to capture an individual in their moment.

 As a regular walker I find most of my inspiration for subject matter is held within the various things that I come across when I am out on the street, walking to keep fit, or just walking to get somewhere.

Various things such as interactions between friends or family heading out to the footy; things such as the multitude of ways in which a trio of schoolgirls can occupy a footpath in a suburban shopping strip, or perhaps the way in which someone may stand at a train station, or a set of traffic lights, waiting for a train or a friend, or for the lights to change.

These are moments within which often lie curious and interesting narratives that simmer below the surface appearance of our day to day lives in this city of Melbourne.

My goal is to continue developing my painting techniques so as to better unite my compositions, and through my love of color and line extend upon the visual narratives that I have looked at here in this exhibition Street Rhythm.

Thank you for visiting Chapel Off Chapel to see this exhibition.

Kate Birrell

www.katebirrell.com

katebirrellpaintings@gmail.com

Instagram sketchbook @lookatmelbourne 

Facebook @katebirrellpaintings

122 Grange Rd

I was delighted to have been asked by the owners of this property to paint this beautiful Federation weatherboard house.

The house is located at the Junction of Grange and Glen Huntly Roads, Glen Huntly. It was built around 1910 and would have been one of the first clusters of residential homes built at the end of the commercial shopping strip that we know today as Glen Huntly. To know more about Glen Huntly’s history go here

The home would have been occupied as such until sometime in the late 1960’s when it was converted into the local Post office. I don’t have any recollections of this, but do recall its subsequent use as a nursery for many years in the !990’s and beyond.

I have added some added interest by way of portraying the owners daughter walking the family dog pass the building.

The painting is hanging in the Grange Junction Cafe; 122 Grange Rd, Glen Huntly.

#tramlife

and an article in the Stonnington leader

Melbourne Morning

Melbourne Morning

oil on canvas

245cmW x 125cmH including frame

A recent work for the entry foyer of a Melbourne apartment building. The piece was developed from sketches of Melbournes skyline from the Ormon Point hill in Elwood; previously known as Little Red Buff. It is the location into which sailed the ship Glen Huntly in the 1840's. Read here for more details.

Playground at Playtime

Recently, I did some work at the Essendon primary School sketching the schoolyard.

View fullsize

I have done alot of location work in the form of pen and ink sketches over recent years; beaches, cityscapes and suburban life have been my focus. This is the first time I have ventured into a space that is a little less public than usual.

Interesting stuff happens when you work under the gaze of those around you. The sheilding walls of the studio are suddenly opened and a degree of vulnerability creeps in, which at times, can wind its way into the work itself.

As an artist, you are used to looking at others. But as an artist working out in public, the tables turn, and it then becomes you, the artist, that is being looked at. Sometimes it feels more like a performance.

One of the reasons I like working outdoors, amongst people is that it forces you to commit; to commit to a time and place, to commit to the line that is made on the surface, be it paper or canvas or whatever. It forces you to commit to those around you, you are being watched, there is an interest in what you produce and what you see. People want to see you follow through, they want to know what you think of them and their world.

I like being able to take something that I can see moving and happening before my eyes and being able to take note of it, the fleetingness of a certain moment, punch it out and capture it into a static thing on a flat surface. 

Given the rapidity, speed and pace of daily life there is a perverse sense of satisfaction that I can in some way capture and hold onto these lost moments through the simplest of means in the use of mediums such as basic writing tools, ink and paper.

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Several community artists will have their works available and on display alongside the works of the E.P.S. school children.

Where: Essendon Primary School, Raleigh Street, Essendon

Friday November 6th 3;30pm til 7pm & Saturday 7th November 2pm til 5pm

Flinders Street Corner

For a while I have been working on the small pen and ink watercolours. I wrote about it here

You can also follow Look at Melbourne on instagram.

My plan is to explore Melbourne city and suburbia with pen, pencil, watercolour...whatever is at hand. 

Saturday Arvo; Best Place

Art Town 2014 exhibition on until May 18th.

I have won the Peoples Choice Award with this painting that I did on location at the Prahran Skate park. Very exciting and many thanks to the Art Series Hotels for their prize.

Get down to Chapel Off Chapel Gallery to see all the works.

Oil on Canvas

76cmW x 100cmH

sold 2014