John Adam with works by daughter Julie (left), himself and son Davidthat will be on show in a joint exhibition.
By Catherine Watson
PHILLIP Island artist John Adam never had the chance to reconcile with his daughter in life but an exhibition in Cowes next month gives him a chance to reconnect with her unique artistic vision.
Julie Adam died suddenly at her home in Rhyll last year. Father and daughter had always been close but in the last couple of years of Julie’s life, she broke off contact with her family and changed her name.
"She was a very talented artist," John says, "but also a deeply troubled soul who battled heroin addiction and mental illness for much of her adult life."
PHILLIP Island artist John Adam never had the chance to reconcile with his daughter in life but an exhibition in Cowes next month gives him a chance to reconnect with her unique artistic vision.
Julie Adam died suddenly at her home in Rhyll last year. Father and daughter had always been close but in the last couple of years of Julie’s life, she broke off contact with her family and changed her name.
"She was a very talented artist," John says, "but also a deeply troubled soul who battled heroin addiction and mental illness for much of her adult life."
In the months after her death, he couldn’t work, devastated not just by his own loss but by the waste of so much potential and the awareness that he would never have the chance to reconcile with her.
Sorting through her things, he also discovered that, for all Julie's problems, she had been working productively in the last couple of years.
When curator Catherine Robinson approached him about showing his works in a pop-up exhibition in Cowes this summer, he suggested they include some of Julie’s works along with works by his son David, an acclaimed bird photographer. Catherine was more than happy to make it a family affair.
The Adam family exhibition is part of a series of a pop-up exhibitions at PICAL in Cowes over the summer featuring Phillip Island’s best artists, along with artists from the rest of Gippsland and Melbourne. Each exhibition will match 2D and 3D artists and will be on show for a week.
Sorting through her things, he also discovered that, for all Julie's problems, she had been working productively in the last couple of years.
When curator Catherine Robinson approached him about showing his works in a pop-up exhibition in Cowes this summer, he suggested they include some of Julie’s works along with works by his son David, an acclaimed bird photographer. Catherine was more than happy to make it a family affair.
The Adam family exhibition is part of a series of a pop-up exhibitions at PICAL in Cowes over the summer featuring Phillip Island’s best artists, along with artists from the rest of Gippsland and Melbourne. Each exhibition will match 2D and 3D artists and will be on show for a week.
| John says he and Julie and David had talked about having a joint exhibition – before Julie’s estrangement – but somehow it never happened. Now sorting through works by all three in preparation for their exhibition in the final week of January, he has a renewed pride in the work of both his children. “It has really given me a lot of pleasure,” he says. Revisiting Julie’s works has also been cathartic. Although he will always regret her unfulfilled potential, he can also see that despite her deeply troubled life she achieved a body of distinctive work. At his Surf Beach home, John brings out some of her recent works, paintings and photographs. The technical mastery of the photography impresses but most stunning is her way of seeing the world. There is an unearthly landscape, half water world, half mistscape. To most people it would have looked like a tatty bit of swamp but Julie has seen an abstraction of shapes and colours. It is perfectly composed, rising from the dark of the water to the pink delicacy of the evening sky. Another photo shows a muscled and ferocious looking peregrine falcon at the moment of lift off. It is one of a pair of falcons that inhabit the rugged cliffs along the south coast road. Julie spent many months visiting the area until the birds got used to her and allowed her to get close enough to take these intimate photographs. A project of Exhibition Space Phillip Island, the summer art series aims to demonstrate the depth and breadth of artistic talent on the island and the need for a permanent gallery. As a former president of the Artists Society of Phillip Island, John Adam spent many years himself campaigning for a gallery and so is delighted to be part of the first summer season. “The standard of local art is terrific – the best Phillip Island artists are really good. With so much talent, it's hard to believe that we still don't have our own gallery.” As for his John, he is back at work. ““You just have to keep going,” he says. “Painting is my refuge.” He’s also teaching a weekly class, which gives him a lot of pleasure. “They’re a happy mob. They do all kinds of things and I’m just a mentor. If they need some help I’ll do it but otherwise I leave them to do it.” | SUMMER OF POP UP ART By Catherine Robinson, exhibition curator Week 1 Dec 28 - Jan 3
|
Summer pop up art is at Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL), 56-58 Church Street, Cowes, from December 28 to January 3. Exhibition openings will be held each Saturday at 2pm. All welcome.