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KERRY McINNIS | TERRAFORM
7 November - 5 December 2021
The Nancy Sever Gallery is pleased to present Terraform, an exhibition of recent work by Kerry McInnis.
The dictionary defines ‘terraforming’ as ‘earth shaping; the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the……topography of a planet, moon or other body’. As the artist explains: ‘a bit of ‘terraforming’ occurs when I paint (though I remain on this planet). I’ll shift two mountains closer together if the composition warrants. A stream will be diverted so it surrounds a large boulder. Sacrilegious? Perhaps. But Nature doesn’t try to fit it all onto a small canvas. And, in truth, I am not trying to represent a particular place, just a sense of ‘anywhere’’.
The arts writer Tai Mitsuji has noted, ‘McInnis’ work represents more than just the specificities of a particular landscape. While the artist often works en plein air, directly engaging with the environment, her studies seem to capture an emotional landscape as much as they do a physical one’.
The ‘anywhere’ to which the artist refers is a composite of elements that appeal to her. They are drawn from different continents, different years and different seasons, producing a disconnect which she finds liberating and which encourages her to shift her focus away from interpreting just one place.
The noted art critic and writer Peter Haynes has observed that her style ‘could be characterised as ‘painterly’ and her use of brushstrokes strongly exemplifies her approach to her motif. Her control of paint is consummate and her ability to indicate (or perhaps suggest) the underlying structures of nature indicates her understanding of her motif.’
The monoliths that McInnis has painted for this exhibition and the waters that flow around them are the dual elements that have become her ever-present subjects and which define the language of her art. Hers is a Universal Landscape – anyplace for anyone.
Kerry McInnis | Terraform is on show from 7 November to 5 December 2021. Gallery hours: 11am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday. For further information please contact 0416 249 102 or nancy.sever@iinet.net.au.
Artist Statement
TERRAFORM
There is a bit of “terraforming” that occurs when I paint (though I remain on this planet). I’ll shift two mountains closer together if the painting composition warrants: a stream will be diverted so it surrounds a large boulder. Sacrilegious?......perhaps. But Nature doesn’t try to fit it all onto a small canvas, and, in truth, I am not trying to represent a particular place. Just a sense of “anywhere”.
The “anywhere” is a composite of elements that appeal to me. They might be drawn from different continents, from different years, from different seasons. The disconnect is liberating, and it encourages me to focus away from interpretation of one place. The Universal landscape – anyplace for anyone.
The monoliths that I have painted and photographed for many years are scattered around our globe. Their mass, their form, their age, are palpable as echoes of the millennia. The waters that lap up to these boulders are tenuous and transparent – their inconstancy a fitting companion. These two elements have become my ever-present subjects and are the language of my art.
Kerry McInnis
November 2021
Artworks included in the exhibition.
(for details of the works, please hold cursor over the image)
KERRY MCINNIS
Kerry McInnis’ exhibition will be held from 29 September - 24 October 2021
About the artist in her own words
Growing up in Guatemala in the 1950's and 60's, I experienced a childhood of contrast and colour, and it was there, at the age of 9, that art became my primary focus.
I studied Fine Art at Middlebury College in Vermont, USA, under the tutelage of Professor John Hunisak and Printmaker David Bumbeck. My third year of university was studiously preoccupied with art history and language studies in Paris. There, art making was confined to sketching in my journals and life drawing classes at the Place des Vosges. My final year at Middlebury was a full immersion into studio work where I explored techniques and disinherited classical tenets.
In 1974 I emigrated to Australia, where I obtained my Masters Degree in Materials Conservation, later establishing a Company to conserve works of art on paper. As Director of Art and Archival Pty Ltd for twenty years, I satisfied my passion for art by observing and conserving the works of others.
My art practice is all consuming now, as I prepare for group and solo exhibitions in my studio, located in the village of Bungendore, NSW in Australia.
Biographical details
Born Hawaii, 1952. Migrated to Australia in 1974.
EDUCATION
1981 Masters Degree in Art Conservation – Applied Science,
Canberra University, ACT
1970 – 1974 Bachelors Double Degree, Honours, Fine Art and French,
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
1972 – 1973 Fine Art Study, Sorbonne University, Paris
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Terraform”, Nancy Sever Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2021 “River”, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2019 “Whiskers Creek”, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
2018 “Farewell, Whiskers Creek”, Form Gallery, Queanbeyan, NSW
2017 “Ikara Country”, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
2015 “The Frozen Desert, Antarctica”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
2014 “Ice Floes and Growlers (Antarctica)”, M16 Art Space, Canberra
2013 “Ross River”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
2012 “Recent Works”, Ivy Hill Gallery, Tanja, NSW (with Mike MacGregor)
2011 “Salt Rocks Ochre Dogs”, Wagner Art Gallery
2010 “Canberra and Beyond, 4 Artists”, Solander Gallery, ACT
2009 “Recent Paintings, Kerry McInnis”, Solander Gallery, ACT
2008 “Chasm”, Paddington Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
2007 “Walter’s Lake”, Solander Gallery, ACT
2006 “Dam and The Witness”, Paddington Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
2005 Facing the Lake Exhibition, Collector Art Gallery, Bungendore Hall
2005 Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, “Double Vision – Portrait Sketches” (with Sue Taylor)
2004 “Whiskers Creek”, Solander Gallery, ACT
2004 “Edges of a Creek”, Oriel Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Salon des Refuses (Archibald Selection), S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
National Capital Art Prize, Finalist, Canberra ACT
“Seeing Canberra”, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Canberra ACT
“Small Images, Grand Visions, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Semi-Finalist, Sydney
2020 Kilgour Art Prize, Finalist, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Newcastle
Ravenswood Art Prize, Finalist, Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Award, Finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Percival Portrait Prize, Finalist, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, Qld
Goulburn Art Award, Finalist, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn NSW
Summer Show, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2019 Salon des Refuses (Archibald Selection), S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Kedumba Drawing Award Exhibition, Katoomba, NSW
“Directors Choice”, Ivy Hill Gallery, Tanja, NSW
2018 Fleurieu Art Prize, Finalist, South Australia
Ravenswood Art Prize for Women RAWART, Finalist, Sydney
Calleen Art Prize, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Finalist, Cowra
Goulburn Art Prize, Finalist, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn
Barton Estate Drawing Prize, Finalist, Canberra
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, SemiFinalist, Sydney
Shirley Hannan Portrait Award, Finalist, Bega Valley RGA
NSW Parliament Plein Air Art Prize, Finalist, NSW Parliament, Sydney
Black Swan Portrait Prize, Finalist, Art Gallery of WA, Perth
“Small Images, Grand Visions”, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2017 NSW Parliament Plein Air Art Prize, Finalist, Sydney
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Semi-Finalist, Sydney
“Small Images, Grand Visions”, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2016 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, Finalist, S H Ervin Gallery
Waterhouse Natural History Prize, Finalist, South Australian Museum
Goulburn Art Prize, Finalist, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Finalist, Bega NSW
Wingecarribee Landscape Prize, Finalist, BDAS, Berrima NSW
Tattersalls Landscape Prize, Invited Artist, Brisbane, QLD
Gallery Artists, Recent Works, Wagner Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Small Images, Grand Visions”, Lynton and Kay Galleries, Perth, WA
2015 Archibald Prize, Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Cossack Art Prize, Invited Artist, Karratha, WA
Calleen Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra, NSW
“Summer Show”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Urban Suburban”, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2014 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Semi Finalist, Sydney, NSW
Rick Amor Drawing Prize, Finalist, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Vic
NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, Finalist, Sydney
“40x40”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Australian Portraits”, Portrait Artists Australia, Australian Embassy, Wash DC, USA
2013 Portia Geach Memorial Award, Finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Naked and Nude, Manning Art Prize Finalist, Manning Regional Art Gallery
Black Swan Portrait Prize Finalist, Perth
NSW Parliament House Plein Air Painting Prize, Salon selection
Kedumba Drawing Award, Wentworth Falls, NSW
“Drawing, A Fundamental Liberation 3, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Abstract Landscapes”, Form Gallery, Queanbeyan, NSW
2012 Kedumba Drawing Award 2012, Wentworth Falls, NSW
Calleen Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Art Gallery
“Innovators”, Portrait Artists Australia, Parliament House, Canberra ACT
“Weereewa, En Plein Aire”, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, NSW
“Drawing, A Fundamental Liberation 2”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Drawing, A Fundamental Liberation”, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
“Six Pack”, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Goulburn, NSW
2011 Dobell Drawing Prize, Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW
Countryscapes 2011 Finalist, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery
Portia Geach Memorial Award, Finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Cowra Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Art Gallery
“40x40”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Drawing, A Fundamental Liberation”, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Faces of Australia”, Portrait Artists Australia, NSW Parliament, Sydney, NSW
2010 Paddington Art Prize 2010, Finalist, Sydney
Salon des Refuses, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Award, Finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Cowra Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery
Mosman Art Prize, Finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Mortimore Art Prize, Finalist, Dubbo
“Survey Exhibition”, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
“Canberra and Beyond, 4 Artists”, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2009 Salon des Refuses, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Cowra Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery
Waterhouse Natural History Prize Finalist, South Australian Museum
Countryscapes 09 Finalist, Country Energy, Lismore Regional Art Gallery
Liverpool City Art Prize, Finalist, Casula Powerhouse
“Portraits”, Portrait Artists Australia, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
2008 Lexus Mortimore Art Prize, Finalist, Dubbo
EMSLA Prize, Finalist, Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery
Norvill Art Prize, Finalist
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
Waverley Prize, Finalist, Waverley Woolhara Arts Centre
Alvaro Painting Prize, finalist, Berrima BDAS
Cowra Art Prize, Finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery
2007 Musswelbrook Art Prize, Finalist
Lexus Mortimore Art Prize, Finalist, Dubbo
Bellingen Art Prize, Finalist, Bellingen
EMSLA Prize, Finalist, Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery
“Climate Change”, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, NSW
2006 Mosman Prize Exhibition, finalist, Mosman Art Gallery
Waverley Prize Exhibition, finalist, Waverley Woolhara Arts Centre
Alvaro Painting Prize, finalist, Berrima
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
“Icons and Idols”, Portrait Artists Australia, Arthouse, Sydney, NSW
“Solander Survey Exhibition”, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
“Facing the Lake”, Collector Art Gallery and Bungendore Art School Hall, NSW
2005 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, Finalist
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
Walkom Manning Art Prize, Finalist, Manning Regional Gallery
“Landscape 2005”, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
“Group Exhibition, Gallery Artists”, Paddington Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, NSW
“Australian Portraits”, Portrait Artists Australia, Gallery 1601, Wash DC, USA
“Waterworks”, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, NSW
2004 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, Finalist
Bega Art Prize Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
2003 Cowra Art Prize Finalist, Cowra Regional Art Gallery
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize Finalist, Bega Regional Gallery
Hazlehurst Works on Paper Prize Finalist, Hazlehurst Regional Gallery
Walkom Manning Art Prize Finalist, Manning Regional Art Gallery
“Portrait Artists Inaugural Exhibition, Portrait Artists Australia, Arthouse, Sydney, NSW
“Artists by Artists”, Portrait Artists Australia, Arthouse, Sydney, NSW
2002 Portia Geach Portrait Prize Finalist: 2 paintings selected
Grafton Regional Gallery ‘Jacaranda Drawing Award’ Finalist
Albury Regional Gallery Works on Paper Prize Finalist
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize Finalist. .Bega Valley Regional Gallery
2001 Dobell Prize Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW
Waverley Art Prize Finalist, Bondi, NSW
Norvill Art Prize Finalist, Murrurundi, NSW
Rotary Camberwell Art Prize Finalist, Melbourne
AWARDS, PRIZES, GRANTS
Salon des Refuses (Archibald Selection), Holding Redlich Peoples Choice Award, Sydney, 2019
Wingecarribee Drawing Prize, Highly Commended, Bowral, 2018
John Copes Portrait Prize, Highly Commended, 2016
Norvill Art Prize, Commended, 2012
Wingecarribee Art Prize, Winner 2011
Waterhouse Natural History Prize, Highly Commended, 2010
Norvill Art Prize, Highly Commended, 2010, 2014
Bellingen Art Prize, Highly Commended, 2008
Alvaro Painting Prize, Commended, 2007
Lexus Mortimore Prize, Highly Commended, 2006
John Copes Prize, Commended, 2006
Arts ACT, Travel Grant to Washington, DC, Conference, 2005
Bundanon Art Trust, Bundanon Residency, 2005
Bega Art Prize, Winner, 2005
COLLECTIONS
National Library of Australia, The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), The Bundanon Trust, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, CSIRO, National Institute of the Arts, Canberra, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Bega Regional Art Gallery, Canberra Hospital Foundation, Canberra School of Music, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Queanbeyan City Council, PNG High Commission, Private collections in Australia and overseas.