“Tantalus, Waiheke Island, New Zealand” selected for Landscape and Places, an international exhibition by Women in Arts Network.
Savannah, Georgia – Artist Christina Robinson of CLR Creations has been selected to exhibit her original painting, Tantalus, Waiheke Island, New Zealand, in Landscape and Places, an international virtual exhibition presented by Women in Arts Network. Bringing together artists from around the world, the exhibition explores the enduring relationship between landscape, memory, and lived experience.
Robinson's featured work draws inspiration from Tantalus Estate in the Onetangi Valley of Waiheke Island, New Zealand, where vineyards unfold across rolling hills framed by native wetlands, olive groves, and restored forest. Rather than depicting the landscape literally, Tantalus translates the experience of place into an abstract cartographic composition that reflects memory, atmosphere, and connection.
The painting is inspired by the character of Tantalus Syrah, with layered hues of deep crimson, dusty rose, and cool blue echoing the wine's notes of rose petals, dried herbs, baking spice, and black pepper. Sweeping lines trace the contours of the valley and vineyard paths, while textured surfaces evoke the mineral-rich soils and warm light that define the landscape. The result is a work that captures not only the physical geography of Waiheke Island but also the quiet moments shared there.
"My paintings begin with maps, but they become stories," Robinson says. "Each landscape holds memories that continue to shape us long after we leave. Through abstraction, I'm interested in capturing the feeling of a place rather than simply its appearance."
This philosophy closely reflects the theme of Landscape and Places, which invites viewers to consider how environments remain with us through memory, emotion, and experience. The exhibition presents artists from across the globe whose work explores the spaces that continue to influence identity and belonging, whether through expansive natural landscapes, familiar neighborhoods, or places held in personal memory.
Robinson's abstract cartography practice explores the intersection of geography, travel, and identity, transforming maps into textured paintings that reveal the emotional landscapes beneath physical ones. Tantalus continues this exploration, offering a contemporary interpretation of place that celebrates both the beauty of Waiheke Island and the lasting impressions landscapes leave on our lives.
View the Landscapes and Places, hosted by Women in Arts Network.
This painting draws inspiration from Tantalus Estate in the Onetangi Valley of Waiheke Island, where vineyards stretch across gentle slopes surrounded by native wetlands, olive groves, and restored forest. The estate carries a sense of quiet discovery, reflected in its name, which comes from nineteenth century decanter cases designed to protect treasured spirits while keeping them visible. That idea of something precious waiting to be uncovered shaped the spirit of this work, translating the landscape and atmosphere of the vineyard into an abstract memory of place.
The composition reflects the character of Tantalus Syrah, whose layered notes of rose petal, dried herbs, baking spice, and black pepper guided the palette and movement within the painting. Deep reds and dusty rose tones echo the richness of the wine, while cooler blues trace the curves of the valley and the pathways through the vineyard. Like the wine itself, the piece balances structure and energy, bringing together the mineral soils of Onetangi Valley, the warmth of the Waiheke sun, and the slow unfolding complexity of a glass of Syrah shared among the vines.
Original paintings are created with archival materials and are available for private collection, with larger commissioned interpretations available upon request.
9 x 12 inches
Acrylic on birchwood panel
Varnished for protection and depth
Presented in a walnut canvas float frame
About Christina Robinson
Christina Robinson is the artist behind CLR Creations, an independent studio based in Savannah, Georgia. Her contemporary abstract cartography paintings explore the relationship between place, memory, and identity, drawing inspiration from destinations around the world. Through layered textures and expressive compositions, her work invites viewers to reflect on the landscapes that have shaped their own journeys.
