Local Sandgate Artist Pete Martin has hit the world-stage with works from his ‘Road Trip’ exhibition. International curator Paola Trevisan has invited him to be part of the ‘Creative Energy’ exhibition to be held in Estense castle in Ferrara Italy later this month.
The exhibition brings artists together from all over the world. “I am very happy to be invited, it is a great honour, and it is very reassuring to know that my work is appreciated around the world. I will travel to Italy, to attend the exhibition opening and to connect with art dealers, galleries owners and other artists”.
Works selected were “Detour” and “Circle of Life”, both aerial perspective paintings from the ‘Road Trip’ exhibition. The works are very Australian; they explore our connection with our roads. ‘Detour’ is all about being delayed by road works, set against a landscape that makes a 5 minute delay appear as trivial as it truly is. ‘Circle of Life’ is mainly about a funeral where everyone drives from the church to the cemetery rather than walk just 20 metres. It’s a bit nostalgic; there was a time when nearly everyone identified themselves by the car they drove. The landscape also shows how mankind tries to make order but because we are so divided we can never really all agree which can be seen in the different alignments of the Church, the Cemetery and the roads.
The ‘Road Trip’ exhibition showed successfully in Bundaberg and Roma Regional galleries and is Pete Martin’s 16th solo exhibition with many of the works having won awards along the way.
The book of the ‘Road Trip’ exhibition will be launched on 26 November 2010 at Martin Galleries. The 40 page book contains images of all the works and the stories behind them, along with other aerial paintings that lead to ‘Road Trip’.
Martin Galleries will be closed over the Easter period and will re-open Wednesday 15th April.
Thank you to all for helping me bring some of the freshest art to Brisbane. The exhibition schedule for 2009 promises some exciting shows to come so watch the webpage regularly.
Happy Easter from Pete and family
The best the gallery has to offer, a great collection of works ranging in price and size. Forget the rush of department stores, slow down and browse in air conditioned comfort there is something here for everyone.
Pete with his painting 'Water trough, Biloela' which won 1st prize in the Landscape section.
Photo courtesy Brian Hannan
