This is a delicious mixed group exhibition from several of the Gallery’s ‘stable ‘ of artists. The theme of the exhibition is to evoke memories of both past summers and thoughts of future summers. Memory and bittersweet nostalgia are depicted using varied colour and form.

The assorted artists who are included in this exhibition, whilst being quite different from each other in both the stage of their career and their practice, are each highly regarded and actively participate in the Australian art scene both locally and nationally.

Each artist has only a very small representative selection comprising a couple of their works in the current Traffic Jam exhibition.

Tracey Dods who has recently been a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize and Blacktown City Prize lives in the Blue Mountains and her main objective with her art is to examine and illuminate the human condition. Haunting, melancholic, yet full of life, her strange, eerie paintings are mostly small to medium in size and whilst figurative, the person portrayed always seem to be facing away from us so we never get to see their faces. Dods’ paintings come across as dreamlike with a motif being a return to childhood.

Carole Foster has traveled and exhibited extensively internationally and nationally, mentors artists and is a part time curator/artistic director with a large gallery. She is originally from Wangaratta and now lives in Dromana, Victoria.

Three of her marvellous vibrant bird paintings are included in this particular exhibition. Simple, clear, often neutral colours are used as plain backgrounds. There is an intense aura of alertness and the bird portraits almost jump out of the painting. Foster uses vivid dynamic, fresh colours, strong diagonal lines and strong composition– often including cropping and close up.

Sally West was born in West Wyalong NSW and has held many solo exhibitions. West has been entering and succeeding in various art prizes including winning the Hornsby Art Prize twice, and the Mosman Art prize once. Her impressive CV includes her inclusion in such prizes as the Portia Geach art prize, NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize , Pacific Palms Art Prize and the Salon des refuses (Wynne) Prize West is predominantly a ‘plein air’ painter.

Her work uses very thick impassioned and vivid swirls of paint and her subjects range from explosive still lives of flowers, saucers and teapots ( (The Teapot Mum Gave Me) to choppy paintings of ferry rides and beach scenes (3 Yachts , and Beach), where you can feel the water and wind. Most of the works are unframed and medium to large in size and the paint oozes exuberantly over the sides of the work.

Philip Stallard’s paintings, drenched with vivid colour are fresh, abstract, expressive depictions of the chosen subject. Most of his works are quite large. The works are vibrantly ebullient and hover between precise geometric placement and composition with a touch of abstract naivety.

Some of Stallard’s works refer to recognisable objects, memories and notations. His paintings combine memories with feeling, resembling diaries or letters.

There is an abstract,rather poetic discourse going on– strong colour fields are used to play with wild but refined intensity. His use of line, direction and composition is sensational. The landscapes are fluid, dreamlike. One senses a Brett Whitely influence.

Stallard has held successful solo exhibitions annually over the past 20 years in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He has also exhibited internationally and has completed many commissions.

Mia Oatley, a finalist in the 2014 Archibald Prize, has also recently been included in the Mosman Art Prize, The Portia Geach and The Waverley Art Prize. Birds are her subjects, and her work is bright, abstract and full of swirling colours.

Polly Hollyoak has recently completed her MFA at RMIT University, Melbourne and was twice awarded the RMIT Link Arts Funding Grant in 2013. Her work is bright bold and colourful, the triptych Pucker Up 1,2,3 contrasts ruler sharp defined edges with soft floral patterns. Strong dynamic composition is combined with an almost psychedelic effect.

Amanda Krantz has been named a finalist in the Premio Combar Award, Italy and the Back To Nature Saatchi Online Prize. She uses acrylic and enamel in her haunting, delicate works that look like water colours but aren’t.

Nick Olsen was recently selected as a finalist in the Gold Coast Art Prize and the Brisbane Rotary Club Art Prize, as well as many others over the years. His work as in this exhibition is similar in style to the work of Geoffrey Smart with the use of sharp angles and depiction of roadways. The works look as if they have perhaps been screenprinted and feature a wonderful, veiled, textured effect and a use of bold primary colours.

In conclusion, a fascinating and exciting group exhibition.

GELATO- THE END OF SUMMER is exhibiting at the Trafiic Jam Gallery, Neutral Bay until the 25th February.