Opened by Tina Fiveash 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Kirsten Wolf 
Artist Kirsten Wolf 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Kirsten Wolf 
Artist Fern Smith 
The Star -digital art print 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith 
Artist Fern Smith
tides turn was exhibited in Sydney during the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras at Tap Gallery Darlinghurst and September the same year at Breathing Colour Balmain 2016.
build up to tides turn
Artists, Kirsten Wolf and Fern Smith would like to present a queer take on mermaids ‘tides turn’ with a selected collection of drawings, digital art prints and watercolour on paper and cotton. Wolf (Newcastle NSW) & Smith (Coburg North VIC) have previously exhibited together in a group show at ANCA Gallery, Canberra. Recently, they discovered, via social media that they were both working on images of mermaids
Wolf is producing both black and white drawings and graphic watercolours with the aim of one day producing an adult colouring in book. ‘I try and draw my creatures of the deep with agency. These are not objects of desire to be looked at and catalogued, but characters who would rip you to pieces or spear you through the heart in the blink of an eye.’
Smith sees mermaids as the hidden folklore story relating to all facets of life from death, love, strength, gender politics and the environment. The exploration of mermaids started appearing in Fern’s personal symbolism in the late 1980’s whilst travelling the Western Australian coast line.
The collective experience and expertise of Wolf and Smith present a wonder filled exhibition of drawings and paintings. It’s time we were given a new way to think about these creatures of the sea; one that explores diversity, sexuality, body image and gender.
PDF Downloads for prospective Galleries: CV Kirsten Wolf 2015 (one page) : CV Fern Smith 2015 (3 page) : tides turn example of artworks (3 page) : tides-turn-project-description (1 page):
