Ten Adelaide artists were invited to interpret the colour blue for South Australia’s Living Arts festival (SALA) which runs throughout the month of August.
The Essence of Blue exhibition was launched on Sunday, August 11 and its theme was developed by curator Joanna Tsalikis who invited local Adelaide artists to participate.
Joanna has been involved in the local arts community for most of her life and has curated many exhibitions through her involvement with OEEGA (Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia SA Inc).
While the colour blue can often be synonymous with Greece, Joanna said she was ‘cautious’ when discussing the context with the artists.
“Blue or the “Greek blue” is one perspective, but blue is very much a social construct and not exclusive to Greece,” she explained.
“It features throughout the Mediterranean and indeed throughout the world in a myriad of ways; our perceptions of nature, of sea and sky, our built environments, our fashions, symbols and logos, divinity and royalty.
“It can also express the emotions as in “feeling blue” or even in music and the development of Blues and Jazz.”
The nine artists who were ‘headhunted’ by Joanna are: Anezoula (muralist and painter); Anne Allen (mosaics); Debra Good (photography); Ioanna (master painter); Harry Koutlakis (abstract muralist/painter); Helen Panagopoulos (unique fabrications/using a range of media); Annie Cousins (landscape painting); Niki Sperou (combining art and science) and Litsa Tourlis (jewellery).
Joanna, who also is exhibiting, was keen to include work from a diverse range of art skills from professional artists and not necessarily artists with a Greek background.
“I didn’t want to engage people just because they were Greek. In fact, three of them are not,” she said.
Self-taught jeweller Litsa has tried her hand at a range of art over the years including painting, ceramics, glasswork and clay modelling but loves working with the art of jewellery making.
Litsa started creating jewellery out of bits of wire for friends and it developed from there. Since then she has attended jewellery and silver workshops to improve her technique.
Her work has been exhibited at the South Australian Museum, the Maritime Museum in Port Adelaide, Pepper Street Arts Centre, Glendi Festival and a range of Hellenic events.
For the Essence of Blue exhibition, Litsa has made necklaces, earrings, brooches pendants and tiaras – all with an ancient Greek theme. Her favourite piece is the dolphin necklace because of a historical connection – the fresco of dolphins in the ancient palace of Knossos (Crete).
“A lot of my work relates to Greek antiquity, inspired by the museum displays of fossils, pottery, and gold and silver pieces that I’ve seen over the years,” she said.
“I like the idea of creating art that you can wear, such as jewellery, because although each piece is unique, it might share a similar design so that other people can enjoy the theme of the work.
“It’s how I relax and wind-down. It’s a great way to de-stress.”
Essence of Blue is presented by OEEGA and SALA until August 31. Venue: Cowandilla Community Room (175 Donald Bradman Drive, Cowandilla, Adelaide).
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