Ursula explores Black Saturday
Ursula Theinert feels passionate about the importance of art in helping to stimulate interest and discussion in the community about environmental issues.
“My focus is on the profound spiritual connection we have with nature and the dichotomy of our behaviour to our world.” Ursula’s paintings attempt to highlight the ‘hidden’ realities in forest and land management practices. “… it fascinates me that on the ’surface’, pine plantations give the impression of environmentally positive outcomes, however, on closer scrutiny they lead to ‘deserts’ under their canopy for native flora and fauna.”
Ursula’s current series is about her experiences of the Black Saturday fires and looks at the profound spirituality felt during that dreadful night. “My paintings reflect my coming to terms of the aftermath and attempt to express the loss of the old realities and the acceptance of the new beginning.”
Ursula is involved in a group of professional artists who feel passionate about the environment and have formalized their ideals and goals in using art to encourage discussion and insight into the complex environmental issues we all face.
“Our group are going to have a touring exhibition called ‘Fields of View’ which will focus on the environmental disaster of the Black Saturday fires, beginning in February 2010. The Regionalis show with five others will be a great lead up to it.”
Ursula also paints portraits. “I continue to paint portraits and will also keep entering the Archibald Portrait Prize because I feel the portrait work has broadened my painting techniques, skills, and knowledge of the art world. It has also been incredibly stimulating meeting and getting to know the wonderful people who have agreed to sit for me.”
Ursula’s Art Teacher Peter Biram “dared” Ursula to enter The Archibald, in 2006. “I have entered four times and have managed to be successful four times as an entrant in the Salon des Refuses.”
Peters Water comment
One of the works you may see in the Regionalis Exhibition is this piece based on the Murray Rvier by Peter Biram this work was a direct response to the current water crisis we are experiencing in Australia at the moment.
The work explores the delicate balance of the value of water in one of the driest continents on this planet; within this framework the issue of global warming plays a huge part as a conceptual concept within the work.
