"Off The Wall" Art Space

In 1999 TWL launched the "Off The Wall" art space; the aim was to provide a space for the display and sale of work by women artists, and to raise money for TWL from commissions. We would like to acknowledge Robyn Mah in getting this great idea of the ground.

2011

Earth, Wind and Fire

Abstract themes of earth, wind and fire.
June 2011 by Julz

2010

MYTHOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES

Mythological Landscapes are born time and time again, in urban spaces, in country landscapes, in daily encounters with others and our souls. Mythological Landscapes is a humble invitation to visit unknown spaces from where we can create and recreate, propose and rebuild, to sit in silence and dream of summers gone and summers to be.
November 2009-January 2010 By Ceci De Silva

MOMENTS from HERSTORY

Ephemera from the women?s movement.
February-March 2010

THE BEGINNING LIGHT

Each new sunrise brings a new day of hope and possibilities. As with our own unique experiences, each sunrise and sunset is also unique. Clouds across our dreams of today may give way to clear and unblemished tomorrows. The shadows of a sunset may be a protecting shield, or you may witness an amazing moon, let it sparkle within you.
February-March 2010 fidacreations

2009

THROUGH THE WINDOW

Sonya donated this art work to The Women?s Library after her exhibition. Sonya said the encouragement and feedback she received from her exhibition at TWL in 2009 gave her courage to believe in her work. After her exhibition at TWL (where she sold 3 paintings) Sonya Smith was then invited to exhibit her work at Caf? Mars at Parramatta. We wish her success with this exhibition.
Sonya also entered a piece of her work in the 2009 Milpra Exhibition. Sonya was awarded first prize in the contemporary division.

TWL HERSTORY

This exhibition was a collection of TWL ephemera and art work produced by TWL volunteers. Some women took away a piece of a puzzle and then used collage and other material to make a representation of what the library has meant to them.
August 2008- January 2009

SUSTANTIVO

Seasons are as life, ever changing. Sometimes these changes are obfuscated, often requiring close scrutiny. Then comes the rush of change, more easily visible to the naked eye. Then suddenly you become aware that you are back where you began. Then comes the question, what, if anything, has changed?
June 2009 fidacreations

2008

STORYING OUR LIVES

Three workshops were held at The Women?s Library during January and February. Women were asked to think about what living in Sydney meant to them, or to tell in pictures a story about their lives. Out of this emerged a diverse range of art and a wide range of interesting conversations. It was a unique experience to observe and be part of women connecting around shared creativity and the telling of their stories. Some women were artistically skilled and had painted or drawn before. Others came along to experiment with art. One nine year old came with her mother and had a lot of fun with charcoal.
March-April 2008 By TWL Group

TAKEN

My painting is a way for me to tell the story of the ritual abuse that has happened to me all my life. Many people who paint about their trauma try to show the badness, the ugliness of it. However, for me, the greatest effect of the abuse is the unshakeable belief that I do not exist, that I am not seen. So many of my paintings are pictures of myself, in an effort to put something of myself into the world where it can be seen. (An extract from Elisabeth's written explanation of her art work)
April-May 2008 By Liz

WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT

Not me that's for sure! This photographic exhibition reflects a passage of time. While dark to light sounds poetic, the journey is not linear. There are many twists and turns. We need to take what we can from each new path, and know there are no ends, only new beginnings. "I am less afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my own ship": L.M. Alcott.
May/June 2008 fidacreations

CREATIVITY AND CONVERSATION

A combined media exhibition of some of the work of a group that began meeting at TWL following a project funded by City of Sydney Council.
July-August 2008 By TWL Group

MIND MONSTER

Acrylic on canvas paintings. Art work such as tunnel vision look at the deep, sometimes dark, sometimes hopeful psyche of the inner soul. A series of paintings
by Sonya Smith Opening of Exhibition Saturday 11th October 2008 3:30 PM

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2007

SILENT NO MORE

Silent No More gave women time and space to witness each other's lives, to acknowledge the reality of abuse and the impact of abuse and to affirm their resilience and survival. Women found a voice for their experiences and a way to tell their stories that moves from an abuse dominated view of themselves to a view which acknowledges how they have resisted and overcome the impacts of abuse on their lives. The name Silent No More came from women who spoke about being silenced, both as children and as adults, about the experience of sexual abuse in their lives. In conversation this theme of being silenced, about abuse, about domestic violence and other abuse in their lives, about mental health issues, about drug and alcohol, about parenting, emerged as an ongoing theme. The name has been powerful in informing conversation about silencing and secrecy and about breaking that silence. The art work here is a small part of larger exhibition that was held in Campbelltown in 2007.
By SNM GROUP.

2006

LIVING WITHOUT COLOUR

An exhibition in charcoal. Living without colour is a collection of works reflecting a personal experience of depression and trauma.
September 2006 - January 2007 By tracy filby

2005

DOMESTIC DEVINE

A painter and musician who recalls that the housewife mould of her mother had a huge impact on her ambitions to 'become more than that'. However the political issues surrounding housework have always played a major theme in her works. The central theme of her work always returns to the empowerment of women and the constant definition, redefinition and refinement of the female experience.
2005 By Vee Malnar

DISTANCE

Lea's art work feature water, trees, flowers, and Central Australian landscapes. Features include a selection of landscape works as seen from above. Acrylic and mixed media.
July 2005 By Lea Kannar

2004

RESILIENCE

This exhibition is a celebration of the resilience of women. It is an expression of appreciation for the struggle of the 60's and 70's feminists and a sincere enquiry into what this heritage means to today's emerging women, as well as an exploration into the diversity of the lives of women of all ages. Some of the artworks exhibited are figurative, projecting women in different roles and contexts, some are expressive of women as emotional and vulnerable, others portray women as an embodiment of strength and energy.

Other artworks are not figurative and put forward a more subtle vision that is less literal and may require further inspection and deeper thought. Many of the artworks are deeply personal and expressive of one woman's plight, which may resonate with the experience of other women.

This exhibition does not seek to collapse the temple of the traditional sacred goddess, but recognises the changing ideals and aspirations of contemporary women. In selecting these artworks to be displayed in this exhibition, we strove to project an image of women?s rich diversity, efficiency, adaptability and resilience.
November 2004

2002

ANTARTICA

A Photographic exhibition.
September 2002 By Fiona Hall

2001

WOUNDED SELF: an introspective inquiry

Series of paintings and drawings titled 'wounded self'. Oil, Acrylic & mixed media on canvas & canvas board.
March 2001 By Clare Dash

2000

COMPASSIONATE BODIES

Compassionate Bodies is about women exploring the link between ecology, sexuality and community. These women are from green and/or dyke communities, mostly first time artists, and the collective is a spare-time artists group, following a grassroots beginning much like the Huaxing artist of China.
August 2000

5 NUDES

5 oil canvases joined together.
February/March 2000 By Catherine Sowerby

MONOCHROME

Photographic exhibition.
August/September 2000 By Kahrina Chan

MENINDEE LAKES

Menindee lakes on 2-7-1996, a series of 6.
September/October 2000 By Nola Clare

1999

POSTER DISPLAY

Exhibition of the WEB poster collection in collaboration with: The IWD collective, Sydney and TWL.
February/March 1999

3 PANEL PAINTING

Amanda attended Newcastle Art School form 1973-1977. Her most recently exhibited work was an entry into the Archibald with 2 collage portraits. One of which was the titled 'The Day of Mourning', Jenny Munro, the chairperson of the National Aboriginal History & Heritage Committee.
April/May 1999 By Amanda King

INFINITY AND THE MIND

An exhibition of Gower's recent work. Working with astrophysicists made it clear to me that the old art versus science debate needs to continue because science (with the exception of quantum physics) maintains the split between spirit and matter that puts all things out of balance. Science is treated as fact and art as fiction. In spirit flight I am out of time because time has to do physical reality. The spirit knows no limits. There are no boundaries to being. I am part of Infinity.
May 1999 By Irene Gower