Many Become One

Ararat-based artist Jade Kahle was approached earlier this year with the idea of introducing textile craft skills to children leading to an installation outcome in response to the 2010 Children’s Week theme, ‘A Caring World Shares’. The project has been funded through a Children's Week grant from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. This resulting installation ‘Many Become One’ is the culmination of the collaboration between Jade and the participating children. The exhibition was launched by Ararat Rural City Councillor Anne Marshall last Tuesday afternoon, 3 November.

Jade’s concept for ‘Many Become One’ focuses on forms from nature, such as beehives, bird nests and wasp daubs. A half-seen and imagined world of bee and bird is evoked through crochet, knitting and stitch-work, with honeycomb motifs symbolising unity, building and co-operation. Each workshop led to the creation of the various textile pieces that feature in the installation that was designed and constructed by Jade. The individual elements were made by primary school students from Ararat West, Ararat North, Landsborough, Moyston, Willaura, St Mary’s in Ararat and Skene Street in Stawell. Children from the monthly Embroiderers Guild Needles and Pins children’s textile group also contributed to the installation. The installation is presented until 5 December 2010.

Jade Kahle is an artist and designer who has been working with her zooblast label since 2004. For more information visit the zooblast webpage.

Ivan Durrant - Boundary Rider

Ivan Durrant, 'Ball Carrier' 2010, acrylic on masonite, 97 x 148cm

Ivan Durrant is well known for his confronting happenings, sculptures, films and paintings of the 1970s and 1980s. Ararat Regional Art Gallery is pleased to present Ivan's most recent series of paintings,'Boundary Rider', in which he celebrates the colours of a football match in a semi-abstract style. 'Boundary Rider' is an exhibition that provokes a response from the viewer and many interesting conversations have been had in the Gallery since the exhibition went up on the walls. It has been interesting to see how visitors to the exhibition react when confronted by Ivan's intensely bright paintings with their strongly contrasting colours and out-of-focus and sometimes almost abstract representation of moments from football matches. This recent series of paintings has attracted considerable critical attention with Ivan winning the prestigious Sulman Prize in 2009 and having two 'Boundary rider' paintings acquired and currently on show at the National Gallery of Australia. This exhibition, which continues until 12 December 2010, provides an opportunity to view the work of one of Australia's great contemporary painters.













Artist Tony Flint opened the exhibition

Ivan Durrant's 'Boundary Rider' exhibition was officially opened on Saturday 6 November 2010. It was great to welcome Ivan back to Ararat following his visit in 2009 for the opening of the Albert Tucker exhibition 'The Intruder: The Perfect Allegory' which he curated. Ivan's good friend and fellow painter Tony Flint opened 'Boundary Rider' with a warm and insightful appreciation of Ivan and his work. To see some images of Tony's paintings click here.