October 2008
Cheryl has not been doing a lot of painting of late, as she gave birth to a baby girl in May this year. Her daughter and her five year old son have been keeping her rather busy, and she has not had much time to paint. She has been working on a couple of commissions, and has a few paintings in the Canberra Botanical exhibition and Artists Society of Canberra exhibition in October (see exhibitions page).
The Pialligo Fine Art Gallery (as mentioned in News 19 August 2007) closed its doors in June of this year. It was a majority decision by the partners, and the main reason was that the effort involved in running the gallery was keeping the artists from doing what they love, painting.
14 September 2007 - Wildlife and Botanical Artists Award
Cheryl has been awarded the Dr Helen Hewson Traditional Botanical Art Award for her painting of Kangaroo paw - Anigozanthos "Bush Inferno". The Wildlife and Botanical Artists (ACT) 8th annual members' exhibition is being held at The Artists Shed, 14 Foster Street, Queanbeyan, from 14 September to 7 October 2007.
30 August 2007 - First prize with "Pink Lady"
Cheryl has won a first place at the 7th annual members’ award exhibition of the Botanical Art Society of Australia (BASA). Her painting of Malus domestica “Pink Lady” – Pink Lady apple, received first prize in the Fruit and Vegetable section of the exhibition, and Cydonia oblonga “Champion” – Champion Quince was Highly Commended. The exhibition is held annually at The Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney and runs until 5th September.
The watercolour was painted from a live specimen from her friends’ orchard near Hall, where she obtains most of the fruit for her highly sought after botanical works. Giclee prints of both images are available from the recently opened Pialligo Fine Art Gallery along with other botanical originals of fruit, vegetables and flowers.
19 August 2007 - Pialligo Fine Art Gallery - now open
Cheryl Hodges and seven other local artists have opened an art gallery. Pialligo Fine Art Gallery had its official opening by Bill Wood on 19 August 2007. The gallery is located within Pialligo Plant Farm, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo ACT.
This exciting new venture will bring to the Canberra region works by high profile interstate and overseas artists such as Neil Taylor, Patrick Carroll, Ros Psakis, Barbara Spence, Rodney Symmons, Lyne Marshall, Malcolm Beattie, Grace Paleg, John Wilson, Suzanne Warwick, Ross Paterson, Michael Ferris and Roe Gartelmann.
With their stable of artists still growing, the Pialligo Fine Art Gallery will continually have new and exciting work on display in a variety of mediums, styles and sizes. The managing artists will also display their work and these are Ray Barnett, Terry Davys, Ann Hand, Cheryl Hodges, Beth Monahan, Pamela Phillips, Robyn Power and Judi Power Thomson. The work ranges from delicate botanical studies to large contemporary works, colourful abstracts and aboriginal art. The Australian lifestyle, fauna & flora, seascapes and landscapes will be a feature of this gallery. Editioned prints will also be available.
The new gallery has four separate display rooms, providing wonderful opportunities for solo exhibitions by featured visiting artists. Situated between the Pialligo Plant Farm and the Pod Food Cafe, there could be no better way to spend a pleasant morning or afternoon. Come and browse through the gallery, have a cappuccino and visit the many attractions of Pialligo. The Gallery will be open 10am to 5pm daily.