The latest from handmark articles

july newsletter ― director’s message

Published 24 July 2025

Left: Peter Gouldthorpe, Old Friend, 2025, hand coloured linocut, edition of 6, 84 x 71cm framed.
Right: Rodney Alexander, Verdure, 2025, oil on linen, 156 x 105cm framed.

This Friday we present one of our most exciting exhibitions, Handmark’s annual celebration of National Tree Day. Every July our artists showcase a work paying homage to trees – and the results are astonishing in their variation.

Tasmanian Land Conservancy CEO, Dr Katherine Tuft, will open the show and we are thrilled to announce Handmark has plans to work closely with the organisation. Stay tuned! This exhibition brings awareness to the importance of trees within our lives. Another of my passions, is cancer research, and 10% of exhibition proceeds will be donated to the Cancer Research Foundation.

Please come and marvel (and maybe purchase!) at the 81 works created by our very talented artists.

In this newsletter, Melanie McCollin-Walker unveils an incredible painting of Tasmanian wilderness; Faridah Cameron exudes joy with a vibrant abstract; while Phil Gordon finds connection between wood and whisky in colonial inspired flasks.

Allanah Dopson
Director

Celebrating National Tree Day exhibition, opens at Handmark 5:00pm tomorrow July 25 until August 11.

Faridah Cameron — Sundown Splendour

Published 24 July 2025

Faridah Cameron, Sundown, 2025, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40cm.

Painter Faridah Cameron turns to the abstract to celebrate trees, which she does beautifully in her joyous work Sundown. But Faridah also asks the question: Where would we be without them?

Sundown is stunning. A vibrant palette of pink, orange and green amplified by slashes of black. Two vertical blue marks hint at a tree. “We respond to the beauty of trees, not just in the natural environment – the majesty of forest giants and ancient red gums in the desert riverbeds – but also in the city where streets and gardens are softened, shaded, and made welcoming by their presence,” Faridah tells us.

Faridah is renowned for her unique abstract style. Pared back form, combined with highly detailed mark-making, like the ‘dots and dashes’ we see in Sundown, is her calling card. She always leaves space for viewer interpretation. “I invite you to use your imagination. Sundown is a time of beauty and wonder, but the setting of the sun is also a metaphor for the ending of things.”

Handmark’s exhibition celebrating trees is important, not just for the artists, but also for awareness: “In a world fraught with confusion this is a very affirming show. Our lives are intimately involved with trees, and they deserve our upmost respect. What would the world be without trees?”

Phil Gordon — Whisky & Wood

Published 24 July 2025

Phil Gordon, Trees + Rain collection. 2025, Slip-cast ceramic stoneware with underglaze decoration. 700ml. After purchase, the bottle will be filled with a complimentary single malt whisky at White Label Distillery.

Sculptor, Phil Gordon draws on a passion for whisky as he celebrates trees in his own unique way. Phil has crafted a series of whisky flasks with beautifully handcrafted wooden cases made from specialty timber.

A series of ceramic flasks are each adorned with a simple drawing of an iconic Tasmanian tree – Huon Pine, King Billy, Sassafras, Blackwood and Fagus. Each whisky flask is presented in a beautiful box made from the timber depicted on the bottle. Titled, Trees + Rain, Phil’s contribution to the Celebrating Trees exhibition also draws on his passion for history and a childhood spent digging up antique bottles.

“My most desired find was always the old colonial slip cast whisky bottles with their naïve childlike Scottish and Irish imagery and writing. Brands like ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Doctor Williams Pink Pills for Pale People’ always stayed in my imagination. I have applied the same style for the bottles I created for this show,” Phil tells us.

After the show, each bottle will be filled with an award-winning single malt whisky. This is definitely art to enjoy – the perfect way to celebrate National Tree Day.

Melanie McCollin-Walker — Wilderness Wonder

Published 24 July 2025

Melanie McCollin-Walker, Early Morning on the Whyte River, 2025, acrylic on linen, 202 x 141cm framed.

Is there a better way to celebrate the trees of Tasmania? Painter Melanie McCollin-Walker ventures into the wilderness and returns with a masterpiece. A large-scale landscape inspired by a moment deep in Takayna/the Tarkine.

Last winter Melanie and her husband Brent set out in a kayak in the pre-dawn darkness and paddled up a flat calm Whyte River. As the sun rose over the misty water, the scene unfolded: “It was one of those magical moments. As we were coming around a bend in the river, the first shards of sunlight hit the trees and the mist began to melt away,” she reminisces.

Back in her studio Melanie created Early Morning on the Whyte River for the Celebrating Trees exhibition. “Trees are the reason life exists on this planet. They give so much to humanity on a daily basis.” This work is similar to the photo-realistic paintings of her recent solo exhibition, which was a sell-out success. “I like large scale works because they become immersive for the viewer. A literal doorway to another world.”

Melanie continues to go from strength-to-strength. She is a finalist in the 2025 Hadley’s Art Prize, and again the magnificent old growth forests of Tasmania’s wilderness are her inspiration. “Takayna is special. We need to treasure and preserve it.”

emily blom — to hold what fades

Published 30 June 2025

Emily Blom, Before The Petals Stirred, 2025, Acrylic on canvas with offset and stencil print, 110 x110 cm framed.

That fleeting moment of perfection is gloriously captured by Emily Blom in her exhibition of new works, To Hold What Fades. But alongside the delicate paintings of beautiful young women that have become Emily’s signature, there are surprises.

The cherry blossom is a perfect metaphor: “The blossom falls gracefully after its brief, stunning bloom. Its beauty short-lived,” Emily reflects. “Yet the fleeting nature of its existence is what makes it so beautiful. It is this moment, suspended between blossoming and fading, that I have sought to capture in this body of work.”

Beautiful young women on the cusp of womanhood, their faces hidden from view, “are suspened in that magical moment before change.” In Among the Golden Leaves we gaze down on Emily’s daughter Madeline, her long dress encircled like a rose. “It’s as if a seed has emerged from the darkness and a flower is unfurling.” All Emily’s figures are swathed in rich decorative clothing. “I love the inherent feminity of fabric.”

But, in To Hold What Fades Emily expands her artistic voice. She also presents a series of small still-life flowers, however it is her five-panelled landscape of kunanyi/Mount Wellington that demands attention: “My exhibition explores the strength and vulnerability of femininity, and I have approached this landscape from that viewpoint. The mountain is presented as a feminine presence looking over us, nurturing us and protecting us.”

Emily Blom and Katina Gavalas’ exhibition, opens at Handmark this Friday June 20 until July 21.

katina gavalas — in her threads

Published 30 June 2025

Katina Gavalas, Table for Five, 2025, Collagraph,Relief print & Handcolour, edition of 10, framed 91 x 119cm.
Katina Gavalas digs deep into family treasures to produce her most stunning collection of limited edition prints. Female forms and delicately layered patterns referencing family heirlooms of lace and embroidery, shine brightly in the beautiful new works unveiled in her Seductive Tranquility exhibition.

Katina pays homage to strong women in her life – her late sister, mother and grandmothers. “These talented women are my inspiration, and I have incorporated treasured pieces they made into my prints.” She also proudly references her Greek heritage where embroidery was a skill handed down through the generations. “I elevate these precious heirlooms into emblems of strength to honour my matriarchal influences.”

Embroidered doileys made by her grandmothers are a recurring visual theme. Katina uses them to clothe anonymous female forms. They also layer her backgrounds in rich patterns respendent with ultramarine blue – the colour of Greece – and touches of gold celebrating rituals and family life. In What She Wore, a bedspread made by her grandmother is crafted into a beautiful dress.

Since childhood Katina has been obsessed with fashion, fabric and pattern, which led her to study fashion designing: “In my compositions I want the viewer to admire and appreciate the precious embroideries and fabrics not only for their workmanship, but to also see them as an integral part of tradition and identity.”

Katina Gavalas and Emily Blom’s exhibition, opens at Handmark this Friday June 20 until July 21.

art consultancy — resonance consulting

Published 30 June 2025

Alex White artworks looking splendid in their new home at the Resonance Consulting Hobart based office.
Handmark is more than just a gallery. In fact, a burgeoning part of the business is providing Art Consultancy Services as witnessed in the recent collaboration with leading Hobart company, Resonance Consulting.

When Resonance relocated into their new city office, creating a vibrant space for clients and employees was top of mind. Handmark Director, Allanah Dopson, became their first port of call: “Our office was a blank canvas, and we decided to start with the artwork and build out from there,” Alice Agnew from Resonance explains.
Resonance is a rapidly growing company that partners in project planning, delivery and management. They have just undergone a major rebrand, and Allanah helped bring that vision to life. “We needed art to make a statement while also supporting Tasmanian talent. After trying different options, emerging Hobart artist, Alex White was the perfect fit.”

Four of his large bold prints of Tasmanian mountain huts now hang pride of place in the foyer. “The feedback has been overwhelming,” Alice enthuses. And for Alex, it’s beyond exciting: “I feel so honoured that Resonance chose my work. My art is very niche, and to find it sitting side-by-side in a commercial space is totally unexpected – but really fulfilling. ”

Just contact Handmark Gallery for details of their Art Consultancy Services.

Musical Tour De Force — Bach in the Gallery

Published 30 April 2025

Handmark has secured Australian viola virtuoso, James Wannan, for an intimate concert in the Gallery that promises to be unforgettable – not just for the glories of Bach, but also for the magic of James himself.

This will be a musical Tour de Force. James, a life-long Bach devotee, will be performing the six Cello Suites on viola which he has been obsessively playing since the age of eight: “These are the greatest works, by the greatest composer. It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” he states.

James will pepper this musical odyssey with unforgettable tales and Bach insights. It would be near impossible to find a more charismatic and entertaining person. James proudly describes himself as “an eccentric musical personality” sharing his home west of Sydney with peacocks, ostriches and two poodles, which he regularly serenades.

Luxuriating in Bach and surrounded by Max Mueller’s wonderful exhibition, this is one super Sunday. James will perform Suites 1 to 4 before a lunch break, during which you are encouraged to enjoy a meal with friends at Salamanca. After the final two suites, join James and Max for a glass of bubbles – and unforgettable conversation!

The concert will be held in Handmark Gallery on Sunday May 25, from 11am – 3pm. There is limited seating and tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Jock Young — Upcoming exhibition

Published 30 April 2025

Tasmanian painter Jock Young has come full circle. His life, and artistic journey, began in Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Now, he is back in his childhood home producing glorious landscapes where magical memories burn bright.

Water is everywhere. Jock’s exhibition of new works, Waterways — Plein Air to Abstraction, is inspired by “the dynamic between the movement of the sea and stillness of the land. It’s really about the light,” he explains. Jock paints en plein air with pared-back form and colour. “I am not reporting what I see, it’s how I feel, and my latest works are more abstract.”

Jock has spent the past year in Avalon. “I needed to reconnect with the place where I grew up.” In Yellow Tree Bird Sanctuary, Jock re-visits his “special spot overlooking Careel Bay where I painted as a teenager. It’s magical and untouched.” The bobbing boats and old sheds of this beautiful bay pop up in other works. “I loved sketching here with friends. Now I am back as a professional artist.”

Jock takes us on other adventures. Glowing with rich ochre, we marvel at the Larapinta Trail in Central Australia. While a favourite Tasmanian surf beach, Goats Bluff, shimmers on a scorching day. “It felt like the whole place was burning with colour.”

Jock’s exhibition, Waterways — Plein Air to Abstraction, will be on show at Handmark Gallery from May 2 – 19.

Image credit: Careel Bay Boat Shed in the sun, 2025, Oil on linen, 65 x 80 cm

Barbara Heath — Glistening gems

Published 30 April 2025

One of Australia’s most revered contemporary jewellers, Barbara Heath, has just delivered a collection of beautiful new rings to Handmark Gallery. This small batch of handcrafted delights dazzles with glorious gemstones and luscious pearls.

Only eight new rings. Each one is a masterful balance of boldness and refinement. The largest is a showstopper. A sizeable domed rose quartz is surrounded by delicately crafted gold petals dripping with white enamel. This 9ct cabochon ring glows with “the play of light across the top of the stone giving it a delicate softness. It’s a very feminine ring,” Barbara tells us.

There are also cross-over rings sprinkled with yellow sapphires, garnets and citrines, or polished tourmalines of deep green and pink. Three pearl rings complete the collection. The most striking sparkles with a large creamy south sea Mabe pearl surrounded by smaller black Tahitian pearls which Barbara calls “quirky and off-the-cuff.”

Barbara has spent the past 50 years crafting her beautiful jewels. Each is a work of art designed to last a lifetime and beyond: “Nothing we wear defines us quite the same way as jewellery. It is a miniature art form that light up our lives.”

Barbara Heath’s collection of new rings is now on display at Handmark Gallery.

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