The “Three Worlds, Triple the Insight’ Art Exhibition at the Award winning Sia Café showcases the wonderful work of three talented local artists.

The exhibition, which is part of the 2017 SALA Festival and Gawler Art Trail was recently officially launched by Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo. Mr Piccolo said the artworks reflect their different perspectives and their diverse life experiences.

Mr Piccolo said Gawler art history goes back to the local aboriginal people, and more recently, art reflecting European settlement in the area.

“This proud artistic history brings us to this exhibition today; where in a makeshift gallery, commonly referred to as Café Sia we see the work of three fine local artists: one of aboriginal descent, and the other two having a European heritage. Scott Rathman’s Aboriginal past, a descendant of the Arrernte people of Central Australia, is represented in his work.

"The rich design of his art is intended as a tribute to his grandmother who was taken from her people as a child, with her memory recorded in his contemporary works,” said Mr Piccolo.

“His curiosity to explore and understand his cultural background is the passion that drives him to look at new ways to combine the traditions of his heritage with designs of the present day.”

Mr Piccolo said Barbara Palmer is inspired to create her work by the patterns in the surface of water, the texture of stone or the elongated shapes in a shadow.

“She charges the mundane scene with saturated colour to create a new vibrant vision,” Mr Piccolo said. “She has always lived and worked in country areas situated on the edge of urban population and this space between city and country is often reflected in her artistic expression”

“Her work is inspired by her love of land and sea and the footprints of human activity found where they meet.”

Paul Pearce has over 20 years’ experience as an Art teacher at secondary schools including North Queensland and Gawler, South Australia. Major influences include artists such as Brett Whiteley, Imants Tillers and Fred Williams, and more recently, the works of contemporary artist, Dale Frank featured at the Adelaide Biennial, provided further inspiration.

Mr Piccolo said Paul finds inspiration from natural landscape forms which provide the basis for compositions in his artwork.

“All three artists have used colour in a very powerful way, allowing us to explore the detail of their objects,” said Mr Piccolo.

“While their work reflects three different worlds, one reflecting aboriginal spirituality, one our rural landscapes, and the other our urban experience, all three artists provide an insight into the world around us.

The exhibition can be viewed at the Café during August.