Melati Hewison - News

	ochre_colours.jpg		Ochre 'When I was researching this series in the Northern Territory, Australia, I was given 5 ochre rocks from Darwin's coast line. I then ground them into a powder using a mortar & pestle. From this powder I made paints. These paints are the same as the Aboriginal people have used in their cave and bark paintings for thousands of years. My wish in using the ochre paint was to bring a bit of Australia, the country, into these paintings. To pay my respect to this scared land and it's ancient spiritual culture.'

	art_invite.jpg		Australian Landscape Exhibition - opening 11 May The Australian Landscape Exhibition is a show exploring the beauty and magic of Australian landscape through photography and the medium of acrylic and ochre paints on canvas. This brother and sister team will exhibit together for the first time to bring alive the spirit and imagery of Australia for their audience. Opening night: 6-8pm Tuesday, 11th May 2010 When: 12th - 23rd May 2010 Hours open: 11am-6pm Mon-Thurs & Sat, 11am-9pm Fri, 1-5pm Sun Where: Melbourne Central, Level 2, Fashion Incubator (enter escalator at Cnr La Trobe and Swantson Streets)

	PortiaGeach.jpg		Portia Geach Memorial Award 2009 I am honoured to be included in the exhibition of the Portia Geach Memorial Award, which is the most prestigious award for female portrait painters in Australia. This year there were 328 entries and 51 paintings were exhibited. You can visit the exhibition which is on show: 25th September - 8th November 2009 S.H. Ervin Gallery, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm (closed on Monday).

	kecak2_0.jpg		Kecak Kecak is a Balinese trance ritual accompanied by male chorus originating from Bona village in Bali. It is also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of 100 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "cak" and throwing up their arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana where the monkey-like Hanuman helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana to get his wife Sita back. I have seen this performance many times, and have even had the fortune of learning the basics from the best teachers in Bali. I learnt the role of being one of the 'monkeys' - who call 'cak cak' 7 times each beat. It is energising and alot of fun. It clears the mind and relaxes the body. I saw this performance (pictured left) in Kecak's home village of Bona where I lived. I felt inspired by the local's excitement and pride of their contribution to Balinese culture and tradition. It inspired me to paint the Balinese dancer series.

	studio.jpg		Painting in Bali From July to December 2008 I spent time living in Bona, Bali. A Balinese village south east of Ubud. Here I spent my time living with a Balinese family and painting in the jungles. A truly amazing experience, which has bought much to my art and person. To see the works I did during this time please visit 'Balinese Series' from the gallery.