Val Parker Art

VIEWPOINTS: TWO ARTIST JOURNEYS ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

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Regarded as one of the world’s greatest scenic roads, driving down the Great Ocean Road is a memorable journey today, but must have been even more so when the road first opened in 1932.  Built after World War One by returned soldiers, and dedicated to those who were killed in service, the Great Ocean Road is recognised as the world’s largest war memorial. 

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With 2018 marking the centenary of the end of World War One, two Victorian artists, Val Parker and Michelle Endersby, have combined forces to present an exhibition of paintings inspired by the Great Ocean Road and reflecting upon the journeys both historical and contemporary.

Exhibiting the works at the start of the road at St Luke’s Anglican Church Hall in Torquay from the 30th March to the 9th of April, Val and Michelle are giving visitors and locals alike the opportunity to reflect on their own journeys and memories of the road.

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Val Parkers evocative paintings of memorable vistas and scenic aspects of the road and charming studies of days on the beach will appeal to our sense of nostalgia and love of beauty in sea and landscapes.  Val who has shared her time between Melbourne and Torquay for the past 20 years captures the light and essence of the Great Ocean Road in all of its moods.  Val’s paintings take us on a journey of seascapes from Torquay to Apollo Bay, landscapes between the sea and hinterland, tree scapes depicting the well-known Tea Tree, Melaleucas, and Manna Gums.  Moments in time are captured on canvas of people together on the beach enjoying the simple pleasures of life with depictions of children and nature, and of couples walking together to remind us of romance.  The dramatic and mesmerising waves of Bell’s Beach are represented in triptych, whilst the morning clouds over Torquay present even more of the drama and wonder of nature.

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Michelle Endersby’s rose portraits encourage the viewer to stop for a moment to contemplate the sacred. As a moving tribute, Michelle has painted a series of themed roses on natural linen canvas to represent the tent accommodation of the soldiers in action and the workers on the road. The red roses consisting of the Gallipoli Rose, the RSL Rose, the Red Cross Rose and the Spirit of Gallipoli Rose make up the shape of a cross with the serene pale Spirit of Peace rose as the centrepiece.  Michelle’s paintings also take us on a floral journey down the Great Ocean Road with her series of Native Treasures and Garden Escapees showing a glimpse of the indigenous and introduced species which you are likely to encounter along the way. Another series of 9 nine roses acknowledge the presence of Australia’s largest producer of roses, Treloar Roses of Portland who have been a destination down the Great Ocean Road for over 50 years.  The roses depicted here were all in the first mail order catalogue produced by Treloar in 1966 and remain popular choices today.  One further rose which sums up the pioneering spirit associated with early days of the Great Ocean rose is the Australian bred Cicely Lascelles rose, named in honour of the first person to drive the length of the road in 1922 when the road was little more than a track.  Cicely was also a championship golfer both locally and abroad.

 

Val Parker: www.valparkerart.com
Michelle Endersby: www.michelleendersbyart.com