North Avoca artist Liz Parkinson is having an exhibition of her unusual work featuring the stem of the palm tree fronds at Tuggerah’s Red Tree Theatre and Gallery from May 1 to June 2.
The palm fronds come from the Cabbage Tree Palm which grows in her backyard, and which she then turns into fish, masks, or squid.
She paints them in bright colours with acrylic paint and then varnishes them.
Each one has its own distinctive personality and in the final stage Parkinson adds beads, hair, fins or crowns to make them even more distinct.
The fish are happy little creatures, while many of her masks are smiling and laughing.
Her work is very individual and unlike anything else that is usually seen on the coast.
Parkinson said she cared strongly about the environment and used material that usually ended up in the green bin as the basis of her work.
She said the versatility of the material from the palm tree was evident by the range of items made from these trees.
“It only needs imagination,” she said.
The exhibition will be held at the Red Tree Theatre and Gallery at Tuggerah daily from Wednesday, May 1.
Parkinson said she was expecting to be in attendance every day from 10am to 4pm until the last day, June 2.