Odyssey Within: an exhibition by Bobbi Oliver and Wilma Simmons.

Outstanding artists and friends, Bobbi Oliver and Wilma Simmons, explore their shared artistic journeys with startling results in Odyssey Within, a new exhibition opening at Newcastle’s Timeless Textiles gallery in May.

Odyssey Withinwill showcase art works resulting from the influences on each of the artist’s lives – the journeys they have taken.  They acknowledge different literal journeys – through childhood, work, travel, cultures and places – but the most significant journey revealed in their work is the internal one that has resulted in the evolution of their individual art practice.

This artistic journey, shared by all artists, encompasses the joy of creating something, the drive to achieve excellence in what they produce, and the attempt to interpret their individual experiences and emotions to share with others. In this exhibition, Bobbi and Wilma celebrate reaching a stage in which they accept that their artistic journey is not about reaching a destination. It is an adventurous odyssey where they find, and display, heart-felt fun and joy in each creation they make.

Bobbi explores media – textiles and clay, surface treatment and colour – in her sculptures and jewellery, and reveals her fascination with the world of spirits.  Sculpted figures with titles such as “Pathfinder”, “Time Explorer” and “Follow Your Dreams” reflect her personal spiritual journey.

Wilma interweaves legend and myth with the everyday in her work, which demonstrates her continuing interest in the manipulation of textiles and paper, including tea bags. Her complex textile towers – entitled ‘Perseverance’, ‘Patience’ and ‘Prudence’ – are inspired by interpretations of Homer’s Odyssey. She also demonstrates a growing mastery in her use of fibre art with poetry, in hand-made books that pay humble homages to home and travel.

While Bobbi’s and Wilma’s styles differ, the friends have a shared appreciation of art and its processes, and inspire each other on their individual odysseys. Their friendship, developed over 15 years, is based on their passion for creating art that is true to the journeys of their lives. Their shared, and individual, journeys have created a remarkable exhibition that will take those viewing it on their own Odyssey Within.

ViewOdyssey Within from 18 May until 12 June, with an official opening on 19 May.