COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY

NEWSLETTER

produced by the Friends of the Cowra Regional Art Gallery

May

2011 Vol. 5

No. 2

T he winners of the 2011 Calleen Art

Award and Central West Regional

Artists Award were announced at the

awards exhibition opening on Friday 15

April at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery.

Over 150 people attended the

opening including many of the finalists,

some from interstate and as far away as

West Australia. Cr Bill West, Mayor

Cowra Shire Council opened the

exhibition.

The announcement of the award

winners was by the 2011 awards judge

Deborah Ely, CEO of the Bundanon Trust,

who is shown below with Cr West and

Director of the Cowra Regional Art

Gallery, Brian Langer.

2011 Calleen Art

Award and

Central West

Regional Artists

Award

The winner of the 2011 Calleen Art Award is Newcastle based artist Peter Gardiner shown above with his painting

Landscape 2010 No.VIII 2010, oil on canvas 210 x 180 cm.

Judge Deborah Ely commented on the winning work ……………..

Peter Gardiner's Landscape 2010 Number VIII dips its hat to the Spanish masters Valezquez and Goya

and to the traditions of landscape painting, but takes them to another place. The viewer becomes involved in a dark narrative that hints at an evolving,

indecipherable, drama. It is both frightening and contemplative. There is a strong sense of the present in its possible references to catastrophic weather

and natural disasters. It is a sensational painting and will be a wonderful acquisition for the Cowra Regional Art Gallery Collection.

The Calleen Art Award was established in 1977 through a gift by Mrs. Patricia Fagan OAM. During the past 34 years, the award

has developed into a major art prize for painting and now worth $15,000 through the generous support of the Calleen Trust. The Calleen

Art Award is an acquisitive award and the winning work will become part of the Calleen Art Collection at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery.

The winner (at right) of the 2011 Central West Regional Artists Award is

Stuart Town based artist Tim Winters for his painting

The Pinnacles Desert 2010, mixed media on canvas 150 x 150 cm.

Of the 2011 Central West Regional Artists Award , Ms Ely said…………..

Tim Winter's stylish and confident painting celebrates the desert landscape, incorporating

rich reds, ochres and pinks - edged with references to plant life with vibrant flashes of green.

This Award is a non acquisitive award for painting and drawing. The award

was established in 2009 by the Cowra Regional Art Gallery with prize money of

$2,000 donated by David Henley, Cowra based artist and patron of the Gallery. The

award is open to artists living in the Central West Region of NSW.

The winner of the 2011 award is also offered an exhibition at the Cowra

Regional Art Gallery during 2012/13.

This year 71 artworks were selected from 214 artworks submitted.

Brian Langer Director Cowra Regional Art Gallery

Coming up in the Gallery

Cowra Regional Art Gallery hosts thought provoking exhibition.

D uring June visitors can see the thought provoking exhibition There’s A

War On! World War II At Home, at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery.

The exhibition is a Museums and Galleries NSW touring

exhibition investigating the effect of World War II on the home front:

loss, adventure, hardship, love, internment, friendship, uncertainty – the

EXPERIENCES that shaped a generation.

World War II inflicted monumentous changes upon the people of New

South Wales. As the cry “There‟s a war on!” echoed across the countryside, men,

women and children banded together to face an uncertain future.

For some, wartime meant loss, hardship or time in a POW/internment camp

because of their status as „enemy aliens‟. For others, supporting the war effort led

to adventure, love, lasting friendships and new experiences.

Friday 3 June at 6.30pm Guest speaker Michael Rolfe CEO Museums and

Galleries NSW will open the Exhibition.

Saturday 4 June at 11am, Guest speaker Sarah-Jane Rennie exhibition Co-

curator, will give a floor talk to be followed by a free Workshop at 1.30pm. For individuals and groups with an interest in collecting, this will

be an informative workshop about the There‟s a War On! Website. Exhibition dates are 4 June to 3 July. Brian Langer Director Cowra Regional Art Gallery

The Calleen Exhibition continues to 29 May 2011

Highly Commended - Calleen Art Award

* Stephen Caldis (Gymea NSW), Pond of Tears 2011, oil on board 86 x 61cm * Peta Dzubiel (Elanora Heights NSW), July 2011, oil on canvas 76 x

91.5cm * Ross Laurie (Walcha NSW), Midground

–Campfire Road 2010, oil on canvas 106.5

x 122cm.

Some of the Awards finalists who were present on Opening night are shown below.

VOLUME 5 NO 2

FRIENDS NEWSLETTER MAY, 2011 PAGE 2

Field ambulance purchased through funds raised by the

Wagga Wagga branch of the 2WG Women’s Club. Image courtesy of Charles Sturt University Regional Archives.

Above Highly Commended -

Central West Regional Artists Award

Rachel Ellis (Bathurst NSW),

Orange House, George Street, Bathurst 2011,

oil on linen 91.5 x 83.5cm.

Clockwise from top left:

Melanie Baulch

Dana Dion

Christine Lanham

David Isbester

David Lake

Heather Rhodes

Ying Huang

Clockwise from lower right:

Brenda Runnegar

Vicki Sangster

Eddy Harris

Jeanette Gash

Megan Jones

Tracy Dods

Maryanne Wick

Gallery Highlights

VOLUME 5 NO 2

FRIENDS NEWSLETTER MAY, 2011 PAGE 3

Opening night visitor viewing Tara Badcock‟s

Momento Mori-Children of World Warcraft

(Bosnia) 2009,

six hand embroidered cushions.

Dress: “Shepherdess of the young”.

These works were the result of Tara‟s stay in Bosnia.

Photos by Jacque Perry

5 February to 6 March

RETURNING

F eatured the work of eight textile artists all with a

connection to Tasmania.

The exhibition was opened by Guest Artist Petra Meer

on Friday 4 February. The next day Petra presented a talk about her practice as a textile and community artist

and also gave an exhibition floor talk.

I t was a pleasure to have this year‟s Calleen

Art Award winner Peter Gardiner in the

gallery to discuss his winning work and his art

practice.

Peter grew up in Geelong and has

always had an interest in art. At 17 after leaving

school with the HSC, he went to Art School in

Newcastle which opened up a whole new world

of creativity for him. Art became his life and he

developed a work ethic which means that he

paints nearly every day. He has been painting

for 20 years, and aims for an annual exhibition.

Early on he was hung three times in

the Wynne Prize (for Landscape Painting) viz.

1988, „89 and „90, and didn‟t realize at the time

what a „big deal‟ that was.

Over the last years he has developed

his „style‟. He goes out for ideas into the

landscape and works

from the resulting sketches in the

studio.

The winning painting

grew from 7 studies

completed in the

Maitland area, and

was painted in the

studio over about 3

nights as he ‘can’t afford to let the paint dry’. He puts the paint on,

then starts wiping it off and moving it around to get the effect he

wants - by ragging, some brush work and using rubber shapes. Peter, (at left) is a friendly

young man who was happy chat with his audience and answer questions.

Cowra Shire Council wins

Cultural Award.

A residency and exhibition project

presented by the Cowra Regional Art

Gallery was among the winners of 17

NSW council projects that were

recognised at the 2011 Local Government

Cultural Awards ceremony at Parliament

House, Sydney on Friday 6 May 2011.

Cowra Shire Council received

the „Program Projects and Partnerships

Award‟ in Division A for local government

councils with a population under 20,000.

More than 100 projects across

54 councils were nominated for the annual

awards - organised by the Local

Government and Shires Associations of

NSW, sponsored by Essential Energy and

supported by Accessible Arts NSW.

Judges comments:

The project consisted of a

residency/workshop and survey exhibition of

Shibori textiles by Sydney based textile artist

and tutor Barbara Schey.

The residency/workshop component included

the artist presenting a series of workshops at

two local high schools titled 'Disappearing

Shibori' and a two day adult’s workshop titled

'Shibori with Attitude'. The exhibition was

titled 'The Eternal Now:

Shibori Textiles by

Barbara Schey' and

curated by Brian Langer

Cowra Regional Art

Gallery Director.

Left: Director Brian

Langer at the Awards

Exhibition

Betty Reymond and

Petra Meer with

Petra‟s work The

Continual Sea 2009.

Used Blankets and

dressing gowns,

cotton thread

Exhibition

Gallery Talk May 21, 2011 EXCITING NEWS

Generous gift to Gallery Collection

R ecently the Gallery received a very

generous gift from a Sydney

collector of a significant work by Joana

Logue (shown above - winner of the

inaugural Central West Regional Artists

Award ) titled Taralga Track 2010 oil on

linen 160 x 240 cm. The painting has

been valued at $28,000 by two

independent professional art valuers.

The gift was received through

the Federal Governments Cultural Gifts program.

The Gallery plans to have an

exhibition of recent donations, gifts and

purchases in early 2012.

Left and above:

Crowd at the opening.

Photos by Pamela Heikkinen

12 March to 10 April

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

T he Cowra Regional Art Gallery was delighted to

present Cultural Connections in association with the

official Opening of the 2011 Cowra Festival of International

Understanding by Cr Bill West, Mayor Cowra.

This exhibition was supported by the Cowra Shire Council and

the Turkish Embassy Canberra, and was opened by His Excellency MR

OĞUZ ÖZGE, Ambassador of Turkey to Australia - above.

Four artists of Turkish

decent with varied contemporary

art and craft practices were

featured.

Artists pictured at left:

Sarit Cohen, a ceramicist based in Canberra: Ebru Arda,

a new media artist and Gokcen Altinok, a print maker -

both based in Sydney. Absent: Huseyin Sami.

Cr Bill West and Mrs Özge

In the Gallery

Until 29 May 2011

2011 Calleen Art Award and Central West Regional Artists Award Always interesting, sometimes controversial - these Awards are now an integral part of the Gallery‟s Annual programme. The

works selected for judging this year will remain on show in the Gallery until May 29, and are well worth a visit.

Don‟t miss voting for your favourite to win the Friend‟s $500 People‟s Choice Award.

Next in the Gallery

4 June to 3 July 2011

There’s A War On! World War II at Home A Museums and Galleries NSW national Touring exhibition investigating the effect of World War II on the home

front: loss, adventure, hardship, love, internment, friendship, uncertainty – the EXPERIENCES that shaped a

generation.

This exhibition is made up of objects, memorabilia, photographs and video footage that presents the memories

and ongoing stories of everyday Australians living in extraordinary circumstances. You will see a diverse

collection of precious and practical World War II artefacts, including the delicate lace wedding dress and veil worn

by more than fifty Brunswick Valley brides due to rationing of material, and the helmet and diary of Hurstville twin

sisters who contributed their bit to the local war effort through the National Emergency Service.

The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is also presenting a showcase of local memorabilia including the two restored

altar panels created by Italian Prisoners of War which were originally housed in the Italian Chapel at the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp.

Museums and Galleries NSW is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW”.

Public Program activities

Exhibition opening: Friday 3 June at 6.30pm. Guest speaker Michael Rolfe CEO Museums and Galleries NSW.

Door entry $10 / $5 Friends/concession. A Friends of the gallery fundraiser.

Exhibition Floor Talk: Saturday 4 June at 11am (Free entry). Guest speaker Sarah-Jane Rennie exhibition Co-

curator

Workshop: Saturday 4 June at 1.30pm (Free entry). A special workshop about the There‟s a War On! Website.

For individuals and groups with an interest in collecting.

Coming up in the Gallery

9 July to 7 August 2011 Max Dupain on Assignment Max Dupain (1911-1992) is widely considered one of Australia‟s greatest photographers. This exhibition showcases

the diversity and longevity of Dupain‟s commercial career, tracing his development as a photographer and artist

from the 1940‟s to the 1970‟s. A Touring Exhibition from the National Archives of Australia.

9 to 14 August 2011 Sacred Footsteps tour – Tibetan monks sand mandala. Commencing Tuesday 9 August for six days the Gallery will host the visit of 3 Tibetan monks and 2 assistants to Cowra. During this time the

monks will create a sand mandala in the Gallery using traditional patterns. Other activities include guided meditation sessions. This is a rare

opportunity to meet artists from another cultural background.

20 August to 25 September 2011 Jeff Mincham: Ceramics Jeff Mincham: Ceramics is the fifth exhibition in the ongoing series, Living Treasures: Masters of Australian

Craft. Produced by Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, the Living Treasures series‟ celebrate

the achievements of the most influential and iconic figures within the

Australian crafts movement. Mincham is an artist in his creative prime, his

most recent works showcase the unique results of his passionate research

and experimentation with surface textures and firing techniques. The work

he is creating today is new, exciting and at times exquisite.

GALLERY CALENDAR June 2011 to September 2011

FRIENDS NEWSLETTER VOLUME 5 NO 2 MAY, 2011 PAGE 4

Only the man who isn‟t rowing has time to „rock the boat‟.

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: cowraartgallery@cowra.nsw.gov.au

“The Friends” is a volunteer organisation formed to support the Cowra Regional Art Gallery, and operates as a 355 committee of Cowra Shire Council.

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 5.30 pm in the Multipurpose room adjacent to the Gallery

except when the date clashes with a Gallery Opening night. All welcome.

President

Jack Mallon Ph 63450363

Subscription Secretary

Vanda Cassim Ph 63421165 Newsletter Editor

Gwen Clark Ph 63423995

Catering Officer

Wendy Quilter Ph 63421652 Secretary

Lois Foster Ph 63411408

Friends SUBSCRIPTIONS for the 2011-2012 financial year will become due on 30th June to prepare for the Friends Annual meeting in July.

A renewal form can be found in this mailing, or forms for new or renewing Subscribers can be picked up from the Gallery.

Knitted Comforts booklet. Image courtesy Albury City

Council

Jeff Mincham, The Edge of a Day, 2009, multi-glazed, mid-fired earthernware, 47 x 64 x 19cm. Photo: Grant Hancock

Max Dupain, Violinist rehearsing

at the Methodist Ladies' College in

Burwood (detail), Sydney 1971.