Bluedollfly represents something loved and discarded, as if beyond repair. Dragonfly represents the unbelievable process of a wormy sub-aquatic creature, after a few years defying belief, climbing a muddy reed, split by the sun and turned into a magical flying machine.
This exhibition is a look at family, childhood, single mothering, with particular focus on the effect of alcohol on babies during pregnancy, i.e. foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. This is not about shaming women, it is an objective (if possible), compassionate look at factors and people involved, which seemed huge and systemic. Hope lies somewhere between creating awareness of the ease in which it can happen, gravity of the damage for prevention, and the idea of unbelievable magical, repair and adaptation.
The artist, Lysh Ashcroft says, ‘It’s a big abstracted expression of stories combined, close to home and community. It’s what’s on the tip of my tongue so this is what came out. There will be a live music act, by Verdanine, my imaginary band, to launch an EP recently recorded in Colombia with a Venezuelan musician called Ale, who makes me sound good and also runs a hostel with medicines and a recording studio. (I wish he was here but you can find him on Facebook under the name, Alejandro Pinto or @sumapinta, or visit Sibundoy, where the Andes meet the Amazon J).The EP is called Bluedollfly, Dragonfly and will be up on Spotify in a few days. Check Instagram @verdanine_ or facebook Lysh Ashcroft.
Adelaide Friday (@piratesdreaming) will be joining Lysh with some of her jewellery on display, with Izzy Voxx (@izzyvoxx) Dj-ing alongside a tease of her artwork.
The opening night and EP launch will be at 6.30pm on Friday 10 January. 4/93 Centennial Cct, Byron Bay Arts and Industry Estate (opposite Stone & Wood). Drinks and snacks supplied. This is a free event. Contact @verdanine or [email protected] for viewing until end of January. All welcome.
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