In my mothers' gardens and other stories: St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney

A small selection of images in my new show at St Vincents Hospital: 'In my mothers' gardens and other stories'.  There is a catalogue here. 

The show runs until sometime in January 2016.  The best bit is you can pretty much view it day or night, 7 days a week.

Exhibition images: Breathing colours 19-31 May 2015

It was  fabulous afternoon and I was honored to have so many guests for afternoon tea.  I was particularly thrilled to meet some fellow adult adopted persons for the first time.

The catalogue is online here and prints are also now available of my work here.

Gabby Malpas exhibition at Breathing Colours Gallery, Balmain

Dear Frooters

As a client once said: I've been busier than a one-legged man in a butt kicking competition...

But I'm delighted to announce the first of my 3 shows for 2015 at:

Breathing Colours Art Gallery, 446 Darling St,Balmain, NSW 2041

There is a catalogue for my works online here: all enquiries to the gallery:robin@breathingcolours.com
or

Phone: 02 9555 8543

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 10.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 10.00am - 5.00pm
(and by appointment)

I would love you to come to the opening on Saturday 23rd May from 4pm - 7pm.  I will be baking for the occaison: the world-famous Malpas sausage rolls will be in attendance.

Here are the four gorgeous invitations by design guru and my brand guardian: Miss Emma Harris, now of Auckland town...

Gabby

Photos from the show: Where are you from? at Platform72

It was a wonderful night and I was overwhelmed with the support of friends, family and complete strangers who came.
Adoption agencies took an interest and there were representatives from AdoptChange, the Benevolent Society and others.  Helen McCabe, who is on the board of directors at AdoptChange opened the show and was so generous with her time.

Platform72 were just wonderful as always

Gabby Malpas: 'where are you from?' show details

Well the big night is nearly here. 

Full details are on Platform72's website  - please also get in touch if your would like to see a catalogue as a number have already been sold.

New big canvas with a personal story

Dear 'Frooters'

If you've been following the blog you'll know I've recently started working on canvas.  I wanted to do this to work on some personal stories that have been living in my head for years but until now, I wasn't able to communicate them in the way I wanted to. 

Until now.  Here is a finished work - the first I hope of more in this vein:  the title of this piece is:
'When did you find out you were adopted? (you're shittin' me -right?)'

I was born in NZ and adopted in 1966 at 10 days old into a white family with 9 children. My parents took me at an age when they should have been looking forward to an empty nest and in the days before there were support groups and help books. All my life I have been asked by people where I'm from or how old I was when I found out I was adopted. My reaction to these questions has mellowed over the years - from anger/frustration, to telling the full story within minutes and jokes about family resemblance.

This is an attempt to convey this with humour but also the love: the obviously different race mother and child, the chinoiserie, full moon and flying fish in the garden - nothing is quite what it seems.
The title: well, it jarrs a little bit with the image but that is also the intention - something so detailed, and painted with care - given a fairly crude, but what I hope is a humorous title.

 And here is the progress of the work.  It probably took a month - 6 weeks all up:

A lovely Easter weekend to you all!