Description
The artworks in the Ash, Mud & Tears collection were produced for an exhibition of the same name – a collaboration with textile artist, Jude White exhibited at the Northern Regional Community Gallery, Ballina, NSW in 2023.
‘Washed Up’ is a small sculpture work from found and reclaimed materials including timber from a dining table and a piece of driftwood salvaged after the 2022 floods in her hometown and old nails gifted to her by her late father. The driftwood evokes images of cows stranded on roofs during the floods and kitchen tables wedged high up in trees after the flood waters receded. The house on tall nails elevating it far above the ground reminds the viewer of the serious nature of residing in low lying areas of the flooded areas and the inadequacy of the many homes to withstand the rising floods.
Michelle has an eye for unconventional beauty, being drawn to the worn and scuffed and rusty. Silversmithing and jewellery design were her first areas of arts training and so Michelle brings that focus on the smallest details to her 2D and 3D work.
