Exhibitions to see – Art and Artists Blog

by zhen - May 29, 2016

WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope

Today is the last day of this really wonderful exhibition which if you have time I encourage you to go see. I found this show very poignant and moving. Running from 6th to the 29th May 2016 at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery which is on the corner of Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads in Caulfield (Monday to Friday 10am–5pm, Weekends 1pm–5pm).

"Presented by The Contemporary Collective, this exhibition features photography; painting; sculpture; jewellery; video; mixed media; and installations by renowned artists Benjamin Armstrong, Irene Barberis, Godwin Bradbeer, Bindi Cole-Chocka, Carmella Grynberg, Linde Ivimey, Shoshanna Jordan, Jane Korman, Lillianne Milgrom, Victor Majzner, Hedy Ritterman, Avital Sheffer, Lousje Skala, Linda Wachtel and Guan Wei.

Curated by Dr Helen Light AM, this exhibition includes works by these artists who have responded to personal and collective histories and viewpoints regarding the trauma of war, and The Holocaust in particular. The artists' interpretation of contemporary portraiture further encourages a critical engagement with ideas around memorialization and representation. This exhibition honours post-war refugees who journeyed across the globe in order to establish new lives and families. Their stories are pertinent to current debates concerning refugees and asylum seekers." -Glen Eira City Council Gallery

Enjoy the following photos from the show.

Linda Wachtel,We are here, 2015, Pigment print on archival cotton rag, 100 x 1400cm

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Linda Wachtel & Godwin Bradbeer)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Godwin Bradbeer, Lillianna Milgrom, Linde Ivimey & Lousje Skala)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Shoshanna Jordan, Irene Barberis & Carmella Grynberg)

Shoshanna Jordan, Mir Zehnen Do, 2016, pigment print on acid free cotton paper 100 x100cm each

Guan Wei, up in the clouds, No.5, 2012, bronze sculpture, 52 x 32 x 24cm

Linde Ivimey, Heirloom, 2012, antique and vintage crystal, glass, silver, brass, water, electricity, 28 x 33 x 33cm

Jane Korman, Whistle While You Work, 2014, Video, 05:05min (Still Video)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Hedy Ritterman, Avital Sheffer & Linde Ivimey)

'WE ARE HERE: An exploration of contemporary portraiture as a response to hatred and hope' gallery view. (Lousje Skala, Shoshanna Jordan & Hedy Ritterman)

by zhen - March 22, 2016December 18, 2021

What’s on in Queensland?: Australia: Defending the Oceans, at the Heart of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art

'Australia: Defending the Oceans, at the Heart of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art'
March 23rd – September 30th 2016 – Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Welcome to the first entry of 2016 for my guest section 'What's on in Queensland?'. A major event happening in relation to Queensland is currently taking shape and will actually be held in Monaco!

Curated by Brisbane based gallery director Suzanne O'Connell (whose gallery Arts & Artists Blog has covered before), in partnership with Stéphane Jacob of Arts d'Australie in Paris, Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Far North Queensland (famous for its production of miniature and massive Bagu sculptures), Erub Arts (AKA Darnley Island Art Centre), Pormpuraaw Art & Cultural Centre, Ken Thaiday Snr and Alick Tipoti, the exhibition will showcase numerous works by several important Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists to the European art market in Monaco next month (March 23rd). The exhbition will feature large installations and will feature numerous sought after ghost net sculptures. The exhibition's overall concept is through art, to showcase the love and connection, as well as the protectiveness, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have for and over their oceans and sea territories.

Made possible by the Federal Government's new funding scheme Catalyst (as well as with support from other government bodies, not to mention generous sponsorship from the private sector), the project is expected to be one of the largest in Indigenous fine art promotions abroadInitiatives of the kind which benefit the domestic and hence local art industry immensely (and no doubt pose a huge boon for events such as the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair) due to the exposure of Australian artists and interest generated in Aboriginal culture and fine art. For more information on the Catalyst fund and for information on eligibility and the application process, please follow this link.

While the Monaco project is still taking shape, with new works being completed and/or commissioned every day- Ms O'Connell was kind of enough to share a little sneak peak at what will be expected on display at the renowned Oceanographic Museum in Monaco as part of a larger programme of performances & artists talks as well as a special concert event. Ms O'Connell also dropped a few of the main names whose work will be exhibited to an audience of about 500,000 art lovers! Such names include Aboriginal art superstars Alick Tipoti, Ken Thaiday Snr in collaboration with Jason Christopher and Brian Robinson.

We at Art & Artists Blog hope you enjoy this preview and hope we've left you enough time to save up and book your tickets to Monaco! While you may not make it in time for the opening (to be opened privately by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco) you will have ample time to go and see the exhibition as it runs until the 30th of September. Following the opening, on the 24th of March Alick Tipoti and his team of dancers will be performing at the museum throughout the day. The event is followed on the 26th by a free public concert in Lyons at the Musée des Confluences with a performance by the Zugubal Dancers.

Defending the Oceans follows the Museum's tradition of exhibiting high standard contemporary works by the likes of Damien Hirst, Huang Yong Ping, Mark Dion and Marc Quinn (to name a few), and is part of the larger exhibition at the Museum titled "Taba Naba – Australia, Oceania, Arts of the Sea People". "Taba Naba" will feature two other exhibitions, Living Waters and Oceania Islanders: Past Masters in Navigation and Artistic Expression.

Jack Wilkie-Jans

Aboriginal Affairs Advocate

Artist & Artsworker

B: http://jackandrewwilkie-jans.blogspot.com/

W: http://jackandrewwilkiejans.weebly.com/

Alick Tipoti 'Kisay Dhangal'courtesy and copywright Alick Tipoti and Australian Art Network, photo Roger D'Souza

Alick Tipoti Kisay Dhangal courtesy and copyright Alick Tipoti and Australian Art Network photo Roger DSouza

Bagu scultpures Museum facade, simulation, courtesy of Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, photo by Michel Dagnino

Brian Robinson, Githalai II, simulation, copyright design Brian Robinson et Creative Move, copyright photo Tilt Industrial Design et The Artificial

Emeret Nar, 550 b 540,Jimmy Kenny Thaiday, Jimmy John Thaiday, Lorenzo Ketchell, Ellarose Savage, Emma Gela, Ethel Charlie, Alma Sailor, Louisa Kiwat, Racy Oui-Pitt, in collaboration wit photo by Lynnette Griffiths

Crocodile ghost net sculpture, image courtesy and copyright artist Michael Norman and Pormpuraaw Arts and Cultural Centre

Erub Arts, Merad Turtle, ghost net sculpture, photo by Lynnette Griffiths

Erub Island artists fish ghost net sculptures, photo Lynnette Griffiths

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco courtesy of Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

by liam anderson - November 27, 2015December 18, 2021

Word is the Bird, a Discussion with Jasmine Hearps-Rooney.

Jasmine has works on show opening at Brunswick Street Gallery(322 Brunswick Street,
Fitzroy) this Friday( 27th of November).

Her works combines typography with environmental concern to form a small yet coupling body of work that raises awareness for endangered native birds.

The text is the result of a personal quest to define her personal relationship with these birds that are from the Northern Rivers and central Coast of NSW. The collection of generational observation are coupled with the at risk information about each species.

The initial idea was spawned from a conversation about the decline of the local finches that are no longer in her childhood area. This then was fusioned with Jasmine’s current exploration of typography.

The next step in the process began with the research of endangered birds in the childhood town. Discussions with family developed a further personal connection to the plight of these birds. The execution combines traditional and digital. The first stage involves under-drawing in traditional pencil and pen. The finished drawings were then scanned and imported into photoshop to add the typography via a drawing tablet. The text was scaled and aligned to harmonise with the original drawing. The last stage was the printing. The results of this process created engaging works that draw the viewer in.

All works limited edition of 10.

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, Maske Owl, 20 x 15 cm

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, Golden Fininch,15 x 20 cm

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, Kingfisher,15 x 20 cm

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, Orange Belly,15 x 20 cm

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, Willy Wagtail,15 x 20 cm

Jasmine Hearps-Rooney, 15 x 20 cm

by zhen - November 20, 2015December 18, 2021

Guest writer ‘What’s on in Queensland? Bimblebox: Art – Science – Nature

Art and Artists blog is excited to include another Jack Wilkie-Jans guest post. Enjoy!

Bimblebox: Art – Science – Nature, a touring exhibition, is a must see. Currently showing at Artspace Mackay (61 Gordon Street, Civic Centre Precinct, Mackay) in Northern Queensland, the exhibition will be on display until the 6th of December 2015 before continuing doing the rounds through regional galleries in Queensland and New South Wales. Next year the exhibition is off to the New England Regional Art Museum, NSW (106-114 Kentucky St, South Hill NSW) from the 5th of February to the 24th April 2016. Click here for future exhibition dates!

Showcasing Seventeen Artists, the group exhibition is curated by well known curator and art consultant, Beth Jackson. The works are varied (click here for catalogue), ranging from collages made up of naturally sourced materials, to modern sculptural installations of both natural and technological appeal, fine paintings & drawing, photography, sound installations and digital art. As such the exhibition is a balanced collection of talent, with artists drawing upon their experiences at Bimblebox Nature Refuge for their collective inspiration. The Bimblebox Nature Refuge is an 8000 hectare property in Central Queensland’s Galilee Basin that is currently under threat from Coal Mining.

They say nothing can beat nature, and while Mother Earth's creation (cared for by the caretakers at the Bimblebox refuge) is surely one of the greatest and most beautiful "installations", Bimblebox: Art – Science – Nature is a modern artists' interpretation and presentation of the aesthetic and the spiritual stories of such a pristine landscape. Showcased within art galleries across Queensland and New South Wales, like a modern take on the botanist portfolios of old, the exhibition literally transports Bimblebox to the viewer, and visa versa- something which is always a rewarding experience and a hallmark of any successful concept!

For more information please go to: bimbleboxexhibition.com or bimbleboxartproject.com

All Souls Day (Tree), 2009, Luke Roberts (photo courtesy of the Artist and Milani Gallery Brisbane)

Coalface, Alison Clouston and Boyd (source www.bimbleboxexhibition.com)

Mining Aramac from the Mining Galilee Series, 2013, Fiona MacDonald (photo courtesy of the artist)

Left to Right, Jaw War Tet Tweer, 2013, Sarah McIlroy & Mending the Future, 2013, Jill Sampson (photo Carl Warner)

Bimblebox Skymap 2, 2013, Glenda Orr (photo Carl Warner)

Reconfigured Landscape no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, 2013, Shayna Wells, detail from photo by Carl Warner

Reconfigured Landscape no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, 2013, Shayna Wells (photo by Carl Warner)

by liam anderson - November 19, 2015November 19, 2015

Doomsday Song by Guy Mathews

Presented by Backwoods until the 22nd of November 2015 at Gallery 5 (5 Easey St, Collingwood VIC 3066).

Installation Photo courtesy of Backwoods Gallery.

Guy Mathews art combines dying art of signwriting and abstract expressionism with a good dose of the industrial design. The result is an engaging painterly body of work that straddles different stylistic traditions called bricolage. Guy experiences as an antique dealer had granted him a keen eye for interesting and quirky artifacts. This has allowed Guy to gather antique signs that would be rejected traditional as a transient object and transform them into lovingly crafted tablets with industrial inspired finish.