Shape of Nature
Date: 12 December 2026 - 6 February 2027
Location: West End Project Space - 4 Wominjeka Walk, West Melbourne, VIC 3003, Australia ( associated with West End Art Space)
Hours:
Selected Saturdays ( 10am – 4pm): 12 December 2026, 19 December 2026, 16 January 2027, 23 January 2027, 30 January 2027, 6 February 2027, Thursday 4 February 2027 ( 5-7pm)
See program of events: There will be workshops and artist talks during opening hours ( insert link)
Thursday 28 January ( 7pm): online symposium: The Shape of Nature: Exhibition, Public Program and Online Symposium ( 7pm) Moderated by Irene Barberis ( The Global Centre for Drawing ( Australia)) ( insert link )
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This exhibition Shape of Nature celebrates symbolic, mythological, poetic and abstract interpretations of the natural world. It celebrates drawing and the visual arts from Wales ( UK) and Melbourne ( Australia).
There will be a series of workshops, talks and an online symposium. This initiative finds connections and contrasts between cultures and synergies with Stiwdio Maelor (Wales, UK), Oriel Wylde ( Wales, UK), Melbourne artists and The Global Centre for Drawing.
The Shape of Nature exhibition will initiate and celebrate connections with Australia and Wales. The Global Centre for Drawing ( Australia) is a collaborator for this initiative.
This exhibition and project invites The Global Centre for Drawing (Australia) to connect with Welsh artists. Dr Irene Barberis, Director and Founder of The Global Centre for Drawing, will construct ‘Architectonics #25: Seeing through the Material’, within the West End Art Space ( Project Space). Irene will also deliver a talk in the exhibition and project space, and will moderate the online symposium The Shape of Nature: an Exhibition, Public Program and online Symposium
The project and exhibition The Shape of Nature also celebrates Australian artist Dr Veronica Calarco who created Stiwdio Maelor (Wales, UK) and is now developing a larger gallery space Oriel Wylde ( Wales, UK) . Dr Veronica Calarco is collaborating with Welsh co-curator Emma Jayne Holmes.
This exhibition is supported by West End Art Space and it utilises West End Project Space.
Dr Veronica Calarco and Emma Jayne Holmes from Stiwdio Maelor (Wales, UK) invited Welsh artists: Dr Veronica Calarco, Emma Jayne Holmes, Flora McLaughlan, Gini Wade, Roz Howling, Rhi Moxon.
Fiona Halse invited Melbourne-based artists: Fiona Halse, Veronica Caven Aldous, Wendy Kelly, Amy Cohen, Elly Buckley, Dr Irene Barberis. She also invited Chris Loyn ( Welsh artist and architect)
More information – Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/welivewiththeland/
Media contact: Co- Curator: Fiona Halse Phone: 0403 969 5740, Email: fionahalse@gmail.com
Program of Events
Saturday 12 December 2026: exhibition opens ( 10am – 4pm)
Art workshop: Drawing from ‘Awen’ ( Poetic Inspiration and the Subconscious ) ( artist - Fiona Halse)
Time: 12- 2pm
Cost: $20 ( Max 12 )
Link
Saturday 19 December 2026: exhibition opens ( 10am – 4pm)
Art workshop: Drawing from ‘Awen’ ( Poetic Inspiration and the Subconscious ) ( artist - Fiona Halse)
Time: 12- 2pm
Cost: $20 ( Max 12 )
Link
Saturday 16 January 2027: exhibition opens ( 10am – 4pm)
Talk: Earl Livings ( Melbourne Writer ) https://earl-livings.com/ )
Topic: 10 year anthology ‘ under one roof’ and History of Stiwdio Maelor
Time: 12- 2pm
Cost: TBA ( Max 30)
Link
Saturday 23 January 2027: exhibition opens ( 10am – 4pm)
Art workshop: Drawing from Stones ( Perceptual Drawing ) - Fiona Halse
Time: 12- 2pm
Cost: $20 ( Max 12 )
Link
Thursday 28 January - online symposium ( online)
Topic: The Shape of Nature: an Exhibition, Public Program and Online Symposium
Moderated by Dr Irene Barberis ( The Global Centre for Drawing)
Time: 7pm
Cost: free event ( online)
Link
Saturday 30 January 2027: exhibition opens (10am – 4pm)
Talk: Dr Irene Barberis
Topic: The Global Centre for Drawing - overview
Time: 12- 2pm
Cost: free event ( Max 30 )
Link
Thursday 4 Feb 2027: exhibition opens (5 - 7pm)
Talk: Dr Veronica Calarco ( Wales) – History of Stiwdio Maelor and development of new gallery and premises Oriel Wylde ( Dolgellau, Wales, UK)
Time: 5 – 7pm
Cost: free event ( Max 30 )
Link
Saturday 6 Feb 2027: exhibition opens (10am – 4pm)
1/ Art workshop: artist - Emma Jayne Holmes - drawing workshop
Time: 10am - 1pm
Cost: $20 ( Max 12 )
Link
2/ Artist Talk: Dr Veronica Calarco ( Wales) – talk on residency, History of Stiwdio Maelor and development of new gallery and premises Oriel Wylde ( Dolgellau, Wales, UK)
Time: 2-4pm
Cost: free event ( Max 30 )
Link
Extra links and Information:
Artists from Melbourne included in The Shape of Nature were also selected for Of Colour and Light Exhibition (Women’s Abstract Art) exhibition at West End Art Space - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1efEzUWsdyKrK-i7SmKVHGdlOwZZ8NjBV/view