Join JCG Curator Lia McKnight, with artists Nalda Searles and Janis Nedela, for an in-depth discussion about their artwork in Dirt Feeling, and their recent creative practices.
Nalda Searles is a fibre textile artist with a practice rooted in the transformative quality of the material she uses to produce basketry, body adornment and sculptural works.
Starting her practice in 1979, Nalda gradually developed her art in a self taught manner. Several years later, Nalda met Eileen Keys who, for the next ten years, steadily encouraged and guided her in her artistic practice. Many other artists inspired Nalda and still do. As the expression goes, pick up a blade grass and the whole world comes with it and so it did. Nalda still seeks diverse materials to use in different ways.
Jánis R. Nedéla is a Co-Director of Gallery East Art Services and is currently Curator, Paintings and Works on Paper for the Kerry Stokes Art Collection. Jánishas served on the curatorial staff of the Art Gallery of WA, and has lectured in Art Management and Art History at the Central Metropolitan College of TAFE. He has also worked as Exhibition Programmes Manager/Gallery Director for CRAFTWEST, Centre for Contemporary Craft, Perth, and is also a working artist who has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. His practice has included printmaking, ceramics, 3-D, mixed-media, painting, computer animation and performance art.
In 2005 Jánis was awarded a Creative Development Fellowship from ArtsWA, has held over 26 solo exhibitions, participated in over 260 group exhibitions, as well as completing 12 special projects and public/corporate art commissions. He has undertaken residencies at the KURB Gallery in Perth, Residency and Information Centre in Riga, Latvia, Guildford Grammar School, Atwell College, and Balcatta Senior High School in Western Australia.
Event Details
Sunday 2 November
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Free event, open to the public
Light refreshments will be provided.
Dirt Feeling Exhibition Open: 3 October – 7 December 2025
Image: Nalda Searles portrait. Photo by John Parkes.
