Canberra artists Rosina Wainwright and Jacqui Malins are exhibiting sculptural works and large-scale drawings that explore the life of early local pioneer Maria Crinigan, in an exhibition titled “Maria Crinigan’s tragedy”.

Crinigan was one of the first European settlers in Gungahlin in the 1840s, and the remains of her tiny stone cottage have been preserved at Crinigan Park, Amaroo.

Wainright’s sculptural works are based on the true story of Maria, who experienced nine infant deaths with only her 10th and last child surviving.

They bring into relief the plight of a pioneer woman. Crinigan was to die in her early forties.

Wainwright says: “There are subtle references to Maria’s Irish heritage and the profound dislocation of many of our early pioneers.  I lived in Ireland in 2007 and connected with my own Irish past whilst there.”

Matching and sympathetic to these three dimensional works is an exhibition of charcoal and dry pastel drawings on paper and canvas by Jacqui Malins which reference the subdued colours and dry textures of the Monaro plains and woodland.

At Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, 10am to 5pm, Tuesday-Sunday until May 13. Meet the artists May 6 at 3pm.