Wearable Art Bares All at the Gympie Regional Gallery

Barely Wearable is an exciting exhibition that will be on display at the Gympie Regional Gallery from Thursday, 11 February to Thursday 1 April 2021 that explores arguably one of the greatest challenges of our era – that of consumption and its relationship to environmental issues.

This exhibition is by Sydney based artist Ruth Downes whose work is playful, sophisticated and witty, however, underlying each piece is an awkward and thought-provoking message.

The pieces in this exhibition are a continuation of Ruth’s passion for reappropriating everyday materials and objects to celebrate their intrinsic beauty. Materials for these ‘wearable’ artworks have been gleaned from a diverse range of sources – from aircraft headsets to coffee capsules.

By reimagining these materials, she has created works that transcend their utilitarian function, casting them in a fresh light. The works question our accepted values and how we award status by projecting these everyday materials into the realm of art. They have a preciousness that confounds our expectations irrespective of their humble origins.

Ruth will be presenting a talk about her work during the exhibition. More details will be released through the Gympie Regional Gallery Facebook page.

For those wanting to create their own piece of art with repurposed materials, local artist, Barb Hart is running a “Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Workshop” on Saturday 20 March from 10am – 12pm. Participants bring a pre-loved T shirt and repurpose it into a lovely hairband, neck piece or hat band.

You will learn how to add your own touch with embellishments such as old jewellery, coloured lace, stitching or buttons.

A small fee applies and registration is essential. Visit www.eventfinda.com.au.

Entry to the Gympie Regional Gallery at 39 Nash Street is free, with opening hours from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

For more information, visit www.gympie.qld.gov.au/gallery or call 5481 0733.