Art with Heart

In an age where artificial intelligence can instantly generate polished images and endless visual content, the role of the artist has become even more important. While technology can imitate styles and produce impressive results, it cannot replace the deeply human instinct to create through memory, emotion, intuition, and lived experience. Artists continue to push boundaries by reinventing the ordinary through repurposed objects, mixed media, and experimental techniques that carry authenticity and personal meaning.

There is something profoundly moving about artworks created from materials that have already lived a life of their own. Forgotten heirlooms, worn tools, old jewellery, cutlery, and discarded curiosities hold traces of human history within them. When transformed into sculpture, these objects become more than materials; they become storytellers. Their imperfections, patina, and history create layers of meaning that no digital process can truly replicate.

Sculpture, perhaps more than any other art form, creates a direct and physical connection between artwork and viewer. It shares our space, inviting us to walk around it, discover details from different angles, and respond instinctively to texture, weight, and form. A sculpture that uses recycled materials is especially powerful because it awakens recognition and nostalgia. Viewers often find themselves drawn to familiar fragments from another time or place, sparking memories and emotional connections that feel both personal and universal.

Contemporary artists who work with reclaimed materials remind us that creativity is not only about invention, but transformation. Through imagination and craftsmanship, overlooked objects are given new purpose, beauty, and meaning. In uncertain and increasingly digital times, these tactile, handcrafted works offer something irreplaceable, a sense of humanity, connection, and the enduring value of stories told by hand.

Seaview Artist of the Month

Jodi Casey

Seaview Artist Jodi Casey repurposes heirlooms, forgotten objects, and well-loved curiosities. Her non-commissioned pieces are at the heart of her practice; each work is entirely unique, shaped by the history embedded in the materials themselves and the emotions they quietly carry. Jewellery, tools, cutlery, trinkets, and op-shop finds are reimagined into expressive sculptures that celebrate memory, nostalgia, and connection.

Inspired by wildlife and the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast, her work blends rustic charm with playful whimsy. She gravitates to materials that have lived a life before they reach her hands, allowing their imperfections and past stories to guide the final form. Every piece is an exploration of sentiment and a way of honouring what may have otherwise been forgotten and giving it new meaning. Alongside her personal body of work, Jodi also creates commissioned sculptures, collaborating closely with clients to transform their cherished belongings into artworks that reflect family, legacy, and love.

Jodi has been selected as Sculpture on the Edge finalist for the past five consecutive years, an experience that continues to inspire and challenge her creative practice. Whether personal or commissioned, each sculpture is a joyful fusion of imagination, craftsmanship, and emotional connection.

Art & Community

One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of a creative community is the opportunity for artists to connect directly with the people who engage with their work. Whether through Seaview Artists Gallery or the many exhibitions our members participate in across the region, these interactions create meaningful conversations about creativity, nature, storytelling, and shared experiences. Art becomes far more than something viewed on a wall; it becomes a bridge between artist, audience, and community.

Recently, Seaview artist Bernardine Hine experienced one of these special moments, she was fortunately able to be present when her artwork "In the Flooded Field" was taken home by a very lovely couple at a recent exhibition she was involved with at the Bribie Community Arts Centre, with the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society. This was a new style of textile work that Hine recently trialled, and has fallen in love with it enough to have completed two more, with another three in the pipeline, both for at Seaview Gallery and another wildlife art exhibition to come later in the year.

Wildlife art plays an important role in fostering appreciation for the natural world. Through art, viewers are encouraged to slow down, observe, and reconnect with the beauty and fragility of local ecosystems and native species. Textile-based wildlife works add another layer of warmth and tactility, inviting audiences to experience nature through both visual storytelling and texture.

Bernardine’s evolving collection is one for nature lovers and art enthusiasts alike to watch for. Her work is a reminder of how local artists contribute not only to the cultural life of a community, but also to conversations around environment, connection, and creativity. If you are a nature lover, keep an eye out for Bernardine Hine’s work

New Artwork Arrival

The gallery is delighted to welcome a striking new artwork by Bernardine Hine.  ‘Amongst the Reed Beds’ is created using threads, fabric paints and inks on cotton canvas, this detailed work features the portrait of an Australasian Swamphen nestled amongst the reed beds of Ewen Maddock Dam. Rich in texture and intricate stitching, the artwork captures both the beauty of local birdlife and the atmosphere of the wetland’s environment.

Inspired by the work of Australian textile artist Annemieke Mein, Bernardine has recently been experimenting with new techniques to create larger-scale textile pieces featuring native wildlife. For this artwork, the unprimed cotton artist’s canvas was first painted before being hooped to create tension in the fabric. Bernardine then used free-motion machine embroidery to stitch the bird and selected reed details directly onto the surface, building layers of texture and fine detail through thread.

Once completed, the textile piece was stretched over a standard painter’s canvas, secured in place and finished with a float frame. Unlike Bernardine’s usual framed textile works displayed behind glass, this presentation allows viewers to fully appreciate the stitch work, depth and tactile qualities.

Title "Amongst the Reed Beds"

Medium: threads, fabric paints & inks on cotton canvas.
Size: 30cm x 40cm
Price $990

Awards and Achievements

Whilst he didn’t take home a prize at the recent Wootha prize, Montville, Trevor Irvine was very pleased to report that the Maasai Warrior sculpture, featured last month, found a new home during the exhibition; quite a notable achievement considering the standard of work on display.

Surrounded by an impressive collection of highly accomplished pieces from artists across the country, the sculpture nevertheless drew strong interest from visitors, many of whom were captivated by her strength and commanding presence. The work captured the dignity, resilience and cultural pride embodied by the Maasai warrior, with its impressive form and expressive detail inviting viewers to pause and connect with the story it conveyed. In an exhibition filled with exceptional talent, the sale of the sculpture was a wonderful acknowledgement of both the emotional impact of the piece and the artist’s ability to create work that resonates deeply with an audience.

Seaview artist Amanda Stuart has once again been selected as a finalist at the Swell Sculpture Festival, collaborating with fellow artist Renee Coombe on a striking new outdoor installation. The annual exhibition, held along the Currumbin foreshore, is renowned for showcasing large-scale contemporary sculptures from leading Australian artists in a spectacular coastal setting.

Many visitors to the Swell Festivals will remember Amanda and Renee’s installation from last year, which featured three towering three-metre pandanus trees positioned along the beachfront. Constructed from recycled PET plastic bottles and ceramic rings created from impressions of actual coastal pandanus trees.

The collaborative sculpture, titled ‘What Doesn’t Kill You, Mutates and Tries Again’, continues Amanda and Renee’s exploration of environmental themes and the fragile relationship between consumer culture and the natural world. The work examines the lasting impact of PET plastics through the use of recycled bottles, drawing attention to the prevalence of single-use consumerism and the enduring environmental consequences of plastic waste.

Enjoy the unique experience of meeting the working artists who attend the gallery daily

—always welcoming, knowledgeable, and happy to share insights into their creative process.

OPEN 7 DAYS
9.30am - 4.30pm