Janna Hayes ‘I Can Be My Own Hero’ Exhibition

Armidale based artist Janna Hayes returns to Weswal Gallery with a stunning new exhibition, ‘I Can Be My Own Hero’

Says the artist: “This show continues my exploration into the landscape in the New England region. Each piece is an emotional reaction to the land but unlike my earlier works that reflected a deeply personal journey, this show contemplates the value the land has in forging collective identify. Alongside the landscapes there will be a fibre instillation, depicting Mary Ann Bugg. Most often referred to as “Thuderbolt’s Lady,” Mary Ann was a bushranger in her own right and by many accounts was the driving force behind Thunderbolt’s Robin Hood persona. n folklore and how this is bound up in our relationship with the land and identity. I’m particularly interested in Australia’s celebration of the larrikin, or people who choose to defy social conventions because on the whole we are actually a fairly conservative culture and it’s an odd few who get celebrated for stepping outside of the box”