Joel Cunningham, Jane Noel, Julie Cunningham, Joe Kalanda

Our title ricochets off various elements of our work – the love of Australia’s unique landscape, a celebration of divergent thinking and of the cultural fragments of colloquial Australia, one less influenced by America. Extending the Top Paddock metaphor to those in top positions with too much power, our title also refers to the damaging absurdity of the world we live in.

With dark, surreal, mischievous, absurd, or quietly observational works, we seek moments of aliveness, connection, and shared recognition of what moves us and makes Australia unique.

In a series of new paintings and works on paper, Joel Cunningham responds to Australian iconic idioms head-on with satire, irreverence and social critique. He also presents mixed-media works, where acrylic paint and embroidery meet in beautiful homages to Australian birds and wildlife. Sue Cunningham is assisting Joel as embroiderer.

 Jane Noel expresses her love of the Australian landscape through observational and abstracted acrylic works.

Mixed media artist Julie Cunningham presents a series of assemblages created with curious elements the sea delivers to shore, collected from the Shoalhaven, where she lives. These pieces, assembled from driftwood, shell, sponges and other found materials, are at times abstract, while others overtly or covertly resemble surreal, playful creatures who prompt you to imagine their stories.

Joe Kalanda, an artist whose homeland is Malawi, presents paired works, acrylic on canvas of inland to water scenes.