Karolina's Garden 5 Ed. 1 of 250

LIMITED EDITION of 250.
Also available in FINE ART MATTE PRINT and larger size of 50.8 x 76.2cm

The wave shape of this petal describes the wave of emotions that come with the subject. My dear friend and artist Karolina had a stunning and hugely creative garden and soul! She was always full of exuberant praise and encouragement and her garden was a sacred place for her and others.
I photographed her garden while she was away, but felt all the presence of her colour and life and adoration of the earth. It lead me to also write a poem about her, as though her garden gave me those words. Karolina died 9 months later from cancer.
The last time I saw her, she told me that she wanted my poem read during her farewell and spreading of her ashes.
To me, these images carry that deep sadness, but also the lightness of a vibrant, spirited artist with so much love to offer the world. I hope you feel the lightness.

If interested, this is the poem about Karolina:

IN HER GARDEN
by Alison Shirley

In her garden
Lives her love for all colours
Her vibrant imagination
and her worship of life.

She creates here
And births a new character there
She feeds and nourishes
her world of beauty and flair.

In her garden
Lives her deep concerns
She works for that which will grow
She loves
For that which will bloom
She toils
For that which will seek life.

Her hands move to make room.

In her garden
I see her spirit
Moving amongst the leaves
and shells and petals and spikes
A place for everything,
where all are precious,
valued alike.

She moves the earth
to nudge open spaces for
growth and renewal.
Just as she moves aside her greatest pain
So you might not know
what she pushes through to grow.

Inside the calm of a deep breath
You might not know her grief.
Inside the bright sparkle of her generous eyes
You might not know her suffering.

She is looking. She is seeing
And she is celebrating you.

In her garden
The light glistens and winks at me
Just as she does, on a good day.
For she reveals herself
only to enlighten you

She hides and folds into those tender parts
where injury and healing turn
They battle brutally but silently
She insists on gifting
For each journey beyond her garden’s gate
Must be in search of light.
But take care not to burn.

She carries the Iris, with its subtle tones
And delicate folds

She carries the Cactus
Who knows its boundaries

And with the Rainbow Goddess
tendered by her hands

She will make her presence felt
In joy and celebration.
And rest only
When life commands.

next year

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My work ultimately speaks of my worship of light – it’s ability to dance with unspeakable beauty.
I was born in Alice Springs, NT in 1971. I still consider it my spirit’s home. The expansive red earth horizons, blue skies and dry warmth still occupy my dreams. However, I also love my current home in Fryerstown, Victoria.
Having been a photographer for many years, I stumbled upon the love of macro photography. It certainly wasn’t born from being a green thumb, rather from the awe of the life force of plants and their many varieties and abilities to adapt and survive. With my macro lens I am transported into another world, where I can explore and be surprised and delve into the unknown. It offers me a new perspective on the world around me and takes me into a state of meditation.
The way light behaves, together with a short depth of field, provides a constant source of new discovery and captivates me – in a time where little else feels new or holds my attention. It is also a reminder to attend to the details of life within ourselves and to honour the beauty of our own existence – every detail, nuance, breath.
My photographic art centres around nature’s forms, the human form and our experience of living in this human vessel and traversing the earth.

My formal education following high school, consisted of 2 years full time study of photography, back in the analogue days, learning everything from film to framed print and 35mm, medium and large format cameras.
I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography and Contemporary Dance, through Deakin University in 1995.
After a decade of freelance photographic work in every field you can think of, I finally committed to doing my personal work and my dance work.
The work I do in both is intrinsically connected, as are our bodies to the earth.
It's an exploration, a way to maintain the wonderment of life and to stay worshipful and hopeful.

PRICE differences are based on print size and type (either archive quality photographic print or fine art print being the most expensive).
Also, the number of the Limited Edition (Editions of either 25 or 250), with the 25s being more expensive.
All works are available in any of these sizes or print types, with Limited Editions fixed:
45.7 x 30.4cm / 61 x 40.6cm / 76.2 x 50.8cm / 91.4 x 61cm