Uta Mooney – The Art of Fiction

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Two art forms from different continents collide. Painted images and the written word combine to bring about a distinct exhibition. Uta Mooney, an Adelaide artist, teamed up with Glenn Stenson, published American author, to create a body of work that merges these two genres. A successful exhibition in 2013 at Gallery M, Oaklands Park, South Australia, resulted in renewed enthusiasm to produce an even bigger and better event which occurred during the 2015 SALA Festival at Signal Point Gallery in Goolwa.

Burra Gallery will host the final iteration as we dedicate our whole gallery to this visual and literary feast.

Although the written word exists on a somewhat different plane than art, they both tell a story in their own unique way. Combining the two creative methods adds magical intricacies inviting the audience to a new realm full of ideas to explore. Large acrylic paintings depicting scenes from Glenn’s books are infused with words from his original manuscripts. Language and the rhythm of pattern remain prominent features in Uta’s work. Using a combination of techniques, the multi-layered paintings present a visual experience intended to intrigue and stimulate the imagination. Alluding to the stories the work represents, they hint at layers of meanings. Transposing the viewer through the depths of text, texture and paint, in larger than life acrylic paintings, encourages them to revisit their own heart and soul.

Not content to simply present a group of paintings as individual works to view, Uta and Glenn have committed themselves to create a whole exhibition environment. Implementing installations using books and book pages to influence the perception of the gallery space will enhance a broader sensory sensation. Paintings, sharing the gallery space with installations, will provide the viewers with the experience of being surrounded by art.

Both storytellers in their own right, Uta and Glenn’s collaboration encourage people to appreciate art, read books, and connect with their own interpretations of the stories presented.