Margaret Preston in Berowra

The first study of Margaret Preston's life in Berowra, north of Sydney, from 1931 to 1939, fully illustrated with her woodcuts, paintings and monotypes showing that area of the Hawkesbury River. Written by Rhonda Davis, curator of the Macquarie University Art Gallery and long-time Berowra resident, this book shows the development of her artistry in this regional setting. Of especial interest are Preston's creation of two rag rugs:

Preston's mode of production changed, no longer at the mercy of flower growers... she could step into her own backyard and encounter native flowers in the wild, at any pace and at any time of day or night...

The rugs give new insights into the way decorative design was integral to the origins and subsequent evolution of abstraction within Australia. Preston undoubtedly influenced by the context of a place in a specific, local environment - removed from the distractions of the city - her art practice. - Rhonda Davis