Amelia Rowe can be heralded as a leading light amongst the galaxy of artistic talent that seems to flow from the eternal soul of Tasmania. If the passing clouds of fiscal and political uncertainty depress you look up at the inspirational creativity that surrounds us and rejoice.

Amelia Rowe: University of Tasmania Residency

by Len Langan

Art is by nature restless, provocative and controversial. It cannot stand still. Amelia’s work explores her own creativity whilst challenging our inner beings to probe our minds and be at peace with the Universe around us. In her work we are reminded that the life cycle is not only wonderful but in itself eternal – constantly re-birthing beauty from decay. At a still deeper level we come to realise this beauty from a new aspect with a conviction that mother Nature knows best. We can so easily gaze at the stars and forget the flowers at our feet.

One does not need to ask Amelia Rowe about her religious convictions for her talent excludes the jealous God of the Old Testament and calls our attention to His ability to see every sparrow that falls to the earth. Her art is full of love and expressive of sorrow but not in any way morbid or depressing. It tells us perhaps, that beauty existed and will exist again in a never ending cycle.

No wonder that she has won the University of Tasmania Rosamond McCulloch Studio Residency that will see her spending four months in Paris with the Cite’ Internationale des Arts.

One warms to Amelia’s creative personality almost instantly in the almost certain knowledge that she will continue to make creative waves in the world of Tasmanian and International Art.

Amelia Rowe will exhibit at the Brave Gallery in Longford during the Longford Bicentennial Celebration opening on Saturday March 2nd.

Please note: no animals were killed or harmed by Amelia Rowe for the purpose of creating her art. Details for images supplied by artist Amelia Rowe…

• Glasshouses (detail)
  mixed media
  size variable
  2013
  Inspired by Curiosity Cabinets and museum specimens

• Good girls don’t bark, (poodle)
  steel, primer, enamel paint
  190 x 100 x 217 cm
  2012
  This topiary inspired work appeared at Velo Winery during
  the Artentwine festivities organised by the West Tamar Arts Group

• Untitled (lambs on pink) detail
  freeze dried lamb foetuses, acrylic paint
  size variable
  2012

• Bestway
  freeze dried calf foetus, wire, recipes
  size variable
  2011
  The calf foetus was a victim of a severe Tasmanian drought in 2008.
  The floral wreath is made from selected pages of Mother’s recipe
  book, which contained cooking ideas utilising the whole beast

• Hope
  taxidermied mouse and sparrow, quail skull and mixed media
  size variable
  2011
  This little creature was awarded first place in the Inveresk Green
  Precinct Art Prize

• Canine Flora Abunda
  mixed media
  130 x 75 x 120 cm
  2010
  First appeared at Sculpture on the riverbank at Iron Pot Bay Wines,
  2010. More recently appearing at Amelia’s solo exhibition Just the
  shock, curated by Malcom Bywaters at NEW Gallery, 2013

• Amelia putting the finishing touches on the sculpture:
  Dancing goat
  mixed media
  255 x 110 cm
  2009
  Dancing goat was created for Bachelor of Contemporary Arts
  portfolio. (Amelia was awarded First Class Honours)
  The goat first appeared in a specially designed ‘music box’.
  This was a small mirror lined room, where the goat slowly
  rotated to a distorted recording of Swan Lake

• Amelia photographing sculpture:
  Don’t touch.
  mixed media
  105 x 55 x 135 cm
  2009
  A personal narrative inspires this work, the time when
  our large standard poodle became a surrogate mother
  to an orphan chick

• Bunny Crow
  Taxidermied crow and rabbit, glass eyes, polymer clay
  2008
  This hybrid was specimen included in a work called From inside
  the cabinet: futuristic wonders, in the exhibition Come to life at
  the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Royal Park) 2012

Len Langan lives in Longford with his wife Jill.  They are both passionate about Tasmanian heritage and tourism and things that can be done in this industry. Len writes about Tasmanian history  for both The Courier in Longford and the magazine Sagacity,  and works with Virtuosi taking music to rural areas.