Pawprints from the City to Nature
Exhibition key details:
Opening Party: Saturday 6th of May 1:30pm till 3:30pm.
Opening includes a book signing and maybe a reading.
Exhibition Dates: Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 14th of May 2023.
At the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AGRA) Gallery.
Address: 1 Inglesby Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124.
“Pawprints from the city to Nature,” exhibition features 40 paintings and drawings generally themed around nature. Alina Shirley is an emerging artist who recently graduated from RMIT visual arts last year. She is a storyteller working as an artist, writer, illustrator, and proud member of AGRA Gallery. Alina creates art and stories with bright colours with a magical swirl that take people on a journey to their dreams and fantasies. This is Alina’s first solo show in a Gallery. The exhibition consists of two short stories in two different gallery rooms.
The Starhub Gallery (first room) tells the story called “Narla’s Story Time” for the children and children at heart. It is about a dog called Narla, a Groodle, a former Story Dog and family dog of Alina. Alina has published two books about her life: the first book is “Narla’s Story Time,” and the second book is “Narla’s 10th Birthday,” with a third in the works. (Books are for sale in the gift shop) The gallery features the original pastel illustrations used to make the books, and some oil paintings. It gives a “behind the scenes” view on how the books were made and their story. This exhibition is in memory of Narla, “Alina’s gorgeous girl, who was much loved by all.”
The Member’s Gallery (second room) tells the story of “Nature and Mankind” for grown-ups. It features landscapes and cityscapes with hidden figures and a white dog/wolf. The room is predominantly paintings in oil paints and acrylics. The artworks pose the question: how do human’s creations and technological advancements make peace with the elements of nature? Nature, the lady in the hills, and the Man in the city (representing mankind) must find a peaceful existence to solve the great problem of todays generation… climate change. Only time will tell how this is achieved.
The Members Gallery is a short story called “Nature and Mankind” for adults. It features landscapes and cityscapes with hidden figures, faces and animals inside them. The room is predominately paintings in oil paints and acrylics. The artworks pose the question: how do human’s creations and technological advancements make peace with the elements of nature? The artworks reflect on humans’ technological advancement and their “use” of nature relating to the big issue of today, climate change. The room begins with the city and reveals the “Man in the city.” The “Man” represents humankind, and he wears the face of time ticking to an immanent fate of humanity. Man is concerned with technological advancement and taming nature. In the middle, Man meets Nature, who predominantly takes her form as “the lady in the hillside.” She wears faces in the rocks, trees, hills, and generally takes many faces in many places. Ultimately, she finds protection in animals, the main one being, a wolf or dog. The story is told through the eyes of the white dog or wolf that walks the streets, hills, and mountains, sometimes alone or with company, seeing the story unfold. When Man and Nature meet in the middle, they explore peace living by the water together. However, Nature notices the pollution in her skies in the cities. Man and Nature find themselves at crossroads, symbolised by the waterfall and creek. Do Man and Nature stay in harmony, or do they fall apart? Do humans find peace with nature or make war? The wolf and the human together, in the forest by the tree of life, represents hope than man will preserve and serve nature. But only time will tell.
The Starhub Gallery is a story called “Narla’s Story Time” for the children and children at heart. It is about “Man’s best friend” a dog. This dog is called Narla, a Groodle (poodle cross golden retriever), and loyal loving family dog of Alina. Narla was a ‘Story Dog’ at the local primary school for five years helping the children learn to read. Story dogs are like a therapy dog trained to go to schools and read with students supporting their learning. Born from Alina’s love for Narla, she has published 2 books about her life: the first book is “Narla’s Story Time,” and the second book is “Narla’s 10th Birthday.” The room features the original pastel illustrations used to make the first book, and the second book. The books are available for purchase at the gift shop. Narla’s books are a series of true stories about Narla's life and illustrate the joys of having a pet and supporting learning to read. If you like dogs and empowering literacy among young people, then check out these illustrations and books! Additionally, the show includes some paintings of Narla in oil paint made as artworks. There is a third book in the works about a day in the life of Narla as a story dog in the works, called “Narla Say’s Come Read with Me!” Narla was a real dog, “much loved” by her family, Alina, her community, and the school students. Tragically, she passed away recently in January. This show honours the memory of Narla, our gorgeous golden star.
To stay up to date with the upcoming exhibition connect on Instagram @alinashirley.art
Follow the Narla’s Story Time on instagram @alinashirley.storybooks
RSVP to the event on Facebook: Pawprints from the City to Nature