Artists' Ink Opening

Above: (l to r) Cathy Hoffman, Textile Teacher, South West TAFE; Angie Taylor, Acting Curator, Warrnambool Art Gallery; Philippa Hynam, Front of House Coordinator, Warrnambool Art Gallery.













Above: (l to r) Anthony Camm, Director, Ararat Regional Art Gallery; Adam Harding, Director, Horsham Regional Art Gallery; Brenda O'Connor, Acting Director, Warrnambool Art Gallery. Photos: Peter Pickering

Our current exhibition, 'Artists' Ink: printmaking from the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection 1970-2001', was officially opened on Saturday 27 June at 2pm by Brenda O'Connor, Acting Director, Warrnambool Art Gallery. 'Artists' Ink' features 60 prints that track the rise of late 20th century printmaking in Australia. The exhibition features the work of independent specialist printmakers alongside notable artists who collaborated with master printmakers at the various print workshops that came of age during the 1970s and 1980s. The exhibition continues until 2 August 2009.

Viceregal Visit

Above: The Governor and Mrs de Kretser meeting exhibiting artist, Julie Shiels (left).

We were incredibly honoured to welcome The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser AC and Mrs Jan de Kretser to the Ararat Regional Art Gallery on 20 May 2009. Our exhibiting artists, Julie Shiels and Tamara Marwood, were introduced to the Governor and Mrs de Kretser and spoke to them about their respective exhibitions. There was a great moment when an unsuspecting young visitor and his dad were formally introduced to the Governor. It was a very exciting day for all associated with the Gallery.

Tamara and Julie's Exhibition Opening

Installation view of exhibitions: 'Flock' (above) & 'Handcrafted Landscape' (below). Photos by Peter Pickering.

We are currently presenting two very different, though subtly related exhibitions by Bendigo region artist, Tamara Marwood and St Kilda-based artist, Julie Shiels.

We had the great honour of welcoming Professor Lyndal Jones from the School of Creative Media, RMIT University and Director of The Avoca Project to open Tamara and Julie’s exhibitions last Saturday afternoon.

Education Week

Photographs from Ararat West Primary School's linocut workshop with Sarah Bartlett. Photographs courtesy of Leeanne Hahnel.

Education Week was celebrated by kindergartens and Victorian government schools last week from May 17 to 23. Ararat Regional Art Gallery marked the event with a series of art workshops to enhance and build on existing art activities which students are exposed to through the school curriculum. The workshops were funded through a grant from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

This year seven schools with a combined total of almost 150 students participated in six workshop sessions held over three days. Pomonal ceramicist Amelia Kingston introduced students from Beaufort and Ararat North primary schools to pottery. Ararat artist Sarah Bartlett introduced students from Stawell, Landsborough and Ararat West primary schools to the rewarding linocut printmaking process. Bendigo-region artist Tamara Marwood, who was in Ararat for the installation of her current exhibition ‘Handcrafted Landscape’, presented felt key ring making workshops for students from Great Western and Maroona primary schools.

Thanks to Amelia, Sarah and Tamara for their commitment and to all the teachers, parents and students who attended and helped make our Education Week workshop program a great success.

How You Make It - ABC Ballarat interview

Thanks to ABC Ballarat for visiting Ararat for our recent presentation of 'How You Make It', a Craft Victoria - NETS Victoria touring exhibition of contemporary fashion, curated by Kate Rhodes. Lisa Moncrieff interviewed me as we walked through the exhibition. Click here to listen to the interview on-line. Next stop for 'How You Make It' is Mildura Arts Centre, where it will be presented from 11 June to 15 July.

ARAG 40th anniversary essay by Kevin Murray

Ararat Regional Art Gallery celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008 with an exhibition (held from 4 December 2008 to 26 January 2009) that featured 40 artists from its permanent collection. The process of developing and presenting the exhibition was incredibly valuable, leading to renewed critical engagement with the collection for staff and audiences and facilitating a reconnection with represented artists, many who returned to Ararat after many years.

A room brochure was published for the occasion and we were fortunate to have Dr Kevin Murray write an essay to mark ARAG's 40th anniversary. Kevin has posted the essay entitled, 'From Macrame to Digital Looms: Threads of Australian Identity' on his website. Hard copies of the brochure are available - if you'd like to receive a copy, just let us know.