Opening this weekend, the Serpentine Gallery will be exhibiting the artwork of three local artists. This week, the Lismore App spoke with the artists about their work.

Michelle Gilroy 

Michelle Gilroy presents a beautiful, brooding body of work titled 'Calling the Birds', which is an emotional response to the impact of climate change. The exhibition is her fifth and comprises oil paintings, ink drawings and wire-wool sculptures of birds. While earlier exhibitions were more joyful explorations of nature, this one has 'more of a storyline' and seeks to evoke a sense of urgency around climate action. Since her first exhibition of birds in 2019, our region has experienced bushfires, COVID-19 and floods, significantly impacting Michelle's art.

"The birds all have their own characters. I hope the exhibition helps people connect and realise that you know, climate change is going to affect us humans, but it's going to have an even worse impact on native wildlife. We've gone from 'Let's prevent climate change' to 'Okay, it's here, let's do what we can to minimise it'. And I think it's now or never. We are living in interesting times. It's about what we leave behind; we will be judged by that, I think. It's up to us whether it's a positive or a negative."

Michelle is an artist living with a disability. For her, the art she produces is proof that her limitations do not define her.

"My disability hasn't stopped me from doing anything at all. So you know, I may not be able to run a marathon, but I've done what I could with what I've been given. And, my art is just something that has really got me through hard times."

Michelle has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts at SCU and is now majoring in painting in a Diploma of Visual Arts at TAFE Lismore, where she has found an excellent opportunity to connect with other like-minded local artists.

Shala La

A nomadic soul, Shala La has been a wandering artist for 35 years, working with various mediums. She settled in Lismore 3 years ago.

"Every decade or so, I need to get out of nomadic life. And Lismore's the place - it's the art hub. I think Lismore gets diversity right… gets the concept of radical inclusion right. I haven't been able to leave. I've been grounded here for three years, which is the longest I have been, ever."

Many of Shala La's vibrant and captivating pieces are multi-medium, containing painting, collage and text.

(Shala La hanging her exhibition this week)

"So this year, I've been focused on art that I previously found difficult and challenging. So the whole year has been dedicated to that."

She describes her pieces as being self-portraits, but from the inside out. Each piece tells a personal story. Some are conceptual, such as gypsy connections and the intersection of love and the travelling life. Others are about experiences, such as when she spent the night with wild penguins. Some pieces touch on Shala La's Romany Gypsy heritage and reflect on historical stories such as those stemming from the Holocaust.

Shala La is also completing the Diploma of Visual Arts at TAFE Lismore, majoring in painting.

Art with Wings

Art with Wings is a collaborative exhibition of eleven artists curated by Gemma, a creative mentor who facilitates mobile art classes for adults, kids and people with disabilities. This exhibition is a celebration of her client's work and is beautifully diverse and vibrant. Gemma shared with the Lismore App several stories about how clients have been able to work through trauma, overcome fears and find a new freedom of expression through art therapy. She sees it as a particularly good opportunity for young people to gain confidence in exhibiting their work.

(Nathan C's acrylic on canvas paintings)

"The show is about connection, you know, connection to yourself or connection to other people… but also confidence in creating, you know, and what that can do for you. Like one of my gentlemen, he doesn't speak very much, but what I've learned through his artwork is that he loves animals. And he's got this crazy sense of humour. But unless I had connected with him in a creative way, I wouldn't ever have found that out."

Gemma has become involved with Serpentine Gallery (which is fully volunteer-run) as a volunteer, and President of the Management Committee, and she loves the safe, inclusive environment that Serpentine provides.

You can view the three exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery until September 8 at 104 Conway Street, Lismore. They are open 10am to 2pm today and 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.