What began as a stress-relieving outlet for long-time Vincentia Public School teacher Tracey Van Oploo has evolved into a vibrant, narrative-driven art practice. Her debut solo exhibition, A Tapestry of Country, fills the Melaleuca Gallery at Worrowing Estate with 25 canvases celebrating local fauna, marine life and family stories. With weekend artist-in-residence sessions and deep community roots, the show offers an uplifting look at connection to coastal Yuin Country.
A Tapestry of Country, the first solo exhibition by Tracey Van Oploo is a vibrant feast of colour, symbolism and familiar scenery, fauna and flora of the South Coast, on 25 canvases that pop from the walls of the Melaleuca Gallery at Worrowing, till 5 December. At the opening, locals were heard exclaiming which painting was their favourite, from the bright blues and harmonious shapes of the stingrays to the many forms of banksia and the richly detailed family narratives of some commissioned works.
The show is on for the next seven weeks, with Tracey in-residence at weekends painting a work-in-progress to bring her process and her stories to life for gallery visitors. Head to Melaleuca Wednesday to Friday 10am-2pm, Saturdays 9am-12pm including the on-site cafe.
The largest work in the show, a two-by-two metre canvas with a striking woven, circular design titled “Coming together” is arguably the heart of the exhibition. Tracey points to a woven work by her cousin, accompanying Tracey’s own works depicting banksias.
“That was the inspiration [for the large work and the exhibition title], her piece. About us women coming together and weaving and connecting,” Tracey says.
“That’s where I got ‘Tapestry’, it’s about different parts of Country, like sea Country and the banksias, woven in to make the exhibition.”
Locals’ Favourites
The works were drawing instant favourites among the crowd at the opening event, with people exclaiming their personal choices to each other enthusiastically. Tracey acknowledges the locals’ familiarity with the scenes, locations and especially the fauna and flora in her works as evidence of the connection we all feel to this Country.
“They knew the [paintings] of Moona Moona Creek or Chinamans Beach and they have their own connection to that place, which draws them to it,” she says of the comments.
The first sale of the exhibition came before the opening, with a customer enjoying a coffee at Melaleuca’s cafe snapping up a work early that morning. The red dots kept coming in the afternoon.
From a Stress Release to a Deadline
Tracey’s beginnings as an artist stem from a need to find an outlet from the stressful life of a primary school teacher, to be present and care for her wellbeing. While that is still a very important part of her art practice—this exhibition and its takeover of her family’s kitchen table aside—Tracey has also completed commissions for Shoalhaven Hospital, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, the NSW Health Department and Vincentia Public School’s ANZAC Garden, as well as family and friends.
She says the deadline, and the enormity of filling out the 320-square-metre gallery, really pushed her to achieve this exhibition and that her family as well as Worrowing owners Jenny & Adrian Robertson and team were instrumental in getting the show over the line.
An Evolving Practice
Over the past four years, her practice has developed into a layered and detailed expression of stories and Country. She prepares to paint by lighting a candle and playing music, “whatever’s on my playlist at the time,” with large canvases taped to the garage wall and other smaller canvases carrying the stories of her close contacts.
Tracey says while her works have become more detailed, layered, colourful and “neater,” she is still working on releasing herself from perfectionism. “I’m still struggling a bit with perfection and just letting go,” she says, “I haven’t hit that place yet where I can let go completely.”
Stories both personal and of Country will always remain at the heart of her practice.
“I love listening to other people’s stories,” she says. “As much as I can, I am trying to get mum and dad to tell me some of their stories.”
Art at Vincentia Public School
Mrs Van-O, as Tracey is affectionately called by the school community, has been a beloved teacher at Vincentia Public School for several decades and knows the value of hands-on art as part of children’s learning and wellbeing.
Recently, Tracey and the faculty put on an exhibition of students’ works for family and friends of the school. Tracey took each class for an art lesson, drawing on elements of her own work to inspire and guide the students, from whales and water through to symbolism, colour and narrative.
Each student finished their works under guidance from their class teacher and the resulting exhibition was a resounding success, with many of the works purchased by the parents as a fundraiser for the school.
A Family Event
The exhibition opening was a family affair for Tracey, who thanked her partner and children for their enduring support, from practical help of hanging and transporting works to tolerating her emotional state at times, and the use of the family kitchen table. At the opening Tracy thanked Nanny Beryl—Aunty Beryl Van Oploo OAM who also happens to be the famous chef, educator and community leader revered by chefs and cookbook collectors alike—who catered delicious favourites such as the chicken and lemon myrtle pies that were demolished like hot cakes.
