By Parker McKenzie
Art did not kick off Rebecca Johnson and Amanda Bartholomew’s friendship, but it has certainly played a large part in their bond since.
The Wave, a new exhibition at Burrinja Cultural Centre, features the combined work of the two artists in a celebration of their enduring friendship, featuring vibrant and diverse art in several different mediums.
The pair spoke to the Star Mail about being friends since childhood, the raucous times in 20s and their shared love of art and music.
After first becoming friends through her sister Caroline in primary school, Ms Bartholomew said the two have only become closer throughout the years.
“I was always in the art room at lunchtime and when I’d go back at lunchtime as well, Amanda would be in there,” she said.
“We moved out of home together when I was 22 and she was 18 after she asked if she could move out with me. We were desperate to get out.”
Ms Johnson, however, said the first time she ever saw Ms Bartholomew was in the “tuckshop line at school.”
They reminisce about running amok in Saint Kilda: fitting too many people in one car on the way home from the bars like the Prince of Wales on Friday and Saturday nights, acting like groupies for The Models when the band had no fans and living together is a share house full of parties and wild times.
During this time, both studied art at university and found their way into teaching.
“I’d got to Chisholm to see what Amanda was casting or making and she’d do the same with me,” Ms Johnson said.
“We inspired each other and we used to talk about what we were doing, and as we got older, we had studios and we’d visit each other there.”
Ms Bartholomew was forced to leave teaching last year after being diagnosed with cancer in April, an experience she said has changed her perspective on life immensely.
“Just recently I came back from a holiday summer holiday at Philip Island and ended up in hospital, I had another blockage in my stomach and ended up being there for a week and thought I was going to die,” she said.
“Beforehand, my cancer experience was just going along with it. I didn’t read about cancer or the drugs I was taking because I’d be freaking out about it, I was just experiencing it. I realised I was preparing to die rather than fighting for life.”
She said she didn’t consciously realise she was preparing to die.
“I’ve been told its terminal by my doctors, but now I’ve turned it around and I feel like there’s hope,” Ms Bartholomew said.
“I just want people to enjoy the exhibition and enjoy looking at the artworks, and maybe get something from it.”
Ms Johnson said she has seen her friend’s art change in an unexpected way since her illness began.
“You might not be able to see that your work changed, but I think your work has intensified,” she said.
“You’ve gone and retouched every single artwork that you have previously done.”
The art on display in The Wave is recent work completed by the pair spanning from the start of 2020 until the present time, aside from a depiction of Luna Park Ms Bartholomew drew in university.
Ms Johnson said seeing the pain her friend has experienced has been a challenging experience for her personally, and she is glad to be able to exhibit their work together.
“The thought that we’re not going to grow old together like I’d planned, it’s probably not going to happen,” she said.
“This is a wonderful celebration of our friendship and our love of the arts; it’s our lifelong connection through music.”
It is the first time the friends have exhibited art together and for Ms Johnson the first time in years she has bought her work out of the studio and presented it publically.
“I’ve got three kids and I’m a full-time teacher, I haven’t had a show like this for a really long time,” Ms Johnson said.
“We’re both teachers, we’ve both got that drive to share our creativity and inspire the next generation.”
For Ms Bartholomew, the exhibition is an opportunity to “choose life.”
“It’s about that connection and living your life as consciously as you can, enjoying it and being happy,” she said.
“Why create an ugly painting when you can create a beautiful one? I want to create things that are joyful and that are nice to look at and colourful. I choose joy, I choose life, and I choose nature.”
The Wave opened at Burrinja Cultural Centre on Saturday 18 February and is running until Saturday 1 April.
