The ongoing referential theme of Judith Dinham's work is the experience of the non-indigenous woman's life in the Outback. We don't need to have experienced living in an isolated homestead to relate to the temper of these works, as the artist places us at the border of real and surreal by juxtaposing ideas of inside/outside and above/below. These are poetic concepts that make for contemplative works and if it's a broad leap between idea and imagery the artist has, for the most part, covered the distance well in her richly painted references to Earth and the Ethers.

Previously we've seen floral patterns of linoleum inside the homestead echoing the carpet of Everlastings outside on the desert floor, which in turn reflect the canopy of stars above at night. In this exhibition Dinham references these themes of confined domestic and unlimited desert realms then progresses a step further to articulate the space between the flat blue sky overhead and the flat orange land underfoot. She adeptly registers the movement of hot air as it begins to stir then gains momentum via gossamer window curtains that react to the strength of the wind.

Dinham's images bring the viewer to the brink of imaginary flight while holding us safely to the surface with the physical aspects of the paint. She suggests variations of air currents as the white curtain hangs on a washing line casting a solid shadow on the ochre ground. First it reaches out and puts a strain on the line (In the Breeze) until it breaks free and flies away like some strange winged creature in its own right (Drifting) until it is caught by a wire fence (Blow Wind, Blow) and brought back to earth. Through it all we notice how the 'white' of the fabric is in fact composed of manipulating the rich ochre and blue colours into subtle hints of earth and sky hues. 

Exhibits inspired by floral patterned floor coverings are of interest as much for their technique and colour as for the thoughts and memories they evoke. The warm reds of the small Diamonds and Roses and the cool blues of the large Linoleum Clouds offer interest  in texture and technique as much as for their sense of fusing domestic and desert environments. Also appreciated are those images of rippled reflections on the surface of a saltlake as they distort and blur set boundaries and take us into yet another dimension of the mind.

Take a walk through the gallery and discover ideas of your own that will 'unfold' while viewing these strong, warm paintings of life and spirit, home and hope, found on the edge of a desert.