Tatiara Art Prize
Winner
Congratulations Louise Flaherty!!
Memorial for Forgotten Plants - Adelaide
White ink on paper
162 x 148
Acquired by Tatiara District Council
'Memorial for Forgotten Plants - Adelaide CBD' is part of a long-term project which involves researching the native flora across the many different suburbs and ecosystems of Adelaide. Drawn with white ink on black paper, this work
reflects the loss and sadness of native plants from our suburban landscape, highlighting native plant conservation.
In making the memorials, my process is often one of repetition; I draw each plant repeatedly, committing its details to memory. By sharing this practice with the wider community I hope that each intimate and creative encounter with a local plant species offers an opportunity to remember.
'Memorial for Forgotten Plants - Adelaide CBD' was created during an exhibition residency at the Mill, Adelaide. The original focus of the work was to investigate the remnant native vegetation of the Adelaide CBD, which I discovered includes four unique ecosystems. I narrowed my research by just looking at one of these ecosystems, which is where the Mill is situated: the Grey Box & SA Blue Gum Woodland, which consists of 96 plant species.
About Louise
Louise Flaherty is an artist and arts worker based in Adelaide. She studied Visual Arts at the South Australian School of Art, receiving first class Honours. Her current practice is informed by quiet reflection on the natural environment around her. She uses varied range of media including drawing, installation and ceramics as well as experience facilitating community projects. Louise has had extensive experience working with community in facilitating and managing community driven art projects mainly while living in Tennant Creek, NT. She was a Founding Director of Downtown Arts Space, and has worked at the South Australian School of Art and as the Arts Program Manager at Barkly Regional Arts in the Northern Territory. She has exhibited at Sauerbier House, the Mill, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide Central Gallery, Artroom5 and Murray Bridge Regional Gallery. Louise has just finished a 3-month residency at Sauerbier House Cultural Exchange, Port Noarlunga, developing artworks in response to Port Noarlunga native flora. In 2018 Louise undertook a 10-week exhibition residency at The Mill in the Adelaide CBD, focusing on researching local native plants that grew in the Adelaide CBD area. In 2018 Louise also undertook a Guildhouse LimberUp mentorship with artist Laura Wills, focusing on community engagement and participatory practice. She is a studio resident at the Mill and in 2019 has an upcoming residency at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The 2019 judging panel consisted of Dr Lisa Slade, Assistant Director, Artists Programs at the Art Gallery of South Australia; Patrice Sharkey, Artistic Director at ACE Open and artist, arts writer and academic Sera Waters.