The Araluen Arts Centre proudly presents Here, an exhibition of new paintings by Alice Springs artist Sarah Brown.

“We are thrilled to be exhibiting Sarah Brown in the Araluen Galleries with her wonderful artistic representation of living in Central Australia,” Director of the Araluen Cultural Precinct, Dr Mark Crees said.

“Following on from a recent solo exhibition in Singapore, Here is Brown’s third exhibition at the Araluen Arts Centre.

“Brown’s paintings, her technique, use of colour and subject matter are instantly recognisable and are much sought after.”

In addition to being a renowned artist, Sarah Brown is one of Australia’s most dedicated activists and advocates for the health of Aboriginal people and is the CEO of The Purple House, a dialysis services provider for Western Desert Dialysis, and in 2017 she was awarded the HESTA Australia Nurse of the Year Award - yet she still finds time to paint.

Her painting practice is a form of meditation in the midst of that full-on schedule, but it is also a meditation on what it actually means to live Here, in Central Australia.

Brown focuses the light and form, the colour and the contrast of the desert into her images, attempting to understand the many layers, forms and meanings embedded in this landscape.

The paintings conjure simple memories of life here: a Sunday drive, close and distant horizons, a night spent in a swag in a riverbed.

“These paintings, and the physical act of painting them, are Brown’s acknowledgment of the complexity of country, the stories, the Tjukurrpa, and the land as sources of spiritual and physical wellbeing for the Aboriginal people of the Western Desert with whom she works,” Dr Crees said.

Proceeds from the exhibition sales of Here will be donated by the artist to the dialysis services delivered by The Purple House in Papunya, Docker River and Mt Liebig.

The exhibition will be officially opened this Friday 30 June at 6pm by Mr Chansey Paech, Member for Namatjira, and will continue until 20 August 2017.

Media interviews

Araluen Cultural Precinct Director, Dr Mark Crees 08 8951 1126
Sarah Brown, 0448 685 610

Image: Sarah Brown, Simpsons Gap, 2016. Acrylic on Gesso board.