A Discarded Geology

BACKGROUND The material context for this research can be found in Perceval's painting 'Gannets Diving', 1956, Senberg's 'Under the Volcanoes', 2009 and Rees' 'Portrait of Some Rocks', 1948. Their particular approaches to the arrangement of colour surfaces in the depiction of rock and debris foreground a concern with geological forces and anthropomorphism. I take up this formal approach in order to explore how personal effects and detritus intercept naturalistic space with associations that form divergent narratives CONTRIBUTION My painting 'A Discarded Geology' interprets a geological site located in Williamstown Melbourne. It responds to an ancient burst basalt bubble, leaving a circular rock formation. For capturing the odd combinations of nature and artefact I have utilised various painting techniques. I relate the spontaneity of Perceval's paint applications yet also combine a detailed descriptive focus. Senbergs paints volcanic rock, delineating the life of one stratification to another. In contrast I incorporate the patterned life of vegetation amongst the wake of dormant rock and detritus. Rees's faceted rocks and their scraped surfaces reflect geological forces that resemble human forms. I have multiplied this and pointed to urban expansion SIGNIFICANCE The significance of this work can be found in the way it intersects with the history and practice of landscape painting, still life objects and ecology. The creative work was exhibited in the Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize 2016; it was awarded the People's Choice Award. Approximately 200 people attended the opening at BAACC Gallery. There were over 500 entries for this competition nation wide and 34 artists, including myself were selected. The judges for this exhibition were Guy Abrahams (CEO Climarte), Kirsty Grant (director of Heide Museum), and Julie Skate, (BAACC Gallery Supervisor).