Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening of the Nature's Foundations 4 exhibition at The Gallery – St Peters. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the resulting artwork from our 2024 Artist Residency Program recipients: Kirrily Anderson, Catherine Bourn and Josephine Lennon.

It was standing room only as guests gathered to appreciate the impressive works created following each of the artists residencies on one of our remote nature reserves. While each artist has their distinct style, there is a clear connection and relationship between the artworks, representing the vast and arid landscapes that inspired them.

Held as part of Nature Festival, we were delighted to have the Chair of Nature Festival, Vicki-Jo Russell AM open proceedings for the evening. Vicki-Jo shared her heartfelt reflections on the relationships between nature and art:

"This exhibition is a celebration of nature and art. On the one hand they seem polar opposites – nature is real and bound within systems– while art is imagined and interpreted. 

But in reality, they are natural companions.  

They are equally sources of: inspiration, curiosity, beauty, truth and connection. 

The Nature Festival is a celebration of our connection to nature and art is fundamental to this. 

It allows ideas to by-pass our stubborn brains and go straight to the heart, it helps us stop and notice, and to have the difficult conversations and feelings we need - if we are going to make the changes we need to move forward. 

This kind of engagement is not confined to just one artistic medium. In the Nature Festival program this year we have artists contributing music, dance, visual, digital, writing and much more. 

Art is as diverse as nature itself and its wonderful to come in to this amazing space and see this diversity explored."

Vicki-Jo's comments were followed by Nature Foundation CEO, Alex Nankivell, who introduced the artists and shared the background of the Artist Residency Program, funded by the Helen James Endowment Fund. 

Founded in 2019, Nature Foundation's Artist Residency Program offers artists with a professional profile the opportunity to spend up to two weeks at either Witchelina or Hiltaba Nature Reserves.

Nature Foundation provides participating artists with accommodation and general support, including orientation to and guidance on the Nature Reserves.

Kirrily Anderson then spoke on behalf of the artists, sharing the value of the residency for her both personally and professionally. 

Following the formalities, guests continued to peruse the exhibition, speaking with the artists and other guests, along with purchasing artworks, with a small part of the proceeds supporting Nature Foundation and the remainder going directly to the artists.

Many thanks to gallery curator, Emma Comely, for expertly arranging the artworks and supporting the artists and Nature Foundation with the exhibition, and for everyone involved in the evening and exhibition.

The exhibition is on display until 15 November 2025, with artworks for sale via our online store.

Two further nature-related exhibitions are also on display during this time; 'Small lives through the lens', a photographic exhibition of insects by Gregory Coote, and 'The way they move through the air', blending painting, digital art, poetry and journal entries exploring birds as both subject and symbol by Chloe Noble, with sound design by Keira Simmons.

Nature's Foundations 4

The Gallery in St Peters Town Hall Complex (accessible via St Peters Library)

• Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9:30am-5:00pm
• Wed: 9:30am-1:00pm
• Sat: 10:00am-4:00pm
• Sun: Closed

About the artists:

Kirrily Anderson

Kirrily Anderson is an artist based in North East Victoria. She grew up on a farm in the NSW Riverina, which helped develop her appreciation of and practical skills for the outdoors.

She is renowned for her mesmerising exploration of the intricacy of nature, with her art spanning the scope of delicate works on paper to captivating murals that showcase her attention to detail and passion for the wonders surrounding us.

Kirrily works closely with her local community on public art, collaborating with local councils, schools, festivals and businesses, creating site-specific artworks, and earning recognition as one of the region's most respected muralists.

A versatile multidisciplinary artist, Kirrily's artistic journey encompasses a constant exploration of new frontiers, forging connections between people, places, and memories. Through her creative practice, she strives to deeply resonate with audiences, leaving a lasting impact.

kirrilyanderson.com

Catherine Bourn

Catherine Bourn is a watercolour artist who immerses herself in the landscape, quietly observing the rhythm and abundance of life amongst the rocks and other seemingly static natural formations.

Since 2017, she has regularly visited and sought artistic inspiration from the Flinders Ranges. Since 2019, she has exhibited as part of SALA (South Australian Living Artists), including exhibitions at Rawnsley Park Station.

In preparing for her 2022 SALA exhibition, Catherine travelled through South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. During this travel, she began to notice the colours in the landscape telling their own story. The deep reds and oranges, the bright yellow sunrise, and the dappled green humidity were all poised against the sapphire blue sky and distant cobalt ranges. The colours of her paintings began to form a collective spectrum, which led her to seek further opportunities to emphasise this prism on the landscape with purpose.

@catherinembourn on Instagram

Josephine Lennon

Josephine Lennon is a Mirning and Antikirinjara artist who currently lives in Ceduna and actively works on her own artwork, including consignments and within local arts programs. She sees her family as a major motivation, and her key inspiration is keeping her culture and language alive, reinforcing her connection to Country, land, and sea through her art.

An acclaimed and award-winning artist, Josephine produces artworks that address themes of Country and the unique environments, vegetation and animals that inspire her, including Sturt Desert Peas, Paper Daisies, bush tucker, whales, fire, wind, and the salt lakes.

Josephine has received significant recognition throughout her career thus far, including being awarded the prestigious Don Dunstan art prize at the 2016 'Our Mob' Aboriginal art exhibition, Runner-up in the 2019 Port Augusta Malka Aboriginal Art Prize, and Runner-up in the 2019 Port Lincoln Art Prize.

Browse and buy artwork online.

Photos by Darren Clements Photography.