The Love of Art for Hearts Sake

The Love of Art for Hearts Sake

At The Sound Temple, we’re deeply committed to creative and artistic expression as a way of life. We’re passionate about supporting all forms of artistic endeavour, whether it’s through sound, story, art, movement, textile, painting, writing, craft, singing, breath work or chant.  Art connects us with others, offers deep insights into the Self and often reveals the collectiveness of our shared human experience. Creativity gives us a way to understand our lives and creates a sense of meaning to signify our existence.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” 

Pablo Picasso 

Now becoming the Gallery of choice up in the Perth Hills, we’re delighted to have grown this space from humble beginnings to something special. We launched our first Gallery Space a year ago in July 2017 with contemporary cultural artist Taryn Beri’s Solo Exhibition “Purapura Whetū”. Filled to the brim with her original paintings, Taryn performed live poetry to the sounds of traditional Māori music and sound by Jerome Kavanagh.

Off the back of this success, in November 2017, we invited local artist Lynnette McFarlane to display her remarkable collection, ten years in the making. Lynnette’s work “All Are One – Life’s Profound Tapestrywas embraced by the local community resulting in yet another fully booked opening night.

In January this year, we launched “Māori Modern”, exhibiting some of most cutting edge, fresh and contemporary artwork coming out of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Showcasing the work of a group of 12 Indigenous Māori Artists from various tribes throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand, this event honoured land, Mother Earth, people, nature, art and music.

With great pride in February this year, we opened our second Gallery Space – The Mandala Room – which allowed us to showcase over 70 pieces of the exquisite original work of local artist, Sharon D Clifford. Her first solo exhibition in seventeen years, “Colour Creating, displayed her incredible and unique collection during a night of rich colour, creativity, food and musical accompaniment by the talented Kim Echammaal Coull.

In April, Clare Martella launched her very first exhibition, “My Artistic Nature in the recently-opened Mandala Room. Inspired by nature, Clare’s traditional and digital work was a celebration of up-cycles, textures, mandalas, reclaimed musical instruments and more.

Throughout April and May this year, we launched our brand-new exhibition, “Common Threads – Woven through Community. Integrating sustainability, creativity, and traditional hand-crafted wisdom of the ages, this incredible five-week exhibition welcomed around twenty facilitators to The Sound Temple to showcase their skills in the form of workshops, lectures and demonstrations as part of an extraordinary new impulse of considerable change.

On August 3rd, we welcomed local photographer Simon Cherriman as he launched his powerful photographic exhibition, “Kingdom in the Clouds“. We opened the night with breathtaking images, sound and ceremony reflecting the local Noongar seasons. Simon’s dedication to the scientific study of the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Wailitj in the Noongar language) featured strongly in this inaugural exhibition.

As part of The Sound Temple’s continued practice to revive local culture, connection and lost art forms, the evening was devoted to honouring the spiritual ancestors and traditional custodians of the land. Dr Noel Nannup opened the exhibition and conducted a Welcome to Country.  A stunning traditional ceremonial dance was performed and beautiful, heartfelt speeches were given to a record number of attendees, gathered together in celebration of the official opening of Simon’s remarkable exhibition.