By BRIDGET COOK
BOTANICAL artworks created by local artists have been unveiled as part of a new exhibition in Cranbourne.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon officially opened the Cranbourne Collection exhibition on Friday at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
The exhibition includes 31 artworks, accompanied by potted specimens of the depicted plant, created by a group of 12 local botanic artists including Margaret Holloway, John Armstrong and Kay Craig.
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne director Chris Russell said that he was delighted to showcase the works alongside the plants that were the inspiration for the artists.
“The exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the beauty and diversity of local flora,” he said.
“Not only are the nature-based artworks beautifully rendered, they are also a priceless historical record of the indigenous flora of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, and the Casey area.”
“This beautiful display is another reason, along with our Winter Gardening Workshops series and school holiday programs, to rug up and visit the gardens during winter.”
Mr Russell said the artworks were of such a high quality and significance that they were now part of the State Botanical Collection, which is usually housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
Cr Stapledon urged the Casey community to get out and about and support local arts this winter.
“The opening of the Cranbourne Collection exhibition coincides nicely with the City of Casey’s Winter Arts Program,” he said.
“The programs are a great opportunity for Casey residents to indulge their creativity this winter.”
The free exhibition can be viewed in The Gallery at the Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
It will run until 1 September and is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
