Lin Barrie artist statement:

my large painting titled “Valley, Dreams, Culture”, embraces the wine regions of the Cape – grapevines, history, culture, ecosytems, biodiversity …

This artwork is entwined with metallic highlights and tendrils the colours evocative of the bright skies, the purple mountains, the red and gold wines and the vibrant green grape leaves of this enchanting area

“Valley, Dreams, Culture”,

Mixed media on loose canvas

180 x 115 cm

My Cape Art Collection is on view at Painted Wolf Wines, Simondium Guild, between Paarl and Franschhoek…

We have a long history of collaboration and friendship; their wines and my art supporting conservation fundraising events, creating wine labels and nurturing our mutual passion for endangered African wild dogs (aka Painted Wolves or Painted dogs). African wild dogs, aka Cape Hunting Dogs, used to be common in the cape area……

My daughter Kelli Barker, who is a professional make-up artist, shares this passion of ours and she often creates body art for our event, as she will do for this exhibition. Here she has painted herself…Wakanda, Wild Dog woman!!!!

My art encompasses fragile ecosytems – wild dogs, abstract landscapes, all flora and fauna.

For this exhibition,  I have chosen the themes of wild dogs, wild ocean and wine lands, (especially focusing on Franschhoek, “Valley of Dreams”)

Lin Barrie, Valley of Dreams, acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm

In the Cape area many restorations of ancient vineyards are taking place, celebrating the complexity of wines produced from Old Vines with great character.,..

Painted Wolf Wines embrace the use of these wonderful old vines and work closely with the Old Vine Project.

Although grape cultivation could be considered a monoculture, many growers are embracing organic and holistic wineland’s management, in many cases giving over areas to indigenous undergrowth and natural pesticide control- heartwarming as we lead into COP15 this year and try to preserve biodiversity in this world of ours….

Lin Barrie, Old Vine, acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm

We are all, human and animal, part of the web of life, the vibrant yet often endangered ecosystems that make our planet earth worth living on! 

I resonate strongly with the ethos of working together like a wild dog pack – teamwork gets things done, whilst allowing for empathy and considerate behaviour to each other! 

We are all ‘part of the pack’ 

We all have ‘wild’ within us

We can all do good together. 

My mantra is ‘Think globally Act locally’ ! 

From wild dogs to grape culture- fascinating ecosytems and ethos!

please view my Cape Catalogue….

https://wineandwilddogs.art/lin-barrie-art-cape-collection-painted-wolf-wines-tasting-room-and-cellar/