Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

Denmarks’s newest art gallery, The Mixing Pot, recently showcased an exhibition of works by artist and co-owner Christine Harrison.

Titled ‘Looking into the World’ the exhibition included a series of paintings that explored the theme of grief in its many forms and various stages.

Christine said she had created works around this theme in response to her husband Karl’s recent illness and the lingering grief she experiences from losing her son a some years ago.

Christine has exhibited her work nationally and internationally since the early 1990s and holds several arts and education degrees.

She has been an artist in residence in galleries in Spain, China and Turkey and has worked with indigenous communities in remote parts of WA.

Another credit has been working for UNESCO in a refugee camp in Kenya doing art therapy with war victims.

“I’m really fascinated by the unifying features that exist within cultures but also the contrasts that make each culture unique,” Christine said.

She and husband Karl Richardson moved to Denmark five years ago and many locals have enjoyed watching the two-year renovation of their 120-year-old home on the corner of Strickland and Barnett streets.

They are often in the front garden and every day people stop to have a chat.

“It’s very social and we love that,” Christine said.

Karl is a mathematician and a recently retired rural GP and Christine has often drawn on his mathematical talents.

Her exhibitions have focused on the art of maths and they have done many cross-disciplinary workshops incorporating forensics, DNA and even X-rays.

In recent months Karl has faced life-threatening medical issues and has been in and out of intensive care due to multiple organ failure.

Christine said it was unsure if his illness was a result of sepsis or COVID-19 complications.

“We’re optimistic Karl will fully recover but it’s been a pretty traumatic time,” she said.

The couple are also keen to raise awareness Denmark’s homelessness and say there is an estimated 150 people sleeping rough.

“For us the gallery is about people and community,” Christine said.

“People from all walks of life, and many homeless people, pop into the gallery to chat with Karl about various things.

“We also collect monetary donations in our minion money box which we pass on to the wonderful Hazel Moon who runs the local Homeless Project.”

Christine’s next exhibition is planned for mid next year and will focus on the theme of ‘big and little’ in regards to the biological makeup of living things.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 31 August 2023.