There’s the death of the person who has died and there’s the death space that is left within those who remain behind to grieve.

When Dr Ross Dyer died, his daughter Jo Dyer came to terms with it by doing what many people do, return to their place of origin – nature. In her case it was the garden.

In this story by Melinda McMillan: Nature at the heart of art born from deep grief (The Star, August 15, 2018) we find that the peace found within, is expressed outwardly through art inspired by nature.

“My father was a big nature lover, he loved the bush and he loved the beach,” Dyer said. “He was quite adventurous and was passionate about nature and connected to nature.
“It might sound strange, but I think he died the way he would have preferred to die doing something he loved, out in the waves.
“Following his death I felt this intense desire for solitude.
“I did spend time in the studio but felt this intense need to connect with nature. I did that through gardening.
“I started sitting in my garden and drawing my plants from life and actually creating some of the works in my garden.”

The exhibition is a fundraiser for Global Gardens of Peace, an organisation that creates green-spaces for disadvantaged communities.

“It’s an Australian charity … starting with a project in the Gaza Strip,” Dyer said.
“One of the founders went there and saw children playing in the rubble and went and visited a cemetery – it was literately the only green-space in the community.”
Read the full story here:  https://www.newcastlestar.com.au/story/5577721/nature-at-the-heart-of-art-born-from-deep-grief/

  Artist Jo Dyer

View some of the art here:  https://www.gallery139.com.au/2018-exhibitions/jo-dyer