Exhibition cost:                    Free

Launching FireWorks Gallery’s 2021 program are two solo shows by female artists, Pat Hoffie (AM) and Jennifer Herd. Both prolific multi-disciplinary artists and educators, their exhibitions complement each other through exploration of social issues and histories. Pat Hoffie (b. Scotland) presents a collection of 16 new works on paper, both painting and prints whilst Indigenous artist Jennifer Herd has on display 26 works on paper and canvas.

In the upstairs gallery Prediction Proposals, Pat’s fifth solo exhibition at FireWorks gallery, showcases three series of works created in 2020. The first series, seven oil on oil paper paintings, reflect the artists everyday responses to everyday situations (Image 1). On her second series, Countdown to Midnight (Image 2) Pat comments, “Using the saccharine high-key palette of advertising, these works reflect on some of the critical environmental issues of our time.” Finally, I am scared. I stand up is an impressive 10 panel print on Hannemulhe paper (Image 3). The artist comments “Drawing from the epic subject matter of artists who include Colin McCahon (1919 - 1987) Henry Darger (1892 - 1793) and Paolo Uccello (1397–1475), this work considers the slim margins between catastrophic chaos and everyday indifference.”

Jennifer’s new body of works will be exhibited in the ground floor gallery, alongside a major work created in 2005, Irvine Bank Massacre (Image 4). Recently returned from the State Library of Queensland Spoken exhibition, this work contextualises her latest series. The artist commented on its creation, “The work reflects my own personal prespectives concerning what might be a fitting memorial for the people of Far North Queensland …The shield project traces my own connections to this country and maps a history of conflict in the region over time”.

15 of the works in Underfire utilise the artist’s signature ‘Pinhole in paper technique (Image 5). “My pinhole artworks on paper symbolise the many rainforest shields punctured with bullet holes during early frontier conflicts. I have since incorporated new elements including coloured Targets and Camouflage (Image 6). The repetition and variations within these themes both unify and divide cultural identities as elements of disguise” Jennifer commented recently. A similar work Combat 2020 is currently being exhibited for the Moreton Bay Invitational Art Prize ,15 Artists 2020 at Redcliffe Art Gallery.

FireWorks Gallery Director, Michael Eather, comments, “These two artists explore their own ideas of enquiry and resilience”.