Gold Coast Bulletin, Monday, September 29, 1997

Blah blah as interesting as the work blah, blah blah capture one's imagination,blah blah, solo exhibition blah blah. Blah instead of blah blah coherent blah, despite these blah blah outstanding blah blah blah For anyone reasonably familar blah blah when one blah encounters blah outstanding blah blah blah hard edged blah blah blah blah veiwed in blah blah focused blah blah entertaining blah blah painting blah methods are blah relating blah blah in a sense blah long term blah relative blah blah so much pain blah blah inflicted blah blah blah enlightened blah blah blah the glory blah blah exhibition blah blah will be blah blah blah imagery. Blah blah drawn blah blah ideals that blah blah blah long term blah blah on reflection blah blah blah blah blah blah For many blah blah veiw blah blah pure blah competing blah blah. This is not blah blah blah, we are blah blah blah describing Dods's work blah blah provocative blah blah blah blah relationship with blah blah and the extreme blah vibrant blah blah proudly blah blah blah paintings.Blah blah blah the past year blah blah but is best known for blah blah preliminary sketches blah blah blah entire artform blah blah blah. The colours blah blah blah blah blah, contempuous blah blah blah. Her work blah blah blah among those who have blah blah blah reflective blah blah blah, big themes blah blah blah drawing blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a work blah blah blah blah on the studio wall blah blah blah all work blah blah blah based blah blah. The colours blah blah blah imagery blah blah blah blah symbolic blah blah blah blah So much blah blah blah blah makes it powerful blah blah blah blah simplest of visuals blah blah blah blah powerful first impressions blah blah blah are straightforward blah blah blah collectable blah blah blah backgrounds of blah blah blah blah blah deconstructing her own blah blah blah blah the latest exhibition blah blah blah blah has changed over the years blah blah blah blah blah a dynamic textured quality blah blah blah blah blah says " she wants to blah blah blah blah blah" radiate blah blah blah blah blah blah.In the gallery blah blah blah notion of the blah blah from society. Here blah blah blah blah in contemporary society blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. This exhibition features blah blah blah blah. The works belong blah blah blah blah blah Sydney blah blah blah drops of water blah blah delicas striking blah blah they are only small blah blah learning blah. About the artist blah blah using the effects blah blah blah blah shows blah blah because of the blah blah blah, engaging blah blah blah blah standing in front. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. There are also humorous blah blah blah blah enhanced blah blah blah blah. This exhibition blah blah blah blah blah a mix of blah blah blah blah impressive pieces blah blah blah blah blah blah, some interesting blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Gallery Star

Tracy Blah blah blah blah pictured, to star in her own show at the Bruce Watling Galleries in Southport

It's a show that is anything but conventional-some might even call it confronting. But that is hardly surprising considering the experiences of one who, just 27, already has been there done that.

"Mum was 40 when I was born so my parents already had great experience of the world and I had a great upbringing," says Tracy "It was travel and parties. I guess you would call it a blissful childhood."

With her older sister Nicola and parents she calls "patrons of the Arts" she was a regular visitor to Paris and New York where days were spent browsing through galleries and cathederals and during which time Tracy's travel reading was Greek mythology.

Raised in the artistic surrounds of Kuranda, north of Cairns, she ran away from school at St Margaret's in Brisbane, spent some time at the Queensland College of Art where she felt boxed in and where she "smoked a lot and drank a lot".

But art was in her blood -"there was a time I wanted to be a pathologist and cut up dead people,but I got over that"- and she pursued the dream, finding it's expression in the human form, sometimes simple, sometimes classical, challenging.

"When I paint it all comes from within," she says. "It all means something to me."   

Myth a reality

The Greek mythology which served as light reading for a teenage Tracy Dods has since become the inspiration behind the adult artist's latest exhibition.

Tited Neo Romantic Nudes, the series depicts voluptuous naked women in provocative poses, along with picture stories of heroic Classical Greek mythological figures including the Goddesses Persephone, Eos and Aphrodite in their respective glories. The Rubenesque images some of wich are shown bleeding, are depicted in erotic, lusty hues of red, blue, rusty orange and pink, while charcoal nudes confront the eye with an "in your face" clarity.

And although some of Tracy's confrontingly graphic sketches involve images of "larger than life" body parts in the foreground,they remain seductive and not vulgar for the artists lack of detailing the female and male anatomy. "I want to be confrontational. I love to paint images of men kidnapping women and having their way with them," Tracy says passionately. "This is my soul, I'm bearing it for everyone." In one charcoal sketch simply titled "Bum", Tracy takes the image of a female bottom and splashes it across a large canvas while another depicts sexual acts.

While admitting that she likes to paint voluptuous women because she finds them "far more interesting" Tracy says she found it hard to find suitably figured artists models.
Some of the artist's work even bear a gothic style, an era Tracy says she loves for it's gallant "horses, swords and fighting". "It lets your imagination go-you look at it and see a story," she says. Tracy paints life as she sees it, and cites romantic artist Eugene Delcroix and modern artist Francis Bacon as her influences along with the mythological stories.

In her own unconventional style, Tracy paints with her fingers and her feet,while combining such techniques such as airbrushing and creating relief areas with thick acrylic house paint. "The taking of Persephone" depicts the story of kidnapped Greek Goddess Persephone who was taken to be queen of the underworld by Hades and allowed to return annually is one of three works Tracy has entered into the Moet Chandone Australian art competition for young artists. The prize includes an all-expenses paid year in Paris with art studio and apartment.

The artist's young career began with a passion for painting at age two while growing up in the artistic town of Kuranda, North Queensland and inheriting the artistic talent seen in three generations of her family. It hit a high point when Tracy abandoned study at the Queensland College of Art where she felt "bored and boxed in" and ,began working toward her solo exhibition.
Bruce Watling Galleries in Southport is hosting this, the 27-year-old artist's second solo collection and culmination of nine months work after the success of "The Beach Collection" at the Sheraton Mirage.

Press release 8/12/03

Life's a beach
A new exhibition by artist Tracy Dods

"Beach scenes are where people lose their pretentions and become who they really are. They let their guard drop" Says Tracy Dods, the highly successful Sydney artist whose recent works at Bruce Watling Galleries are sparkling beach scenes. Tracy uses the forms of "interesting people" in exaggerated perspective to present her unique style.

Her vibrant colourist beach scenes provide a pleasant sanctuary from the drudgery of day to day living - a place where YOU are in charge and who YOU are is O.K." I love people to look at my works and recognise some real person they actually know. I mean real Australians of all shapes and sizes". Tracy's work happily allows you to get in touch with the real you, and it feels good.

Originally from Queensland Tracy is thrilled, on many levels, to be exhibiting in Brisbane's Bruce Watling Galleries. Through her great grandfather she has close and proud ties with Brisbane. Robin Smith Dods, an architect, designed and built Brisbanes New Farm Park

This outstanding Australian is also credited with designing and building the first "Queenslander", the classic Qeensland houses that we all know and love.

VARIETY QUEENSLAND CHARITY RAFFLE

Tracy has generuosly donated a painting for a raffle to be drawn on opening night to raise money for the children's charity, Variety Queensland. This work entitled, " Red shorts" shows a tall bronzed Aussie in red cossies walking along Bondi beach, It would be a divine present to give or recieve at christmas

WHEN: Opening night is Friday the 12th of December at 6:30 pm

WHERE: Bruce Watling galleries, 20 Chester St Newstead.

.

Art and Antiques Nov/Dec 2003

Tracy Dods's latest show entitled "Life's a beach" will be on show at the Brisbane Gallery from 12 Decamber and exhibiting throughout the new year.

Tracy Dods was born in the largely artistic community of Kuranda in North Queensland in 1970. with generations of artists in her family and the opportunity to study a broad spectrum of art techniques from this artistically diverse community, Tracy has developed her own unique style of painting utilising a variety of mediums.

Tracy went to school at the Kuranda State School and Trinity Anglican School, and while still at high school was exhibiting her work with the Cairns Art Society, where her work was shown in group exhibitions between 1986 and 1992. Her early promise as an artist was developed further by art training at the Queensland College of Art.

Group exhibitions followed with the Mareeba Art Society and the Queensland Art Council. Tracy held her first solo exhibition, "The Beach Collection", at the Sheraton Mirage at Southport in 1996, and her second of" Neo Romantic Nudes", at Bruce Watling Galleries at Southport in 1997. In 2002 she took part in further group exhibitions with SOHO Galleries in Woolloomooloo, Sydney and Bruce Watling Galleries at Southport. Her work has been acquired for the corporate collection of the new Meriton Apartments on Sydney harbour at Balmain, N.S.W

Tracy Dods's colourful acrylic paintings combine vibrant colour, an emphasis on architectural form, and lively interpretations of the human body against a broad sweep of beach or powerful city landscapes. She captures the essance of contemporary Queensland lifestyle - relaxed, yet energetic. Her works on paper are more subdued and often capture more intimate themes, but are no less engaging.

Tracy Dods is represented exclusively by Bruce Watling Galleries, Southport and Brisbane, SOHO Galleries, Sydney, and Reef Gallery, Cairns.

A Journey Without Anchors

Are you where you should be, the right epoch, the right place, the right body? If you are unsure don't expect Tracy Dods's highly anticipated exhibition of new works:"A Journey without Anchors" to provide the answers.

" I don't paint with the intention of making a statement. For those who view my work with no preconceived ideas "statements"  will be made, but these will be personal, they will reflect what is inside themselves," says Dods.

Become lost in Sydney's icons as its cliches are refreshingly dispossessed, relocated and juxtaposed without mercy. In this tantalising exhibition Dods confronts us with the realisation of just how easily it is for us all to become outcasts in our own city, and our own lives.

Doing her first works on brown paper shopping bags and the margin of school books, Dods took advantage of the myriad of talents available for tuition in her home town of Kuranda, {Nth Queensland}. With its diverse, vibrant and sometimes controversial artistic community, Dods was able to develop her creative ideas accross a range of art disciplines.

But it is Dods's innate ability with acrylic on canvas to produce contrasting, vibrant "summertime' beach scenes with dour and imposing cityscapes, and in this exhibition the inquisitive combination of the two, that is earning her a reputation as one of Australia's emerging talents.

Dods comes from a lineage dotted with artistic and creative talents including a great grandfather, Robin Smith Dods, who is accredited with designing and building the first, and now classic, " Queenslander" home. However, Tracy"s ability with the brush is unique to the family and the country, and this her latest exhibition makes that, if nothing else, abundantly clear.

Morphic Resonance

MORPHIC RESONANCE The Sea is Calling ................................... Australian beaches reflect joy, hedonism, fun and of course the sun. Beneath this shimmering surface lies much more ; confessor, critic, soul mate and stranger….. The beach and the elements the ocean and the waves, they are friend or foe. There to take or bestow. The seascape with its strength rhythm and rhyme may not have all the answers but it will always be , to listen and to heal. In ‘Morphic Resonance’ artist Tracy DODS uses her gift to lay bare the connection between nature and nurturing. ‘Our beaches deliver therapy as it it’s drawn from a collective memory of deep power and knowledge’ Tracy comments. Join Tracy this January and share her latest exhibition works “Morphic Resonance. A celebration of the beach, it’s people powers and histories. TRACY DODS 2006 

Blah blah blah !!!

Blah blah as interesting as the work blah, blah blah capture one's imagination,blah blah, solo exhibition blah blah. Blah instead of blah blah coherent blah, despite these blah blah outstanding blah blah blah For anyone reasonably familar blah blah when one blah encounters blah outstanding blah blah blah hard edged blah blah blah blah veiwed in blah blah focused blah blah entertaining blah blah painting blah methods are blah relating blah blah in a sense blah long term blah relative blah blah so much pain blah blah inflicted blah blah blah enlightened blah blah blah the glory blah blah exhibition blah blah will be blah blah blah imagery. Blah blah drawn blah blah ideals that blah blah blah long term blah blah on reflection blah blah blah blah blah blah For many blah blah veiw blah blah pure blah competing blah blah. This is not blah blah blah, we are blah blah blah describing Dods's work blah blah provocative blah blah blah blah relationship with blah blah and the extreme blah vibrant blah blah proudly blah blah blah paintings.Blah blah blah the past year blah blah but is best known for blah blah preliminary sketches blah blah blah entire artform blah blah blah. The colours blah blah blah blah blah, contempuous blah blah blah. Her work blah blah blah among those who have blah blah blah reflective blah blah blah, big themes blah blah blah drawing blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a work blah blah blah blah on the studio wall blah blah blah all work blah blah blah based blah blah. The colours blah blah blah imagery blah blah blah blah symbolic blah blah blah blah So much blah blah blah blah makes it powerful blah blah blah blah simplest of visuals blah blah blah blah powerful first impressions blah blah blah are straightforward blah blah blah collectable blah blah blah backgrounds of blah blah blah blah blah deconstructing her own blah blah blah blah the latest exhibition blah blah blah blah has changed over the years blah blah blah blah blah a dynamic textured quality blah blah blah blah blah says " she wants to blah blah blah blah blah" radiate blah blah blah blah blah blah.In the gallery blah blah blah notion of the blah blah from society. Here blah blah blah blah in contemporary society blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. This exhibition features blah blah blah blah. The works belong blah blah blah blah blah Sydney blah blah blah drops of water blah blah delicate blah blah that allows the viewer blah blah to retreat blah blah blah blah private spaces blah blah blah what it means blah life sized blah blah blah. Other works blah blah blah blah a complex notion blah blah blah these archetypal blah blah blah blah for humans blah blah blah blah blah intriguing technique blah blah blah a powerful blah blah blah in mixed media blah blah blah the artist blah blah blah.Blah blah blah blah. The results blah blah blah are watery blah blah fluid, colourful blah blah blah blah images. Others like blah blah blah blah human souls blah blah blah. The title of the exhibition blah, blah blah blah blah a thoughtful blah blah to paint blah blah they are hung blah blah what is striking blah blah they are only small blah blah learning blah. About the artist blah blah using the effects blah blah blah blah shows blah blah because of the blah blah blah, engaging blah blah blah blah standing in front. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. There are also humorous blah blah blah blah enhanced blah blah blah blah. This exhibition blah blah blah blah blah a mix of blah blah blah blah impressive pieces blah blah blah blah blah blah, some interesting blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah