By Peter Douglas
Emerald artist Martha Silver Breninger has opened up her creative world to the hills community, with her first solo exhibition presently featured at Arvys Gallery in Olinda.
Growing up in an artistic family, Breninger knows well the healing powers of art, and hopes to educate and inspire others to explore this wonder for themselves.
The exhibition, which runs from wall to wall at the gallery, features many different mediums, including painting, chalk art, photography, felt work and even poetry.
Breninger says there is a strong narrative that runs through the artworks, with the exhibition called ‘Re-Birth – Journey of a Healing Spirit’.
“The exhibition is a story of a woman who has come through adversity, including addiction and domestic violence,” she said.
“‘Re-birth’ is a moving story … to finding a new joyous life, told through paintings, poetry, pastels and photography.
“It mostly focuses on the hope and recovery from addiction; it’s very inspiring and powerful.
“Art has such a healing power and I want to express that to help others.”
Breninger said the exhibition took her four years to put together, with the first creative seed sown way back in 2011.
The exhibition launch on Sunday 19 March was the culmination of years of hard work.
Breninger’s love of art has seen her become involved with the newly created Hills Art Market, where she is both on the organising committee and offers her work for display and sale.
She encourages all local art-lovers to discover for themselves this wonderful market, if they haven’t already.
The ‘ReBirth – Journey of a Healing Spirit’ exhibition, open all days except Tuesdays, will run through to Tuesday 14 April.
Arvys Gallery is located at 6/540 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda.
