Breathing Space was a group exhibition by True Blue & a Little Bit of Yellow, held at The Art House, Wyong, NSW, from 1–25 May 2024. It felt good to return to the Central Coast and exhibit together once again.
The works on display moved between bold painterly gestures and refined detail, with many pieces inspired by the coastal landscapes of the Central Coast and Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The exhibition offered space for colour, reflection, and connection — a moment to pause, breathe, and engage with art grounded in place and experience.
Breathing Space was both a return and a continuation — of shared practice, shared values, and ongoing support through art.
We’re very grateful to be featured in the latest issue of Art & Style Magazine, which includes a thoughtful article about True Blue & a Little Bit of Yellow artist collective. The feature explores how our art supports ongoing fundraising efforts, highlights the unexpected connections between Ukraine and Australia, and introduces each artist’s individual style and approach. It’s a generous and well-considered look at our shared work and values. A huge thank you to Doug Clark for the wonderful write-up, and sincere thanks to Wayne at Northern Beaches Gallery for his continued support. This issue is filled with remarkable talent, and we’re honoured to be included among it.
In 2018, I was invited to curate and coordinate a cultural performance for a diplomatic function at the National Gallery of Australia, at the request of the Embassy of Ukraine and on the initiative of Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey. The performance was created primarily from Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey’s private collection, with additional contributions from the collections of Sonia Mycak and Roxolana Mishalow. I am deeply grateful to them for their generosity and trust. This project was far more than event coordination — it was about giving history a voice. Every costume, ornament, and movement carried memory, identity, and meaning. My role was to carefully weave these elements into a coherent narrative that honoured tradition while allowing it to live and breathe in the present moment. I oversaw the entire creative and organisational process: selecting traditional Ukrainian costume elements, sourcing authentic garments and objects from private collectors, and recreating historical headpieces and jewellery where originals could not be used. I wrote the presentation script to guide the audience through the story, and designed all visual and printed materials — from slides and banners to invitations, gifts, and calendars — ensuring a unified visual language throughout the event. Behind the scenes, the work was equally intricate. I coordinated models and assistants, managed the careful transport of costumes and artefacts from Sydney to Canberra and back, and balanced countless logistical details so that, on the day, everything felt effortless and dignified. What emerged was not simply a performance, but a living expression of cultural memory.
