Dallas Bray
Burning bush
(2008)
140.0 x 160.0 cm
oil on canvas
The Kilgour Prize recipient for 2008 from the Jack Noel Kilgour bequest as administered by the Trust Company of Australia Limited
Conversations with the Collection
Dallas Bray and Caryn Streeter
DALLAS BRAY
Newcastle Region Art Gallery collection
Born in Moree and now based in Newcastle, Dallas Bray often sets his unusual narratives in the familiar landscape of the Hunter region with its unique combination of the rural, urban and industrial. Consistent across all of Bray’s work is his quizzical eye and wry commentary and Burning Bush 2008 is no exception. Both title and subject allude to both the biblical story and to the end of George W Bush’s American presidency. The backdrop for the painting is the city of Newcastle, viewed from Stockton, and the figure who wears a hat made from a feral cat is a reference to the artist himself.
Bray’s works are allegories of human folly - but far from cruel or condescending, Bray sees himself as part of the absurdity that is humanity.
CARYN STREETER
Is ignorance bliss?
Painting
Kambala
If a tree falls in a forest but nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Should you feel scared or vulnerable for the woman who is unaware of her grave future? Each painting in my series contributes to the overall mysterious story. I have drawn inspiration from the American rural landscapes of Andrew Wyeth with their associated feelings of isolation and vulnerability, and Edward Hopper’s realistic depictions of everyday life which evoke feelings of uneasiness and create a sense of mystery.
Resources
ARTEXPRESS ED KIT_Bray-Streeter (1.2 MB pdf)