Two Artists, One Exhibition

This is a joint exhibition of two Canberrans who were artists-in-residence at the Old School in Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains.

Peoples was there in 2023, McLean in 2024. They did not originally plan an exhibition together, but the two bodies of work share many similarities, as well as the location that inspired them.

McLean is a printmaker, while Peoples is an embroiderer, and I will focus on her work.

Peoples’ Gardening Tools

• Gardening Gloves: White Fungi
• Gardening Gloves: Flannel Flowers
• Secateurs

Peoples frequently shows the tools of gardening – trowels, gloves, spades and in this show secateurs. Three pairs of secateurs in metallic thread stitched on to the finest fabric appear to “hang”, the backing fabric disappearing into the texture of the wall.

This artist transforms ordinary gardening tools into works of beauty.

Gardening Gloves: A Delicate Touch

Gardening Gloves: White Fungi is a pair of long gardening gloves that are transformed by delicate machine embroidery in frothy white fungi around the wrists, and even a ring.

A similar pair of Gardening Gloves: Flannel Flowers are enhanced by a tiny bird and butterflies.

These works are delicate and understated, and invoke a garden that is tenderly cared for.

The Gardener’s Companion

Peoples’ largest work is of a life-sized figure titled Waterfall Creek Gardener.