EMMA MILES

Sense of Place unveils Heather Sutherland Wade’s newest collection, a striking visual archive of Jamaica’s landscapes, shorelines, mountain views and beloved natural spaces. With over 60 new canvases, Sense of Place emerges as yet another momentous solo staging at Sunnyside, Sutherland Wade’s home and studio. 

 

The term ‘sense of place’ references the dynamic interplay of physical and emotional characteristics that make a location meaningful. Sutherland Wade’s work invites us to explore the concept through her impressionistic yet abstract approach. How does the rocky shore of Botany Bay, the clusters of lily pods or the rhythmic crashing of waves at Turtle Bay Cove shape our connection to a place? How does Sutherland Wade’s depiction of these elements evoke not just recognition, but feeling?

 

More than just visual representations of Jamaica’s landscapes, Sutherland Wade’s paintings serve as vessels of personal and collective memory, inviting us to engage with these places on a deeper level. Her profound ability to capture physicality, while simplifying form and exploring colour, opens space for us to form our own impressions. 

 

Sense of Place underscores not just the importance of preserving these environments, but valuing the memories, emotions, and cultural ties they hold.