Dear Judith McGrath

Today I happened to chance upon your "Art Seen in Western Australia" website home page, and read some of the letters to you from artists whose exhibitions you've reviewed. I had read your review of my exhibition "Poles Apart" (with my sister Julie Podstolski, at the Gadfly Gallery, Perth) after it finished in June 2001, but had never ventured elsewhere on your site before. I would now like to thank you, albeit belatedly, for that review - it was (and still is) very much appreciated!

It wasn't exactly easy or cheap to send my paintings over to Perth, all the way from Christchurch New Zealand, and not one painting sold to recoup expenses. However the experience of visiting W.A. with my family was truly wonderful and in various ways profound, and to return to NZ armed with your review (and another from David Bromfield, in the West Australian) was more than enough by way of compensation.

Art is a sharing thing, isn't it: what the artist may view as personal, idiosyncratic, and unusual within him or herself may turn out to be something universal once it has gained wider exposure. It is in the process of sharing and gaining feedback that the artist is given the opportunity to grow beyond the frequently constraining limitations of self-perception. That's where thoughtful and insightful reviewers such as yourself are making such a worthwhile contribution. Long may you continue to do so!

Best wishes,
Max Podstolski