SONG TO SING…
WHAT: Solo Exhibitions from Anne Marie Verbeek , Sue Davey, Margaret Ritchie, and Sue Soo.
WHEN: 22 January – 7 February 2009
WHERE: ROAR! gallery
55 Abel Smith St
Level 1 (above Real Groovy)
WELLINGTON
Opening: 5.30-7.30pm, Thursday 22nd January 2009.
PRESS RELEASE: To be released 12th January 2009.
Song to Sing… brings together four Wellington-based female artists who are enriching their lives by painting. The mere
sight, smell and consistency of the raw materials, fuels Anne Marie Verbeek , Sue Davey, Margaret Ritchie, and Sue Soo’s
exploration into creating new realities for themselves.
Drawn together by a common understanding of the meditative qualities of the art making process, these artists have all
forged a companionable relationship with their chosen media – paint.
Stimulated by their life experiences, Song to Sing… presents work by four intuitive and inspired artists who are making
art that creates an avenue for engagement, discussion, and internal investigation.
Anne Marie Verbeek:
For Anne Marie Verbeek, painting is a call, a purpose, and a way to be. It is a way of thinking, seeing and connecting.
Through her painting, Anne Marie is trying to make sense of what is and what has been.
Her latest works express lighter colour schemes and paint effects. She’s focusing on a lightening of content – pointing
to a more enlightened worldview. “Over the years my understanding of being an artist has changed. At first it was about
MY expression. Now in context of my Christian faith I see myself as the vehicle or steward of this creativity -
acknowledging my God, Creator and Giver of all things.”
Her intuitive and often unconventional use of contrasts reinforces a personal interest in the transition between
darkness into lightness. It’s like a releasing from emotional and spiritual heaviness – revealing the process of
overcoming.
Margaret Ritchie:
Longing for a change from her busy musical career, Margaret set about using art making as a more relaxing and less
energetic creative alternative to her musical demands. As a result, Margaret creates pictures that balance life’s
contrasts.
Margaret is affected by the variations in light which occur often in the weather. Contrast is a running motif for
Margaret as it represents “the storms of life which come to us all… something which seems very black at the time, but
pass like the rainstorms into sunlight”.
Margaret’s pictures come from “my own experiences. When out walking I take ideas from what I see and make them into a
picture which evokes how I feel about a particular subject or situation”.
Sue Davey:
Sue finds inspiration in the ‘rules’ of architecture, landscaping and the practice of Topiary.
The sculptural elements and symmetry of planted out designs using curves, lines, and spirals are of fascination to Sue
who mimics the form of topiary through her painterly use of colour, shape and form. This exhibition conjures up ideas
about our attempts to ‘formalise’ nature by controlling it through ongoing maintenance.
Sue Soo:
Sue Soo has stated numerous times “I’m not an artist”, and justifies painting by saying “I lost my old man 27 years ago,
and when you paint you forget your loneliness… You’ve got to have something to do, then you forget yourself.”
Sue has a passion for ballet dancers and paints colourful scenes with animals and flowers on a daily basis. This
exhibition gives an insight into compulsive, impassioned and vibrant art-making, by an artist who is painting to combat
a bigger issue - her loneliness.
Art historian Jill Trevelyan says of Sue’s art making, “I realised that she’s created an entire world of her own in her
pictures. It’s such a joyful vision she has - an idyllic world where the sun is always shining and the girls and boys go
on dancing all day”.
Join us for the Opening Celebrations @ 5.30 Thursday 22nd January 2009!
ROAR! gallery is a vibrant gallery which aims to support and promote Outsider Art. Its focus is not to define this term
but to be open to those who feel connected to an art making approach which is unique, honest, compelling and about a
persons total connection with their creativity, uninfluenced by external restrictions and conventions. We're proud to
bring you this thrilling combination of talent and awareness.
ENDS