Living Treasure

Liz Williamson presenting her floor talk













Dr Kevin Murray opens the exhibition.

Last night we celebrated the official opening of Liz Williamson:Textiles, which is an Object Gallery Touring Exhibition as part of its Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series. Liz was raised at Carisbrook, near Maryborough, and her regional Victorian connections remain strong to this day. It was great to welcome many of Liz's family and friends to the opening. We were thrilled that Liz could attend and present a floor talk prior to the opening. Dr Kevin Murray, Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and well-known craft writer and curator officially opened the exhibition to a large and appreciative crowd. Ararat Regional Art Gallery is the exclusive Victorian presenter of the exhibition which continues until 31 October 2010.

Upcoming Events

Simon Tedeschi Piano Recital
Acclaimed US-based Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi will perform the music of Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Gershwin and Fats Waller at the Ararat Performing Art Centre on Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 8pm. Advertised ticket prices are $22 full price, $19 Concession and $15 Students, but Ararat Regional Art Gallery members will receive a 25% discount on the purchase price of tickets for the recital. This offer is only available when visiting the Ararat Performing Arts Centre box office or booking by phoning 5352 2181. Please mention this offer when booking your tickets and present your current gallery membership card when collecting your tickets.

Liz Williamson: Textiles – Floor Talk and Exhibition Opening
We are thrilled to confirm that the esteemed textile artist Liz Williamson will be present at the Ararat Regional Art Gallery exhibition opening of her touring exhibition, 'Liz Williamson: Textiles' on Thursday 30 September 2010. This exhibition is an initiative of the Sydney-based organisation, Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, as part of its Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series. Liz will present at floor talk on at 5pm which will be followed by the official opening of her exhibition at 6pm by Dr Kevin Murray. Dr Murray is Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and a well-known craft curator and advocate. It will be a great night and we hope to see you there!

Antiques Evaluation Day
Antiques and collectibles valuer, Lester DeVere will help you piece together the origins of your trinkets and treasures and advise you on their worth. Bring along your favourite antique or collectable or just come for the fun. There will be two sessions presented on Friday 8 October 2010: a morning session from 10.30am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1.30pm to 3pm. Bookings are essential. The cost is $5 per person, which entitles you to bring along one object for valuation. The session is designed to be informative and interactive. It is important to note that Lester will value all pieces in an open forum. These are not formal written valuations, but provided in a fun and educational environment of learning. The Antiques Evaluation Day will be held in the Art & Craft workshop, next door to Ararat Regional Art Gallery. Tea and coffee will be provided. For information or to confirm attendance, please contact Marcella Crowley on 5352 2836 or email: mcrowley@ararat.vic.gov.au

Australian Studio Tapestry

Above: Tim Gresham with his tapestry 'Triptych from Red (2002)
Below: (l to r) Cresside Collette, Gerda van Hamond, Marie Cook, Sara Lindsay

Ararat Regional Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, “About Time: Australian Studio Tapestry 1975-2005” was officially opened on Saturday 14 August 2010 at 2pm by tapestry artist and Head of Art, South West TAFE, Warrnambool, Marie Cook. Marie, whose work is represented in the exhibition, joined tapestry artists from Melbourne and across Victoria at the opening.

“About Time” features 23 mostly large-scale tapestries in a rare survey of independent tapestry practice. The exhibition draws on the Gallery’s substantial holdings of studio tapestry, alongside some selected loans from other public galleries and private collections. While the exhibition does not tell the complete story of studio tapestry in Australia, it does aim to promote a greater understanding of the movement and acknowledge those who have been important in establishing and advancing this field of contemporary craft practice.

Since 2008 the Gallery’s studio tapestry sub-collection has been strengthened with acquisitions of major tapestries by important artists Kate Derum and Sara Lindsay. The “About Time” exhibition opening provided an opportunity to announce the Gallery’s successful funding application to the Robert Salzer Foundation, through the Public Galleries Association of Victoria, to support the acquisition of Tim Gresham’s ‘Triptych from Red’ from 2002.

“Triptych from Red” explores the tension between the immediacy of photography and the slowness of the weaving process. Tim, who is also a professional photographer, has distilled compositional elements from his photographs of the built environment to create this stunning abstract tapestry in three parts. Tim’s ambitious tapestry, which is presently on display in the “About Time” exhibition, took a year to weave and featured in the National Gallery of Victoria’s prestigious Colin and Cecily Rigg Craft Award in 2003. “About Time” continues until 26 September 2010.

Virginia Kaiser's 'Outback Stories'

Virginia Kaiser, 'Shapes in the Landscape' 2010, Bulrushes & dyed rattan core x 4, muehlenbeckia & dyed rattan core x 1, Photo: Boris Hlavica












Participants in Virginia's two day workshop

Virginia Kaiser is an artist who employs a wide range of weaving techniques and natural fibre materials in her sculptures and baskets. Her current exhibition 'Outback Stories' is deeply informed by the landscape around Broken Hill where she presently lives. Her exhibition is presented at Ararat Regional Art Gallery until 8 August.

Virginia's life and work has been closely tied to the development of the craft movement in Australia and the practice of basketry in particular. She is widely recognised as a leader in contemporary Australian fibre art as an exhibiting artist, curator and mentor. 'Outback Stories’ is dedicated to some of the key influences in Virginia’s life, including South Australian basketry pioneer Jean Lange and American fibre artist Douglas Fuchs, who influenced the character of Australian basketry so profoundly during his Australian residency in the early 1980s. During her visit to Ararat, Virginia had a chance to see some of the fibre artworks in Ararat Regional Art Gallery’s permanent collection, including objects from Jean Lange, Douglas Fuchs, and many Australian basketmakers.

The launch of Virginia’s exhibition last Friday 2nd July 2010 began with an artist’s talk in the afternoon where she spoke about the development of contemporary Australian basketry. Following her talk, Virginia’s exhibition was officially opened by special guest Lindy Allen, Senior Curator, Anthropology (Northern Australia), Museum Victoria. Lindy spoke about Virginia’s influence on Australian fibre art and about the unique position that basketry holds as a means for dialogue between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

The exhibition opening was attended by many people with an interest in contemporary fibre art, including practicing basketmakers who travelled to Ararat from Melbourne, Sydney, and Regional Victoria and South Australia for the opening. A contingent of visitors also attended a weekend workshop presented by Virginia at the Allanvale Homestead’s Shearers Quarters, between Ararat and Great Western. Participants were thrilled to have completed several baskets during the workshop, as part of their introduction to this ancient craft.

Flames of Creation: The Pottery of John Eagle

Top: L-R John Eagle, Janette Todd, Rosemary Eagle

'Flames of Creation' was officially opened at the gallery on Saturday 22nd May at 2pm. It is an exhibition highlighting the 40 year career achievement of ceramicist John Eagle. Now based in Ararat, John Eagle is widely recognised for his contribution to ceramics in Victoria, including through his pursuit of excellence in functional pottery. The exhibition was opened by special guest Janette Todd, an exceptional artist in her own right, who has known John for a number of years. The opening was attended by over eighty people including Cr Andrea Marian, local pottery enthusiasts as well as a number of visitors to the area.

A graduate of RMIT, John enjoyed early success when selected for inclusion in the seminal Victorian craft exhibition, Craft Victoria '75 at the National Gallery of Victoria. In the 1970s, John dedicated himself to a life as a potter. In 1988 John was awarded the National Bicentennial Art-Craft award for Functional Pottery.

'Flames of Creation' presents a range of objects that track John's growth as a potter over a forty year period, revealing pivotal breakthroughs in his throwing and glazing techniques. Many of these featured objects are treasured possessions of the artist; other signature pieces have been sourced from a range of private collections. Also included is a new ceramic installation 'Garden of Creation' ,"based on the memory of annuals that used to flower every Spring at Linton', which was created especially for this exhibition. 'Flames of Creation' continues until June 27 2010.

Ochre, bark, fibre, wood

Above: Guests at the opening; Below (l to r) Elizabeth Crauford, Ian Mitchell and Ted Lovett at the opening.

Last Thursday we were was pleased to open our latest exhibition, 'Ochre, bark, fibre, wood: The art of Arnhem Land from the collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat'. The opening was well attended and guests had the opportunity preview the exhibition as well as hear opening remarks from indigenous Elder, Mr Ted Lovett, and Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Mr Gordon Morrison.

The exhibition is curated by Mr Morrison and is the first travelling survey of Ballarat's Arnhem Land collection since it was established in 2004. Mr Morrison gained a deeper appreciation of the art of Arnhem Land through a research trip funded by the Gordon Darling Foundation in May 2005, which enabled him to spend five days at Yirrkala and five days at Maningrida. Meeting artists and learning about the cultural context in which they created their work profoundly informed Mr Morrison's approach to establishing this new area of collection at Ballarat. Mr Morrison commented that, "although Arnhem Land is an integral part of Australia, travelling to this part of the Northern Territory can seem like travelling to another country. It is not just a matter of the physical remoteness of the region; this is a place where indigenous languages - and there are many of them - are still spoken and where age old customs, tribal law, ceremonies and art are still part of everyday life".

Bark paintings and fibre works rarely tour due to their fragility, so we are indeed fortunate that the Art Gallery of Ballarat has so generously shared its collection with us. The exhibition brings together exquisite bark paintings and majestic wood and fibre sculptures from 'the Top End'. It provides a rare opportunity for people to learn about the rich indigenous culture from this beautiful and remote part of Australia. The exhibition continues until Sunday 16 May.

Jukebox Paintbox Exhibition

Bernadine Streeter (centre) with members of the Jailhouse Rock committee.













Marcella Crowley and Bernadine Streeter announcing the winners.

Ararat Regional Art Gallery's staff were pleased to welcome 40 community members to the launch of the Jailhouse Rock Festival last Wednesday. The launch was an opportunity to celebrate the festival's commencement and enabled the Jailhouse Rock Festivals committee to thank its many friends and supporters. This gathering also provided a great opportunity to introduce community members to the Gallery's current Jailhouse Rock exhibition 'Jukebox Paintbox'. This community access exhibition is our contribution to the 2010 Festival program and builds on last year's successful community exhibition, 'Discard to Disc Art'.

The concept behind 'Jukebox Paintbox' was that people respond artistically to a classic rock'n'roll song from a jukebox playlist. Each entrant was provided with a small canvas as part of their challenge and artists of all abilities were encouraged to enter their work. There was no selection process as the exhibition is essentially about promoting participation in the visual arts with everyone encouraged to have a go. A few prizes were on offer to keep things interesting. Sue Kennedy of Pomonal took out the $150 open prize for her painting, 'Tutti Frutti (after Arcimboldo)'. Sue's work was selected as the winning work by local artist, Carolyn Thomas, who is also the director of Off the Beaten Track Wine and Art Gallery in Buangor.

Carolyn was especially taken by Sue's homage to the Italian Mannerist painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, who is known for his intriguing portraits of people whose images are made entirely out of fruit and vegetables. In this case, Sue's portrait captured the likeness of Little Richard, who is famous as the singer and composer of 'Tutti Frutti'. The Jailhouse Rock Festival director's award was judged by Bernadine Streeter and presented to Rosemary Wilson for her painting, 'Blueberry Hill at the Central Hotel'. Bernadine presented her award to the painting that she felt best captured the character of the Jailhouse Rock Festival.

Both judges were full of praise for those who contributed to this fun and colourful exhibition celebrating rock'n'roll culture. The People's Choice Award is being tallied today following the receipt of many votes over the festival weekend. The winner of the award will receive a voucher from Blue Whippet Art Supplies. The exhibition continues until March 28.