An Italian Dream
drawings by Julie Podstolski
sculptures by Robyn Varpins
8 – 18 April 2021
Please join us for the opening:
6:30-8:30pm Thursday 8 April
open 7 days, 10am – 4pm
Shop 9, 330 South Terrace (cnr Wardie St), South Fremantle WA 6162
juliepodstolski.com – 0407 441 272 • robynvarpins-artist.com – 0420 809 144
Julie Podstolski
“I simply can’t experience everything. It’s all too much – like an enormous banquet of food is laid out before me but I’m only one person so cannot possibly eat it all. I will try a little here and a little there but when I’m done, so much food will be left untouched. Such is life.” – journal entry, Florence, 7 November 2018.
In Italy I often felt engulfed by sensory overload!
Until 2018 I hadn’t been to Italy but all that changed when I made three trips within twelve months – in summer, autumn and spring. This exhibition is the harvest from those trips.
“An Italian Dream” is the chapter heading of Charles Dickens’ musings on Venice from his 1846 book “Pictures from Italy”. He writes, “I have, many and many a time, thought since, of this strange Dream upon the water: half-wondering if it lie there yet, and if its name be VENICE.” Dickens and I were both left in a state of reverie by the watery city!
Many of my 23 coloured pencil paintings are of Venice – often at daybreak or late at night when tourists are asleep. I have sought to capture her unique atmosphere, dazzling light and tranquillity. I feel that Venice has one foot in the world and one foot in heaven – a spirit-city.
Other cities and towns I present in this exhibition are Verona, Vernazza, Rome, Florence and Milan.
In 2021, Italy seems very far away. I remember my trips with nostalgia and wonder if and when I will ever be able to return. However “An Italian Dream” is not a requiem but a feast and a celebration.
For the fourth time since 2007 I am delighted to share the exhibition with Clay Sculptor, Robyn Varpins.
Email: juliepodstolski@bigpond.com
mobile: 0407441272
Website: https://juliepodstolski.com
Robyn Varpins
I am thrilled to be holding another exhibition with Julie. The theme of Italy is instantly inspiring and Venice is one of my favourite places. I still have all the drawings and notes from when I stayed there in my twenties and became captivated by the many waterways. I was deeply affected by the antiquity of the buildings and sculptures everywhere.
The romance of Julie’s landscapes has become my muse as I seek to design a response to the elusive spirit of Venice. I explore both symbolic and realistic expressions in clay in order to render intimate this dramatic place. It has been a joy to revel in my own Italian Dream.
Email: robynvarpins@gmail.com
Mobile: 0420809144
Website: https://robynvarpins-artist.com
![ACROSS THE WAY
Martumili | Ninuku Arts | Papulankutja Artists | Tjarlirli and Kalkatjara Art | Yarliyil Arts | 28 August -13 September 2026
Curated by Artitja Fine Art Gallery, ACROSS THE WAY is an exhibition spanning thousands of kilometres and bringing together art from five remote Aboriginal-owned art centres throughout the Pilbara, Kimberley, Western Desert and Ngaanyatjarra Lands.
Wed-Sun 10am-4pm
@artitjafineartgallery
Image: Bugai Whyoulter
Wantili
Acrylic on Canvas, 122x92cm
Bugai always tells about Wantili, (Warnrtili, Canning Stock Route Well 25) because she grew up around Wantilili. Her family would travel between Wantili, Kaalpa, Juntu-juntu, Raarki, and Wuranu Wells along the Canning Stock Route. She paints around Wantili.
She saw whitefellas there for the first time, Canning mob when they were travelling up and down the stock route with the bullock. She was a young girl walking around at Wantili. Big mob of people they been walking around there. Canning and his drovers were travelling, making the road. They were running away from those whitefellas, watching them from a long distance. She was a
teenager when she was travelling around there with her four mothers and one daddy. They used to travel around in family groups, Bugai and Jakayu [Biljabu], and Jakayu’s nyupa (partner) Phillip Biljabu.”
Bugai Whyoulter, as translated by her grandson, Cyril Whyoulter](https://scontent-syd2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/798537796_18469408192114606_869931102181518568_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=9uX8eN2KF7sQ7kNvwEXucWS&_nc_oc=AdrhNlTHBF2arP31xbgd5usBa_X7KniHv6nMgYpG15zWUyPZL9ViUew-E1jtHz900iPdpb0XOqPYwJR8QRkNgZH-&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=r88XlDrzMriYnHswkv7ItA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKJ3WSHhsBx_9CpNzvVOS7AC9WAyTv3OukBm1emXVKk7ShfnB-xqnEN-b2EfFcjFYLUTCZWnOxf&oh=00_AQIbf295iUHkJ46ZwUxjNmkUK5xsHciF9Hn8k7mNZwAaUA&oe=6AAA3FD3)
