Making Eye Statements: Tasmanian Grace

Blog Post, June 8, 2019

Tasmanian Grace

This week’s blog post features the fifteen Tasmanian photographs that are currently on display at the John M. Parrott Art Gallery in the Belleville Public Library, 254 Pinnacle Street, Belleville Ontario. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday (link), and the exhibit runs until July 31. Many thanks to Susan Holland, the Parrott Gallery’s curator, and Bernard Noel for hanging the exhibit.

On Thursday, June 27, I’ll be making a presentation about the exhibit from 6 – 7 pm in the gallery. It will include a slideshow with about 180 more Tasmanian photos, other slideshows featuring my work, and a look at future projects. Please join me.

The photos are all 16:9 ratio – the same as most computer monitors – and are mounted on foam core. Mike Gaudaur of Quinte Studios (link) did the excellent printing and mounting. The price of each photo is $75. Special orders are available. Please email me for prices. (LarryTayler@gmail.com - watch the spelling of Tayler.)

You’ll find my artist’s statement below.

About future blog posts: the next few weeks are very busy, so I don’t know when I’ll be posting or what my topics will be. I’m planning to spend time in both the Ottawa Valley and rural Iowa, so there will be lots of opportunities for photography! Stay tuned...

Artist’s Statement

Tasmanian Grace

Tasmania is a magical place, full of wonders and delights.

Located about 400 km off the southeast tip of Australia, it is home to about 550,000 people. Physically, it is the smallest of Australia’s six states and is about the size of New Brunswick. It is known for its scenery, wine, sheep, apples, and sharp humour. For instance, many Tasmanians refer to mainland Australia as ‘The North Island’. You get the point.

The climate is moderate and inviting. It rarely gets as hot as mainland Australia – its proximity to Antarctica keeps things cool and comfortable.

For me, it is also a place of retreat and replenishment.

For the last three Canadian winters, my husband (quilt maker Bill Stearman - link) and I have spent extended time in Tasmania. This past winter, we lived six weeks on the island, five weeks of which were in a cabin in the breathtaking beauty of the Huon Valley, 45 minutes southwest of Hobart in Tasmania’s central south. While Bill created quilts, I photographed.

A joyous time for both of us.

These fifteen photos, all 16:9 format, represent some of the everyday magic of Tasmania. They are culled from the 9000-odd photos I recorded during our trip. I hope you enjoy them.

Dawn, Graces Road

Huon Valley

9 March 2019