SEA & VINES EXHIBITION 2008
CRISITNA METELLI, LESLEY REDGATE, SANDRA ROSE
1 - 22 June 2008

The exhibition will be coinciding with the very popular annual McLaren Vale Sea & Vines Festival which will be held on the 8th and 9th of June. This exhibition demonstrates a diversity of styles & techniques in various mediums. However, what bind the three artists together are their strong connections to the Fleurieu Peninsula & a passion for the ever-changing beauty of the area. This wonder & beauty has inspired them to create sea creature sculptures & land & seascapes with the Sea & Vines thematic in mind.
Featuring innovative sculptural work and paintings by SA artist, Cristina Metelli. CRISTINA METELLI has taken flyscreen, one of the most mundane materials, and transformed it into a thing of beauty. Her current body of sculptural work is inspired by the elegance and strong presence of sea-creatures; some camouflaging themselves, others parading the oceans, showing off their bright colours or bizarre shapes. She states that she was intrigued by the nature of aluminium mesh as a sculpting medium because of its cold, hard, two-dimensional quality; which when manipulated, can be transformed into a seemingly organic form.

LESLEY REDGATE is a local professional painter & lectures in graphic design at Onkaparinga Institute of Tafe. Fan Bay - Second Valley, pictured, is indicative of Lesley’s unique bold style. Lesley’s paintings depict strong forms & her use of pure colour describes the characteristic South Australian light in the Fleurieu landscape that is a part of her life.
SANDRA ROSE is a local painter, whom attends life painting classes at Noarlunga Community Arts Centre. Sandra’s paintings, with their lyrical colour tones, and gestural strokes, reflect the ever changing colourful vineyards, sweeping scenery & seascapes of the Fleurieu. A Peninsula which throughout it’s many changes, maintains it’s natural beauty.
This Sea & Vines exhibition will be Dridan’s Gallery last. David Dridan is formally retiring from the Directorship of Dridan Fine Arts. Over decades David has contributed immensely to the arts as a teacher, painter, mentor and consultant on a national, international & especially a regional level. What he has achieved with Dridan Fine Arts and Fleurieu Showcase is unique and his involvement will be sadly missed.