Pittwater Life January 2017 Issue

Artists Mark Rhodes and
Linda Crawford met when
they worked in the props department
for the closing ceremony
of the 2000 Olympics.
Fast forward to 2017 and
the pair are exhibiting together
at the Avalon Recreation
Centre from January 2-8.
“I always wanted to do an
exhibition with Linda – I greatly
admire her varied skills, a
great sense of aesthetics and
understanding of structural
form,” said Mark.
MRVA teachers delivering for all
Meredith Rasdall Visual Art continues to
achieve outstanding outcomes for the
local arts community, with students of all ages
benefitting from their highly trained mentors.
Meredith reports adult students sold a
record number of artworks at the Avalon
Market Day exhibition in November and their
Year 12 students achieved stellar results this
year – with all students receiving a Band 6 in
Visual Arts.
“Our children’s classes continue to develop
the confidence of our young artists, who have
produced some outstanding work,” Meredith
said. “At all times we encourage individual
expression.”
MRVA runs classes for school-aged children,
high school, HSC students and adults.
Teachers are all university-trained visual arts
high school teachers with over 30 years’
experience, including HSC body of work
marking.
MRVA works regularly in primary schools
running visual arts programs and teachers’
inservices. Teachers include Meredith (BEd
Assemblages and landscapes in harmony
The two have combined
their talents to produce a harmonious
show of assemblage
and landscape painting.
Mark’s says his paintings,
whilst still being reflective of
his definitive style, have further
developed with increased
definition and tonal contrast.
“I have been increasing the
layers, exploring colours that I
would not normally touch and
am enjoying the freedom of
greater variation,” he said.
Linda says her organic assemblages
explore the importance
of family, those we adopt
into our world and the magic
they weave into our lives.
Made from mixed media,
her work (in many materials
including cane, ceramics,
fabric, wire and found objects)
varies in scale, form and
complexity.
“The shadows that it creates
are quite striking with
the appropriate lighting and
placement,” she said. “My
current art practice is focusing
Visual Art; Liz Dunn (BEd Visual Art) and Nicky
Hodgson (BA Hons Graphic Design with postgrad
teaching certificate).
All teachers lecture in Visual Arts education
at Australian Catholic University.
Among this year’s HSC crop, Cait
Halsted (top left) was chosen to exhibit in
ARTEXPRESS and Ben Kusturin was chosen for
Manly Art Gallery’s ‘Express Yourself’.
MRVA are taking bookings for 2017, with
classes starting on Monday February 14.
Children and high school classes are held
at the Avalon Recreation Centre, with adult
classes held at the Avalon Sailing Club on the
shores of Pittwater.
Children’s holiday art workshops (left)
this January are ‘Under The Sea’ canvas
painting on Wednesday 18th and ‘Clay Owls’
on Thursday 19th. The workshops run from
10am-12pm and are suitable for children 5-12
years; cost is $50 per child.
Meredith is also available for private
tutoring; more info 0402 121 184 or meredith.
rasdall@westnet.com.au – Nigel Wall
on using mostly natural or
recycled materials.”
Mark and Linda’s Exhibition
2017 is open 10am-5pm daily;
more info 0425 268 198.
Art Life
JANUARY 2017 35