
Tina Cherry
Artist’s Statement
For me, as an artist, delivering a form of ecological aesthetic for the purpose of sensory education for the preservation of our naturel world, addresses the absurdity of the Anthropocene epoch which paradoxically is leading humanity towards extinction.
Having exhibited my work in both solo and numerous group exhibitions, I have had considerable feedback from those within regional Queensland communities of their concerns pertaining to local environmental instability’s, notably coal seam gas operations, open-cut mining, water pollution, urban development, land clearing, and endemic flora and fauna loss. There is a collective environmental anxiety, and it is a driving force that inspires my art practice, in the attempt to make social, environmental, and political change through the narrative of a visual form of effect and consequence.
My chosen medium at present is graphite, I do drawings from which the construction of synthetic and natural environments are built from monochromatic plains within my work, conceptually exploring both the felt experiences (the physical reality), and the unconscious experience (intuitive reality). Through non-representational and realistic imagery within a picture plane, based on the formulation of an autonomous perspective, the use of restriction within the space, keeping it minimal, and emphasizing the diminished scape artistically conveys the effect human development has had, and will have, on the physical place we exist. My aim is for people to recognize what is missing, and be reminded of the value of what is being lost environmentally.
Biography
I am an artist based in the small town of Crow’s Nest in regional Queensland. The desirability to pursue a career as an Artist began in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, being my home for 29 years where I received my early education. My father worked for the Bureau of Mineral Resources, and it was through my family’s extensive travels across much of Australia’s remote regions on lengthy surveys with the BMR I was introduced to the diversity and beauty of Australia’s Naturel Environments. Only later would I come to understand that the mineral surveys conducted through the BMR would later lead to the mining boom across much of our country. In turn, this led me to become an ecological artist, via understanding the significance of our natural heritage through the lived experience.
Moving to South East Queensland in the late nineties, in 2001 I enrolled in a Diploma of Visual art at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE. I then enrolled in a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the University of Southern Queensland in 2006, where I received the Rosemary Lakerink Memorial Award for Strongest Studio Performance in Level 3, at the School of Creative Arts USQ. Currently I am doing a Bachelor of Sustainability at the University of New England, the studies of which I endeavor to integrate into my art practice, to relay the importance of ecological diversity, and the safeguarding of finite resources and eco systems.Influences
The Earth
Awards
2016 Curator's choice for Things that mattered forgotten; Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwilli) 2016, Graphite on
paper,76.5 x 56.5, 30th Downlands Art Exhibition, Downlands College, Toowoomba, QLD
2016 Selected work for the Toowoomba Biennial Emerging Artists Award Exhibition, and acquisition of artwork,
Train of thought: Keep the coal contained, selected for Artist-Led: Crates on Wheels exhibition, touring
Toowoomba Region’s schools in 2017
2008 Rosemary Lakerink Memorial Award (Strongest Studio Performance in Level 3, School of Creative Arts,
University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD
1999 Second Prize (Mrs L. Burgess Memorial, Any Subject Any Medium for Those Residing in Crows Nest's,
Crow's Nest Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Society, Crow’s Nest, QLD
1999 Third Prize, Animal or Bird, Crow's Nest Agricultural Horticultural & Industrial Society, Crow’s Nest,QLD
Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Instudeo Art Trail, Crows Nest Arts and Crafts Inc., Basement space, Crows Nest, QLD
2018 I Spy; with my little eye, Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery, Crows Nest QLD
2016 Little Matters, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
2016 Toll.. a travelling exhibition, Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery, Crows Nest QLD
2014 Toll.. a travelling exhibition, Chinchilla White Gums Art Gallery, Chinchilla QLD
2013 Toll, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
2010 The Painters Cornucopia, Attic Art Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2010 τόπος λόγος “Place Study”, Attic Art Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2007 Placescapes, Crow’s Nest Regional Art Gallery, Crow’s Nest, QLD
2004 Elemental Femininity, C7 Café, Toowoomba, QLD
2003 Moving Walls, Southern Queensland Institute Of TAFE, Toowoomba, QLD
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 32nd Downlands Art Exhibition, Downlands College, Toowoomba, QLD
2017 Here, There and Everywhere USQ Alumni Exhibition, the 50th anniversary of DDIAE/UCSQ/USQ and the
25th anniversary of USQ, USQ, Toowoomba, QLD
2017 Artist-Led: Crates on Wheels exhibition, touring Toowoomba Region’s schools in 2017, Toowoomba, QLD
2016 Toowoomba Biennial Emerging Artists Award Exhibition, Toowoomba, QLD
2016 Hampton Festival, Hampton QLD
2015 Fastplant: A Skateboard Exhibition, No Comply & Kontraband Studios, Toowoomba, QLD
2015 Toowoomba Grammar School Art Show 1015, Grammar School, Toowoomba, QLD
2012 ImpACT, Arts Council Toowoomba Members exhibition, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba,
QLD
2011 12th Group Exhibition, Made. Creative Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2010 Gallery 53 June & July Exhibition, Gallery 35 Russell, Toowoomba, QLD
2009 Changing Times, Kath Dickson Community Art Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2009 Hampton High Country Food and Arts Festival, Hampton, QLD
2009 Abstract Realities (curetted by Kyle Jenkins & Robert Kronk) University of Southern Queensland,
USQ Arts Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
2008 Graduart, USQ Arts Gallery, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD
2008 How I See It:Works In Progress Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba,QLD
2007 30 X 30 Exhibition Air Space Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
2007 Art Market, Kath Dickson Community Art Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2007 Our Art, Our Children, Our Community (Kath Dickson Art Award), Kath Dickson Community Art
Space, Toowoomba, QLD
2007 O Week – Women Passionate About Art, Women’s Network Room, University of Southern Queensland,
Toowoomba, QLD
2006 Student Gulled First and Second year Bachelor of Vis Arts Exhibition, Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre,
Toowoomba, QLD
2006 Volly Show by Vollies, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
2005 The Inaugural Art With A Heart Exhibition and Art Prize (Supporting Drug Arm), The Downs Club
Toowoomba, Toowoomba, QLD
2002 Evocative (Second Year Diploma of Visual Arts Students), Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE,
Toowoomba, QLD
1999 Crow’s Nest Show, Fine Arts Hall, Crow’s Nest, QLD
1990 Stirling Art Group (Public Display), Collamon Court Shopping Centre, Canberra, A.C.T
Website
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