A place I visit regularly now, but have done so a few times over the last ten years is the quiet coastal town in NSW, called Pottsville.
Here, the quietness of the town slows me down.
Located right on the coastline adjacent t0 beautiful wide beaches and open shores, it has a sense of pushing you back in time. At its heart is Mooball Creek which directly flows in from the ocean, and is a height of activity for locals and summer holiday makers who wish to float on its waters, fish or wade through.
Recently the creek has been blocked. At the mouth, there had been topographical changes to the retaining rock wall and with the way nature goes, eventually reduced the ocean waters to flow in and out with the tides. Causing risk of flooding to the urban areas down stream, but more importantly the risk of killing off the flora and fauna of the ecosystem. Reports even suggested that there had also been higher levels of bacteria in the creek and swimmers were advised not to swim in it.
So with this in the forefront of my mind of late, I have reworked ‘Winter Waters’ (2016) and now have ‘Cleansing the Winter Waters’. I’m OK with painting over older work, especially if it becomes a little stagnant and in need of some rejuvenation. Continuing the ideals of impermanence within the concepts of my work with nature.
