ARTIST IN FOCUS: Marci Lutken
Marci was born and raised on an organic farm on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Canada. A keen forager, from her early teens she studied the medicinal value of native wild plants and herbs that grew around her. She has exhibited as a solo artist in Europe and Australia with work displayed at the Australian Embassy in Paris. Her work has as also been published in Australian architecture and design magazines Sanctuary and Home Design.
Marci now resides in Byron Shire with sons Joaquin and Finojet. Marci draws on her Anthroposophical studies, esoteric training, inner work and love of working with nature in her exhibition The Blythe Cipher, which runs June 5–26 at The Lone Goat Gallery, located in the Byron Bay Library on Lawson Street.
Northern Rivers Community Gallery
Take 6 is a group exhibition by six local artists from Arts Fabrika: Stephanie Lymburner, Merle Rankin, Sue Sawkins, Shirley Scholtz, Kate Williams, and Utoska McLeod. Shared Fragments in Time – stories in stitch and dye showcases the love of textiles of two talented artists, Kirsten Ingemar and Enid Taylor, and textiles’ versatility as creative media. Visit the Northern Rivers Community Gallery at 44 Cherry Street, Ballina, ph 6681 6167.
In the mood for a creative sea change?
Still @ The Centre is a lovely and long-established art centre that has been offering our vibrant artistic communi ty custom framing, fine-art printing, high-quality art supplies, art classes, canvases and more. Want to know more about this? Go to www.byronbayartcentreforsale.wordpress.com or email us at [email protected]. PS: No prior experience needed, only curiosity and creativity. We will train you in all aspects of this multiple-activity centre… and two residential units included in the lease could make your transition a breeze.
Lismore Regional Gallery
Jan Davis’s drawings in Big Garden reference the geological fabric of the land, layers of time and stories that exist in this place. The drawings hint at the musical notation of sounds emanating from the landscape.
Also showing: DUO: learning the ropes, presenting five young people with unique one-on-one sessions with a professional artist as a part-mentoring, part-creative exchange, culminating in an exhibition – Sense of self… through the eyes of Jarjums. Ngunya Jarjum Centre Preschool, Lismore, recognises the value of art in teaching children about identity, language, literacy, creativity and pride in self.
This year the centre has accelerated the art program and engaged artists Digby Moran and Penny Evans to teach children at Jarjum. Some of the resulting works will be shown in this exhibition. Full details on all public programs available over the school holidays are available online at lismoregallery.org.
Exhibition of transformative works
A unique art exhibition will take place at the Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay, from June 5 till 26.
The Blythe Cipher is a series of seven paintings on balsa wood using specific handmade herbal, plant and mineral preparations.
The work, which is alchemical in nature, was two and a half years in the making. ‘The collection is transformative, because each of the seven panels works as a frequency to different parts of the human body,’ outlined artist Marci Lutken. ‘Within each of the seven panels there is a cosmic symbol, or imprint. This work goes past the personality; its purpose is not to suit the physical eye but to assist in bringing about transformation to the person viewing it. It works at a cellular level. The effect is one of both transformation and activation.’ No paint was used in the artworks. Instead, Marci wildcrafted plants and sap from different areas of Byron Shire. Each painting is seven foot high by two foot wide. Together when viewed the whole is a ‘carrier’ or ‘transporter’ of the Divine.
Sunshine Alley
Sunshine Alley is an inspiring emporium housing artistic contemporary global and locally made jewellery and carefully selected sculpture and paintings from local emerging artists. There is also a stunning collection of felt and straw hats for men and women, and a unique array of locally made fashion and home-wears. It sits in a tranquil garden, located at the end of Bakers Lane, next door to the Rock & Roll Coffee Co. If you haven’t discovered the shops in this buzzy little lane way it’s time to take a wander. Currently on show at Sunshine Alley are paintings by Rhiannon Power, Lalita Thompson and Syrille Nerovique, as well as handmade silver and gemstone jewellery by Zambra, Susie Cadsky and Ju Ju. A creative place to be.
