Friends of The Gallery Newsletter Summer Edition

 

Dear Friends,

Please enjoy the November newsletter which highlights our news and updates together with your preview of the Gallery’s Seasonal Program for Summer

 

SUMMER PROGRAM OPENING CELEBRATION

Friday 6 December | Welcome Speeches | 6 for 6.30 pm | Free 

You are invited to join us to celebrate the Gallery’s Summer Program which features the Wynne Prize 2024, an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition; together with Portraits of Love: A Mother’s Perspective by regional artist Meli Axford, which explores the nuanced dynamics of love, family, and her daughters’ transition to adulthood through a mother’s eyes, and Vestiges, the first solo exhibition of work by emerging Northern Rivers artist Emily-Sarah Boldeman whose practice comprises films, automatic drawings and objects – each a remnant of unpredictable processes and performances. This exhibition is the outcome of the Tweed Regional Gallery - Byron School of Art (BSA) 3rd Year Graduate Award, 2023. A Tweed Regional Gallery initiative. Please note that bookings are essential https://online.fliphtml5.com/txcax/rvio/

 

WYNNE PRIZE 2024ô 7 DECEMBER 2024 –2 FEBRUARY 2025

The Wynne Prize is awarded annually for the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours, or for the best example of figurative sculpture by an Australian artist. For the first time, in 2024, the greatest number of finalist works in the Wynne Prize are by First Nations artists. The Wynne Prize 2024 presents the winning and finalist works on tour for 2024, showcasing an impressive collection by Australian artists. The Wynne Prize 2024 is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition. This project is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Blockbusters funding initiative.

 

 

 

OH, WHAT A NIGHT

2024 SPRING PROGRAM LAUNCH & WOLLUMBIN ART AWARD 

On the eve of September 7, the Gallery doors opened to welcome all to the Spring Program Launch and Wollumbin Art Award Opening and Awards Celebration. An exciting beginning to the event was the Wollumbin Youth Art Award announcements. Applause to all the entrants who participated this year. To see the Gallery foyer filled with artists of all ages, especially the young was a delight and heralds a talented and vibrant regional arts scene.

Judging this year’s entrants was Jodi Ferrari, Curator of the Children’s Gallery, HOTA -Home of the Arts- who was charged with selecting the winning works and she confirmed it was not an easy task.

The winners for 2024 are Blair Davis (5 – 8 years), Chloe Dyer (9 – 12 years), Amelia Laurie (13 – 15 years), Peri Hynes (16 – 18 years). It was thrilling to see them join our Friends of the Gallery President, Janice Jones on stage to receive their award. In addition, the following young artists’ works were Highly Commended, Escher Pipon Tyler (5 – 8 years), Chloe Harris (9 – 12 years), Gus Roberts (13 – 15 years), Jamie Mifsud (16 – 18 years). 

Again, congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered, the finalists and winners.

This biennial award, supported by the Friends of the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc, supports and encourages young artists aged 5 to 18 years and is held in conjunction with the Wollumbin Art Award. Open to young people living in the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Scenic Rim Shires, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Gold Coast City. The Award celebrates the diverse local perspectives and artistic talent and creativity of young people living in the region.

Robert Malherbe, Still Life with Magnolias 2016, donated by Contemporary Editions

 

OUR SPRING RAFFLE

The Spring Raffle is a limited edition print of Still Life with Magnolias 2016 by Robert Malherbe.

This fine art reproduction, edition #25, printed on Hahnemuhle Etching Paper, 310gsm and 73 x61 cm and valued at $1,100 has been generously donated by Contemporary Editions.

For more information on the Artist and Contemporary Editions please find links below.

https://www.contemporaryeditions.com.au/blogs/news/robert-malherbe-in-artist-profile

https://www.contemporaryeditions.com.au

 

Our recent raffle, a collection of Margaret Olley merchandise raised almost $3,800. Our thanks and appreciation go to Martin Sullivan who drove this benchmark result and champions this important fundraising endeavour. The prize was won by Janelle Jackson, from Western Australia.

 

Photo courtesy of AGNSW  2024

 

LOOKING AHEAD

2025 SYDNEY GALLERY TOUR | THE ART GALLERY OF NSW ARCHIBALD, WYNNE & SULMAN PRIZE | CHAU CHAK WING MUSEUM

We are planning our annual visit to Sydney and the Art Gallery of NSW which will include a private tour of the Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prizes 2025. There will be ample time to explore the Gallery, especially Naala Badu, the newly opened North Building. We are also planning to visit the Chau Chak Wing Museum. This purpose-built, multi-level museum which opened in 2020 brings together the University of Sydney's Art, Science, History and Cultural collections and will be an exciting experience. We will also include a visit to the S. H. Ervin Gallery for a private tour of the Salon des Refusés 2024, which is always a highlight.

 

In addition, we are considering a trip to the Bundanon Art Centre, originally the home of Arthur and Yvonne Boyd and a visit to Ngunungugula.

Dates and booking details will be announced in the new year.

 

 

 

KNOW MY NAME | LOCAL ARTIST BUS TOUR REVIEW
The weather gods were kind to us on our most recent tour where we visited local Artists Robyn Sweaney, Helle Jorgensen and Leonie Lane in their studios.

We were introduced to their practices with each sharing insights into their background, inspirations and career highlights.

It was interesting and not surprising that the wild, natural surrounds of Helle Jorgensen’s home, with sustainability at its heart, provides her with constant inspiration. Her works celebrate all of nature’s textures and tones which come to life in her work. Similarly, Robyn’s mid-century home could be a painting of her writ large. It felt like stepping into her precise palette, there among her set squares, architectural drawing tools, sketch books and maquettes where she shared with us her approach to the work and the exquisite detail that inspires her every day.

And pulsing with her passion for justice, calling us to stand up for causes and take to the streets, Leonie Lane’s work is viscerally powerful. Here space is purpose filled with hundreds of reference books, many that feature her posters and prints that helped shape the conversations of the day. On leaving her space you may have heard a “Rebel Yell” as we made our way home following an inspiring day.

 

Images courtesy of the Artist

 

OUR SUMMER RAFFLE IS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED

Tickets will go on sale in November for this hand formed vessel by Jo Norton, an artist based in Northern Rivers, New South Wales on Bundjalung Country. Her practice encompasses a range of scales, from small porcelain vessels to large stoneware pieces and site-specific installations. As an emerging wood firing artist, she crafts pieces that resonate with the atmosphere of the Anagama kiln, which she built with local potters. This beautiful and functional vessel has been wood fired to stoneware using local Sally Wattle & Pine to create colours, patterns and textures.

The cross-draft kiln allows the flames to travel from the firebox through all the wares, exiting at the back of the kiln. The resulting pots reflect where flames and ash have travelled within the kiln on the way to the chimney. Jo explained that there are so many variables in her process with temperature, type of wood used, the different clay bodies and glazes all influence the result and making every piece is unique. Jo confirmed that wood firing is hard work, but the results are well worth the effort.

For more information about Jo and her work click the link here thrownbyjo.com

 

 

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED BECOMING A GALLERY VOLUNTEER?

Offering a warm and friendly welcome to all visitors is an important and rewarding role. It sets the tone for everyone who visits and helps them to appreciate and value our Gallery as one of the best regional galleries in Australia. If you are interested in volunteering, you can easily find out more information by following this link Volunteers | Tweed Regional Gallery

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF THE TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY & MARGARET OLLEY ART CENTRE INC.

A reminder to all our members, that our AGM will be held in the Foyer of the Gallery on Wednesday 20 November at 4:30pm (NSW time).

 

OH, AND ONE LAST THING…

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Sunday 15 December | 11.45 am – 12.45 pm | Free 

Please join us in the Gallery Foyer for Christmas Carols with the Murwillumbah Philharmonic Choir.

No bookings required.

 

As a Friend of The Gallery thank you for your support and we hope you can join our tours and events. Please continue to share your feedback and suggestions as it helps us to be more effective, relevant and valuable.

Until next time…

 

Linsey Bamping, Communications Co-ordinator