Craft / Walking with the Gardener, Sharon Peoples and Peter McLean, Tuggeranong Arts Centre until June 7. Reviewed by MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE.

This is a joint exhibition of two Canberrans who were artists-in-residence at the Old School in Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains.

Peoples was there is 2023, McLean in 2024. They did not originally plan an exhibition together, but the two bodies of work share many similarities, as well as the location that inspired them. McLean recognised these similarities and suggested the joint show.

McLean is a printmaker, while Peoples is an embroiderer, and I will focus on  her work.

Peoples frequently shows the tools of gardening – trowels, gloves, spades and in this show secateurs. Three pairs of secateurs in metallic thread stitched on to the finest fabric appear to “hang”, the backing fabric disappearing into the texture of the wall. This artist transforms ordinary gardening tools into works of beauty.

Gardening Gloves: White Fungi is a pair of long gardening gloves that are transformed by delicate machine embroidery in frothy white fungi around the wrists, and even a ring.

A similar pair of Gardening Gloves: Flannel Flowers are enhanced by a tiny bird and butterflies. These works are delicate and understated, and invoke a garden that is tenderly cared for.

Peoples’ largest work is of a life-sized figure titled Waterfall Creek Gardener. Ferns, leaves, twigs and fungi are placed around the ethereal figure. This is the gardener one would like to walk with.

A pair of slippers, Walking in Banksias, are like fine gossamer, decorated with tiny banksias and sitting in their own box.

Several years ago, Peoples made simple books. Recently she joined the ACT Bookbinders Guild and is showing a number of books with embroidered covers. With titles from the garden, such as Wynnes Rocks and Moss: Village Walk they depict areas in the gardens.

In a different medium, McLean’s prints capture the magic of this garden.

Both artists were inspired by the gardens, and it is therefore fitting they titled the exhibition Walking with the Gardener. Viewers will feel they are walking not only with the artists, but also with the gardener pointing out the best views.