local business Stationery Essentials, where she purchases the majority of her art supplies. She will soon take part in an art residency at Lake Mungo which will give her the
potential to exhibit in Broken Hill and even further afield
Local Aboriginal artist Sharron Ohlsen is taking her art to a new level with the potential for an international exhibition.
Ms Ohlsen will be taking part in a special art residency with fellow artists in Lake Mungo National Park later this year and said she is excited for the opportunity.
She was recently offered the opportunity to hang a number of artworks in Stationery Essentials, where she buys the majority of her art supplies.
“I have never been on a residency before and have had very few exhibitions outside of Cobar.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Mungo very much as I have always wanted to see that part of my country,” she said.
Ms Ohlsen, who is a Ngiyampaa/Wangaaypuwan traditional owner, is known for her modern interpretation on a traditional style of Aboriginal art, including the use of mosaic, screen printing, print making and pyro art (where the surface is ‘burned’ with a special tool).
She has previously applied her art to a range of applications, including kangaroo skins, crockery, shoes and more, as well as being involved with the signage at Mount Grenfell historic site.
The art residency at Lake Mungo will involve six other artists, many of whom Ms Ohlsen has previously worked with through regional arts programs, coming from Sydney, Tasmania and even the UK.
An art residency allows the artists to spend time in a particular location dedicated solely creating art in response to the environment.
“I think being in Mungo is going to inspire me a lot,” Ms Ohlsen said.
“The idea is that we use our time in Mungo to really look and feel the landscape, draw, paint and collect images and ideas about our experience of being there.
“We can then use this stuff to inspire us further for when we are home in our own studios,” she said.
Following the residency the artists will be displayed in Broken Hill with discussions underway to also hold exhibitions in each of the artists’ home towns and cities.
The group is now applying for a range of funding to help the trip and exhibitions go ahead.
“Jasco Ltd have pledged to supply our art materials and other costs which is great.
“They helped send one of us out to Mungo last month to ask the traditional owners permission to come and have the residency,” Ms Ohlsen said.
