Vol. 6 July No. 2 COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY 2012 NEWSLETTER
produced by the Friends of the Cowra Regional Art Gallery
22 April to 2 June 2012
2012 Calleen Art Award and Central West Regional Artists Award
owra Regional Art Gallery was delighted to announce the winners of C the 2012 Calleen Art Award & Central West Regional Artists Award at the awards exhibition opening on Saturday 21 April at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. Over 120 people attended the opening including many of the finalists.
Cr Bill West, Mayor Cowra Shire Council opened the exhibition.
The announcement of the award winners was by the 2012 awards judge Jason Smith, Director/CEO Heide Museum of Modern Art (Bulleen, Victoria).
This year the Gallery received 228 entries from across Australia and 60 artworks were selected as finalists.
The winner of the 2012 Calleen Art Award is Canberra based artist G.W. Bot for her artwork Cr Bill West above and the Glyphs: Tree of Life 2012, Tree of Life 2012 2012 Judge watercolour and graphite on colombe paper. and artist Jason Smith at G.W. Bot right. Jason Smith - Judges Comments “I selected GW Bot for the Calleen Art Award because I found her work to be deeply enigmatic. It appeared simultaneously as a moonlit nocturnal landscape with phenomena, and as a dynamic field of abstract gestures. Her work is quietly but intensely alluring. It is beautifully crafted as an object, but its materiality emphasizes the textures of landscape.” Jason Smith
The winner - shown at left - of the 2012 Central West Regional Artists Award is Hill End based artist Genevieve Carroll for her artwork The Wattle Room: Portent of the Enlarged Thought 2011, oil on canvas.
Jason Smith - Judges Comments “I selected Genevieve‟s work for the Central West Regional Artists Award as it is a lively painting that celebrates the very act of painting and the manifestation in paint of thought. It has an experimental sense in terms of its painterly surface and mark-making, its definitions of solid and amorphous spaces, and its great use of colour. I found it an affirming painting.” Jason Smith
“The high calibre of works by the finalists in the 2012 Calleen Art Award was striking and made the selection of one recipient for the major award particularly challenging ………… spectacularly wide-range of subjects.” commented Jason Smith in his preliminary address.
The Calleen Art Award was established in 1977 through a gift by Mrs. Patricia Fagan OAM. Now in its 35th year the Calleen Art Award is an acquisitive award worth $16,000 through the generous support of the Calleen Trust, through Jenni and Peter Fagan. The Central West Regional Artists Award is non acquisitive and worth $2,000 supported by David Henley.
People’s Choice Award The Friends of the Gallery donated $500 for the People‟s Choice Award which was won by Naomi White for her painting The Natural Land 2012 (Hometown, QLD) the work shown at left. This work was also Highly Commended in the Calleen Awards.
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Next in the Gallery PRINTMAKING Saturday 4 August to Sunday 26 August 2012.
NEW DIRECTIONS: Sydney Printmakers a unique exhibition of fine art printmaking by some of Australia’s leading printmakers.
he medium of printmaking is often misunderstood particularly since new technologies, such as digital T printmaking, have emerged and become integrated within many art practices. It is timely to observe traditional printmaking techniques such as etching, lino, woodblock and lithograph displayed alongside computer- generated images or as „hybrid prints‟ in which several techniques are combined.
New Directions showcases over 50 works, all high quality forms of fine art limited edition printmaking, and celebrates 50 years of the Sydney Printmakers group established in 1961. Elizabeth Pozega World within a World within a world (tumult), 2009. Multiple plate etching. Image courtesy the artist
Special Exhibition 1 September to 14 October.
Archibald Prize 2012 NSW Regional Tour comes to Cowra…
he Archibald Prize 2012, one of Australia‟s oldest and most T prestigious art awards will commence at the Gallery from 1 September to 14 October. The prize was first awarded in 1921 and amongst many controversies, founder JF Archibald‟s original aims to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians have certainly been fulfilled. Indeed, many believe the Archibald Prize has done more than any other single event to stimulate and sustain public interest in the art of portrait painting in Australia. The Gallery has estimated the exhibition will attract over 5,000 visitors including school and community groups from around the Central West. Admission is free and the Gallery will be presenting guided floor talks and workshop activities during the exhibition dates, there is also a People‟s Choice Award with $500 to win by a lucky visitor. Brian Langer
Winner Peoples Choice Award 2012
Jenny Sages After Jack Image: Courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW
Calleen Art Award 2012
Winner G.W.Bot – Glyphs: Tree of Life 2012 Watercolour and graphite on colombe paper 120 x 130cm Canberra, ACT Artist and work shown on front page
Highly Commended Alison Chiam – White Flower in a Jam Jar 2012 oil on canvas, 45 x 45cm Vincentia, NSW Alison with work -lower right
Highly Commended Matthew Quick – Pure Tenacity 2012 oil on Italian linen, 100 x 100cm Collingwood, VIC Matthew and work - above right
Highly Commended Naomi White – The Natural Land 2012 oil on canvas, 102 x 182cm Hometown, QLD Work shown on front page
Also People’s Choice Award Winner Opening night audience.
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Gallery Highlights
SHELL-SHOCKED: Australia after Armistice 10 June to 22 July
his beautifully presented exhibition was opened by Frank Bridges Vice President, Cowra RSL Sub T Branch on 8 June 2012. He related a story of great poignancy from personal experience. The guest speaker from the National Archives was Exhibitions Researcher Amy Lay who spoke on the collection and the associated narratives.
“Grieving and remembrance World War I left behind a vast legacy of sorrow that was felt for generations. The loss of 60,000 Australians meant that scarcely a family in Australia was left untouched. Yet for many, the sadness was deferred or unresolved.” National Archives of Australia.
Public Program - 23 June, 2012 A program entitled „Mapping Our Anzacs‟ was presented by Carolyn Connor, Manager of Reference Services, National Archives of Australia, Canberra. Carolyn demonstrated how to access the wide range of information available on the National Archives website, and traced the records of relatives of some of those present. Carolyn Connor National Archives of Australia Canberra
Top left - General view of Gallery display Left - Amy Lay Above - Frank Bridges At right - Opening night
ARCHIBALD SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS INFORMATION SESSION 19 July, 2012
olunteers were treated to a very interesting session by Danielle Gullotta Access Programme Co-ordinator V forfor thethe ArtArt GalleryGallery ofof NewNew SouthSouth Wales.Wales. SheShe spokespoke ofof thethe ArchibaldArchibald PrizePrize - the founder JF Archibald - itsits 9090 year history and the effect that the competition has had in sustaining the importance of art in the face of media development. Earlier portraits were public expressions of a person‟s professional image, Danielle Gullotto but this perception is changing which adds to the debate and controversy that is Access Programme Co-ordinator always to be found in the art world. Danielle also explained the rules for entry, and Art Gallery of New South Wales discussed this year‟s finalists - 41 of 839 entries. A most enjoyable presentation.
Central West Regional Artists Award
Winner Genevieve Carroll – Portent of the Enlarged Thought 2011 Artist and work shown on front page oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm Hill End, NSW
Highly Commended Rowan Matthews – Close Up Cudgegong River 2012 Oil on linen Rowan and his work - top right. 108 x 122cm Mudgee, NSW
Highly Commended Anne Stanley – Fragment 2011 mixed media Anne and her work - at right. 58.2 x 46.4cm Cowra, NSW
Photo Far right - Opening Night .. Judge Jason Smith on right.
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August, September October, 2012. , Next in the Gallery
4 August to 26 August 2012
NEW DIRECTIONS: Sydney Printmakers New Directions celebrates 50 years of the Sydney Printmakers group established in 1961. The exhibition showcases high quality forms of fine art limited edition printmaking including traditional printmaking techniques such as etching, lino, woodblock and lithograph displayed alongside computer-generated images and „hybrid prints‟ in which several techniques are combined. Exhibition opening - Saturday 4 August 2012 at 1pm > 3pm Anne Starling Child’s Play 2011. Linocut, carborundum collograph. Floor Talk - Saturday 4 August 2012 at 12.30pm ( prior to Image courtesy of the artist. the exhibition opening)
1 September to 14 October 2012
2012 ARCHIBALD PRIZE: New South Wales Regional Tour The Archibald Prize is one of Australia‟s oldest and most prestigious art awards. JF Archibald‟s primary aims were to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Amongst many controversies, these original aims have certainly been fulfilled, and indeed, many believe the Archibald Prize has done more than any other single event to stimulate and sustain public interest in the art of portrait painting in Australia. The Archibald Prize is an Art Gallery of NSW exhibition toured by Museums and Galleries.
Friday 31 August Special Opening The exhibition will open in Cowra on Friday 31 August commencing with the official launch from 6.30pm at the Cowra Civic Centre, and exhibition preview from 7.30pm at the Gallery including a floor talk by the 2012 Archibald Prize winner Tim Storrier. Winner Archibald Prize 2012 Entry is $15 (for both venues) including finger food, wine provided by Rosnay Wines, Tim Storrier: The historic wayfarer (after Bosch). Image courtesy of Art Gallery NSW and a special Lucky Door Prize. A Gallery of NSW exhibition toured by Museums and Galleries
20 October to 18 November 2012
FORM FIRE AND FRUITION: Geoff Crispin – a regional practice in clay Geoff Crispin has an established national reputation for his wood-fired stoneware and porcelain works, and is considered one of Australia‟s outstanding ceramic artists. He is an exhibiting member of the Australian Ceramics Association, and his current work is a synthesis of technology, raw materials and various production methods (throwing, slip casting and slab building). He has worked extensively with remote indigenous communities, in particular Tiwi Islands and Ernabella. This is a Grafton Regional Gallery touring exhibition. Geoff Crispin will be artist - in - residence at the Gallery during the first five days of the exhibition including free talks and a free working with porcelain demonstration on Sunday 21 October from 11am to 3.30pm.
Geoff Crispin Copper Red Pot 2010. Porcelain wood-fired, copper and red glaze. Image courtesy Grafton Regional Gallery. For more information contact the Gallery on (02) 63402190
Cowra Regional Art Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 2pm – 4pm Gallery Director: Brian Langer Gallery Administration Officer: Jacque Perry Web page www: cowraartgallery.com.au 77 Darling Street, Cowra NSW 2794 Ph. 02 6340 2190 Fax: 02 6340 2191 Email: [email protected] The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is a cultural facility of the Cowra Shire Council
“The Friends” is a volunteer organisation formed to support the Cowra Regional Art Gallery, and operates as a 355 committee of Cowra Shire Council. This year‟s Annual Meeting will be held in the Gallery on Thursday August 9, 2012 at 5.30 pm. All welcome. President Minute Secretary/Treasurer Newsletter Editor Jack Mallon Ph 63450363 Bev Donges Ph (02) 6345 5853 Gwen Clark Ph 63423995
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