Albert Tucker exhibition

Above: Geoffrey Smith delivering his opening remarks; Exhibition curator Ivan Durrant at the exhibition opening.

We are experiencing a surge in visitor numbers at present- all due to a very special exhibition of paintings by one of Australia's most important 20th century artists, Albert Tucker. The exhibition is titled 'The Intruder: The Perfect Allegory' and was originally curated by Ivan Durrant for Benalla Art Gallery. Most of the paintings are from the collection of Barbara Tucker, who has generously loaned these treasured paintings for the exhibition. Other important paintings have been loaned from the National Gallery of Victoria and Heide Museum of Modern Art.

The majority of the featured paintings are from the 1960s and were created by Albert Tucker following his return to Australia from Europe and are deeply informed by his immersion in the Australian bush after establishing a home in Hurstbridge in the early 1960s. The works feature haunting and conflicting images that explore the dangers of the Australian bush and the life and death struggles of explorers and other human intruders.

On Saturday 19 September at 2pm we were honoured to welcome Barbara Tucker and exhibition curator Ivan Durrant to Ararat for the exhibition opening. We were especially pleased that Geoffrey Smith, Director and National Head of Art, Bonhams and Goodman and former Curator of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Victoria was able to find the time to visit Ararat to formally open the exhibition. Geoffrey knows the work of Albert Tucker very well and his opening remarks provided a valuable context for those in attendance to better appreciate the exhibition.

Thank you to everyone who attended. It was a wonderful afternoon celebration amongst Gallery friends and supporters. Thanks especially to Off the Beaten Track Art and Wine Gallery / Mount Cole Wineworks for suporting the exhibition through providing their excellent wines at the opening.

Lao Textile Launch

We had a great turn out for the launch of "Weaving Dreams and Aspirations: Lao Textiles" on Saturday 8 August 2009. The exhibition is curated by Valerie Kirk, a tapestry weaver and Head of Textiles at the Australian National University School of Art, and aims to highlight the rich textile traditions of Laos. It was great to see so many familiar faces from the regional textiles community in attendance.

Our guest speaker was Boby Vosinthavong, who operates the fair trade business, Lao Silk & Craft and is the Australian representative for the Lao Sericulture and Phontong / Camacrafts Handicrafts Cooperative (aka 'Mulberries'). Mulberries is a not for profit company established by Boby's mother, Kommaly Chanthavong, that seeks to create income generating opportunities for Lao people in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner. In her talk, Boby explained how Mulberries manages the process of creating high quality silk products from the growing of silk cocoons, the dying with natural materials and the painstaking task of weaving. Boby demonstrated the first stage of the production of silk - the reeling of raw silk from cocoons. It was great to welcome Boby and her family to Ararat to share the unique Mulberries story and to provide a context for appreciating the exquisite work in the exhibition.

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.