CSG the Exploration - 5.4.13

Serpentine Community Gallery

is proud to present

"CSG - the exploration:

An Artist's Dialogue".

The walls of the gallery

 have been dedicated to CSG - the exhibition,

 exploring the creative expressions

 and emotions centred around the

hotly contested coal seam gas issue.

This is a special exhibition

 open to the community

 to help debrief and

share the passionate artforms

 this issue has spawned.

All are welcome to the opening,

an all-ages event

 to be officially opened by

 Lismore City Cr Simon Clough

 this Friday, April 5 2013, at 6pm.

The Arts Cafe will be open to refresh

 excited tongues in this artists dialogue.

Music, art and information available.

Artist's Statement

'Our Mob’s Message'

87% of voters in the plebiscite conducted in conjunction

with the Lismore local government election in Sept 2012

 did not support CSG exploration and mining in our region.

 Community anti-CSG activity, including marches, surveys, fund-raising concerts, protests, lobbying of politicians,

letters to the press and communication via social media, reinforces the very clear message from our mob that

 we are locking the gate to coal and gas companies

 and their destructive impacts.

As an artist primarily concerned with portraying the natural environment and its fauna – which are of course highly susceptible to damage from CSG mining – it came naturally

to me to symbolize our mob’s message in this painting. The attitude of the kangaroos is wary, watchful, and ready for action against threats, as ours is in relation to CSG mining.

After deducting creative and presentation costs, all money derived from the sale of this painting will be donated to support further research into the effects of CSG.

- Jill Garsden, 2013

Claire Chatfield

'Our Water' - print

Clowns Against Gas

[CAG]

Michelle Gilroy

'Contemplation'

oil on canvas

Artist's Statement

'Contemplation'

Contemplation is about the realisation

of what would happen if the CSG industry

takes its hold on this beautiful region

and the effect it would have on the environment.

Wandering in the haze of reflection

and feeling the need to protect our land and water

from its devastating effects.

In the surreal landscape with a dream like quality

 the figure is pondering the meaning of life

 and the consequence of taking the

basic needs of life for granted.

- Michelle Gilroy, 2013

Deborah Gower

'Oh Frack, Who Left the Gate Open?'

mixed media

Artist's Statement

'Oh Frack, Who Left the Gate Open?''

“Concern about the impact of fracking

on our drinking water, air, climate

and communities is firing up

 Northern Rivers artists.

 The Lock the Gate Campaign

is highlighting the debate

 and this artwork is one way

to initiate discussion

 on the impact of Fracking

 and extracting Coal Seam Gas.”

- Deborah Gower, 2013

Genevieve Mortison

'The Wounded Soldier

- Disbelief'

digital print and folded form

Michelle Gilroy

'Moonlight at the Sacred Well'

oil on canvas

Artist's Statement

'Moonlight in the sacred well'

Bathed in moonlight the figure gazes out

as if to stare at the moon, which is not shown.

 This painting is a venture into the sacred aspects of water

and its connecting influence with the feminine elements

that sustain and enthrall my soul.

 Within what I find is a spiritual aspect

 there is also a practical reflection

 not just of the sacred

 but the immediate fundamental necessity

 of clean air, water, and soil.

 The figure is glowing in the moonlight

 having been healed and replenished

 by the life giving vessel

that is this sacred element.

- Michelle Gilroy, 2013 

Rodney Sharpe

'Understanding CSG'

Rodney Sharpe

'Lock On @ The Avenue'

Hillary Austin

'In The Caldera'