IN THIS ISSUE James Drinkwater, Alan Jones, Ann Thomson, Sarah Tomasetti, David Keeling, Sally Stokes and Jennifer Riddle
Spring 1883 returns to Melbourne's iconic Hotel Windsor Don't miss this extraordinary public exhibition, 'nightshifts' at Buxton Contemporary Our pick of current & upcoming exhibitions
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FEATURED ARTISTS & EXHIBITIONS |
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JAMES DRINKWATER: 'AMERICAN SALT - MONTAUK TO THE BOWERY' Runs to 12 August 2023Nanda\Hobbs, Sydney |
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It was late evening when I arrived with my little family at JFK airport NY, we were then driven out to Montauk to stay in a Stanford White House on a painter’s property whilst they were travelling in Italy. It was a hot night and as we got to the coast, we wound down our windows and the car filled with American salt. Eventually we moved off the road and wound our way up a leaf framed gravel driveway for what felt like those long minutes that only visit when paired with anticipation. The night was liquorice as we approached the house but for the humming glow of light escaping from the leaded windows which played support for the warm pool of light pouring across the porch, down some stairs and onto the soft summer lawn. I was able to work out there, making some large works in this beautiful studio with no roof, just big dark green walls so the sky and the atmosphere ventilate the experience. The floors are large decking boards so the studio can be hosed and scrubbed down at the end of the day, like being on a ship. As a boy from a coastal city of Australia, I felt good out there by the sea surrounded by American art history and all that proximity to places like the Parrish Museum and the Krasner Pollock house and studio. I was fortunate enough to make all these paintings and drawings on this very special patch and I was surfing most days and this vitality got inside of me and kind of took over, so by the time we drove into New York I was beside myself. New York, as many people will tell you, just gets under your skin and you really do hit the ground running, looking, absorbing. I got into this habit of coming home from dinner out, getting a bucket of ice from the bar and taking it up to my room to have a whiskey and just draw like crazy in The Bowery Hotel notebooks, I made maybe 300 drawings, a flood of imagery from the intoxicating shock of it all. What I try to do is set up some kind of connection to the exquisite in the everyday, so I don’t miss the enigma. This really is a discipline because the exquisite can be so fleeting that it can easily be missed. As Lee Krasner said, ‘Painting for me, when it really ‘happens’ is as miraculous as any natural phenomenon - as say, a lettuce leaf.’ So, I just try to make myself available and tune in to a certain frequency that allows me to slow down and celebrate a good, boiled egg in the same way some might celebrate a glass of Barolo. I call them ‘little events’ and they map out the day, and by osmosis, they go into the paintings. The theatre of domestic life is paramount to my work. James Drinkwater
July, 2023 Full catalogue available here. James Drinkwater: 'American Salt - Montauk to the Bowery' runs to12 August 2023 at Nanda\Hobbs, 12-14 Meagher Street, Chippendale, Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Saturday 11.00am - 4.00 pm - EXHIBITION SOLD OUT Image: James Drinkwater, 'Montauk to the Bowery' (2023) |
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ALAN JONES: 'PAINTINGS FROM COOPERS SHOOT'2 to 26 August, 2023Olsen Gallery, Sydney |
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Alan Jones’ work explores ideas that surround notions of identity. Jones works across a broad spectrum of mediums and takes a personal approach to subject matter. Through this process, Jones aims to communicate the intricacies of human connections and how his own roots subsequently influence his work. Jones (b.1977) currently lives and works in Sydney, Australia. Since graduating from the National Art School (BFA) in 2000, Jones has held 21 solo exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions in Australia and internationally. Further information here. Alan Jones, 'Paintings from Coopers Shoot', 2 - 26 August 2023 at Olsen Gallery, 63 Jersey Road, Woollahra, Tuesday - Friday 10.00 am - 6.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm Above image: Alan Jones, 'Painting 311 (Coopers Shoot)' (2023) |
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ANN THOMSON Runs to 12 August 2023 Defiance Gallery, Sydney Ann Thomson is one of Australia′s most eminent contemporary painters. She is known for her vibrant, expressive compositions. Described by the late Edmund Capon as “one of the most interesting and intuitive artists in Australia today”, Ann′s works are not intended to replicate a scene or a landscape, but rather evoke a sense of place.
"Physical exuberance is innate to her, and it is expressed more strongly than ever in her recent work. Her feeling for pulse and rhythm, for irrepressible physical energies projected into space, imbues her pictorial conceptions with a great vivacity." Terence Maloon, Director, Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra
Since graduating from the National Art School in 1962 she has balanced art teaching with countless solo and group exhibitions throughout Australia and overseas. Thomson has been the recipient of a number of prizes including the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW, Kedumba Drawing Prize and the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize. Her work is included in many important public collections including the the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Queensland Art Gallery, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Macquarie Bank Collection, Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, Madrid and Villa Haiss Museum, Germany.
“To paint a specific subject is just not my way of working. I have to be more open. It’s like opening another door that is to do with trust, it’s to do with memory, and having the knowledge that when you start painting the creative process begins. Too much thinking about it gets in the way.” Ann Thomson (Artist Profile) Full catalogue available here. Ann Thomson runs to 12 August 2023, at Defiance Gallery, 12 Mary Place, Paddington, Wednesday - Saturday, 11.00 - 6.00pm. Image: Ann Thomson, 'Above Land and Ocean' (2023) |
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SARAH TOMASETTI: 'BREATHING STONE' Runs to 12 August 2023 Australian Galleries, Melbourne ‘The title of this exhibition, Breathing Stone, refers to the capacity of the fresco wall to sequester carbon as it cures, taking up the carbon previously driven off during the heating and slaking of the limestone to produce lime putty. The rhythmic movement of breathing also references the restlessness of stone, the molten origins of the mountain range and the idea in many different belief systems of the mountain as an animate being. This body of work emerges from an experimental approach to the ancient technology of fresco painting leading to the development of the ‘stone skin’ which can be detached from the wall on which it is made by means of a fine layer of cloth. A further departure includes the addition of encaustic wax which both reveals and protects the fine craquelure internal to the skin, referencing the fractures and fissures of the lithosphere itself. Adding pigments to the render reveals that each colour cures differently, building a taxonomy of cracks that echoes the flow and interaction of water, sediment and atmosphere. A large-scale stone skin cascading to the ground takes on its own topography, an infinity of cracks illuminated from below by light placed within the folds. Imagery is drawn from a residency undertaken in northern Uttarakhand in 2019 with anthropologist Jane Dyson, in a region where local belief holds that gods and goddesses inhabit the surrounding mountain range. I am indebted to Jane for the opportunity to visit this extraordinary part of the world.’ Sarah Tomasetti, 2023 Full catalogue available here. Sarah Tomasetti: 'Breathing Stone' runs to 12 August 2023, at Australian Galleries, 35 Derby Street, Collingwood Open 7 days, 10.00 - 6.00pm. Image: Sarah Tomasetti, 'From Balpatta version VI 2022-23' |
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DAVID KEELING: 'EARLY RISER - CHASING THE LIGHT'23 August to 16 September 2023Niagara Gallery, Melbourne |
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The landscape in David Keeling’s paintings is neither benign nor empty; it contains the mark of human presence, and the history of man’s interaction with the land. People are not always explicit in his work, but the signs are there: well-kept, neat pathways run through beautifully rendered landscapes and buildings appear in unexpected places. Questions of belonging, and concerns over the passing of time are important in his paintings, but there is a redemptive quality to Keeling’s work, an unbridled enthusiasm for the beauty and potential with which we are surrounded. David Keeling has achieved significant recognition for his work and was the first artist to win the Glover Prize twice. David Keeling: Stranger, an important survey exhibition is currently on at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart. David Keeling currently lives and works in Hobart. Full catalogue available here David Keeling: 'Early Riser - Chasing the Light', 23 August - 16 September 2023, at Niagara Gallery, 245 Punt Road, Richmond, Wednesday - Saturday 12.00 to 5.00 pm or by appointment. Image: David Keeling (2023) |
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SALLY STOKES: 'THE SONG OF OTHER PLACES'Runs to 26 August 2023Rochfort Gallery, Sydney |
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Sally Stokes is a Sydney based abstract landscape artist who works from her studio amongst the angophoras in Dural and her boatshed studio in a remote part of the Hawkesbury river. Sally has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters of Analytical Psychology. She has had sixteen solo shows and numerous group shows. Stoke’s significant accolades include being a finalist in the Sulman prize, being hung in the 2020 Archibald’s Salon des Refusés, and winning both the 2020 Paddington Art Prize People’s Choice Award and 2021 Muswellbrook Art Prize. Her work can be found within the Public Collections at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Artbank, Newcastle Art Gallery and Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre and is keenly sought by private collectors. Full catalogue available here Sally Stokes: 'The Song of Other Places' runs to 26 August 2023, at Rochfort Gallery, 317 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, Thursday, Friday 10.00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday, Sunday 10.00 am - 4:00 pm or by appointment. Image: Sally Stokes, 'Songs from the Desert' (2023) |
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JENNIFER RIDDLE: 'DEPTH OF PLACE - PAINTINGS OF TASMANIA'S SOUTHWEST'3 to 13 August 2023Scott Livesey Galleries at Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart |
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Jennifer Riddle is recognised for her atmospheric landscapes depicting her pastoral surroundings on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and the remote Southwest wilderness of Tasmania. Driven by her relationship with nature, Riddle conveys a sense of intimacy, awe, and connection through the ephemeral sublimity of light and weather on the land. Riddle is recognised in some of Australia's most prestigious landscape prizes. In 2022, the artist collected the coveted Glover Prize and has been the recipient of the People's Choice Award in the Glover Art Prize in 2017 and 2019, Tattersall's Landscape Prize, Hadley's Art Prize, and Bay of Fires Prize. In 2018, Amber Creswell Bell listed Jennifer Riddle among her 50 Australian landscape artists in her book, 'A Painted Landscape: Across Australia from Bush to Coast'. 'Depth of Place' will be exclusively available to attendees of the exhibition on Thursday 3 August and Friday 4 August, and then available to a broader audience via Scott Livesey Galleries from 12.00 pm, Saturday 5 August 2023. Full catalogue available here Jennifer Riddle: 'Depth of Place', 3 - 13 August 2023, Scott Livesey Galleries at Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart. For exhibition opening hours contact the gallery or visit them online. Image courtesy of the artist. |
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'SPRING 1883' RETURNS TO MELBOURNE'S ICONIC HOTEL WINDSOR |
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Spring 1883 has announced its highly anticipated return to the Hotel Windsor, Melbourne from 9 to 12 August 2023. This extraordinary art fair invites art enthusiasts, new art buyers, and audiences to experience a unique and immersive environment, breaking away from the traditional art fair model. Against the backdrop of the historic Hotel Windsor, which has once again opened its doors to Spring 1883 post-pandemic, the art fair's founders promise an unparalleled experience. Seamlessly blending the elegance and historical significance of the venue with cutting-edge contemporary artworks, the fair aims to create a captivating atmosphere by juxtaposing the old and the new. Unlike conventional art fairs, Spring 1883 pioneers a novel approach by allocating each participating gallery a room or suite within the hotel. This innovative layout transforms the hotel into an art-filled labyrinth, creating an intimate and interactive experience for visitors as they explore the various galleries. Spring 1883 co-founder Kate Barber says the hotel-based art fair responds to demand from both galleries and audiences for a more experience-driven version of the art fair format. “Spring 1883 responds to the idea of the experience age: our audiences relish the opportunity to explore the four levels of the historic Windsor Hotel, discovering challenging and cutting-edge contemporary art behind each new door,” said Kate Barber. The contrast of showing contemporary art against the historic setting of a ‘grande dame’ such as the Hotel Windsor adds a terrific frisson. We are excited to showcase the talent and creativity of the Australasian art world through the eighth edition of Spring 1883.” “By bringing together leading contemporary art galleries under one roof, we aim to provide an intimate encounter with contemporary art – whilst generating a boost to gallery sales and artist incomes – and allowing enthusiasts, collectors, and the general public an opportunity to discover a diverse range of artwork in a unique setting. Spring 1883 will feature 29 curated galleries, presenting an array of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and multimedia art. This eclectic selection represents the vibrant and innovative art scenes of Australia and New Zealand, ensuring a captivating experience for all attendees", said Barber. The eighth edition of Spring 1883 takes place at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne from 9 – 12 August 2023. For more information visit: www.spring1883.com. Source: Australian Arts Review, 28 July 2023 (edited) Image: The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne (Spring 1883) |
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DON'T MISS THIS EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC EXHIBITION, 'nightshifts' at BUXTON CONTEMPORARY Runs to 29 October 2023 |
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'nightshifts' considers the importance of solitude through contemporary arts practice. Shifting in and out of focus like a dreamscape, the exhibition looks to the shadows and ‘after hours’ as metaphors for the work and thinking that happens beneath the surface, away from the public gaze: time alone in the studio, during the quiet of the night and while asleep. Spanning a range of histories and media, works from the Michael Buxton and University of Melbourne Collections are presented alongside new commissions, offering a contemplative counterpoint to the recurring emphasis on collaboration and hyper-visibility in contemporary practice. These artists demonstrate the natural cycles and shifting conditions of working alone, from rumination to meditative, flow-like states and the periods of quiet and rest that necessarily follow. Solo human journeys and cosmic trajectories diverge and connect, and perspectives on Deep Listening demonstrate the power of singular focus to sharpen attention and reveal things unseen. Curated by Hannah Presley and Annika Aitken. Exhibition Artists Benjamin Armstong • Peter Booth • Rob Bundle • Tony Clark • Vicki Couzens • Mikala Dwyer • Marco Fusinato • Teelah George • Shaun Gladwell • Mira Gojak • Brent Harris • David Jolly • Mabel Juli • Emily Kame Kngwarreye • Laresa Kosloff • Lindy Lee • Tracey Moffatt • Callum Morton • John Nixon • David Noonan • Gekko Ogata • Mike Parr • Rosslynd Piggott • Lisa Sammut • Sandra Selig • Ricky Swallow • Louise Weaver • Constanze Zikos Gallery open Wednesday to Sunday, 11.00 am – 5.00 pm, Corner Southbank Boulevard & Dodds Street, Southbank in Melbourne Video below: Lisa Sammut, Full Circle (ii) & How the earth will approach you (2023) |
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OUR PICK OF CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS |
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Sally Scales' exhibition opens at N.Smith Gallery (Sydney) on 18 August 2023 |
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Click on the links below to view exhibition catalogues TASMANIA Ricky Maynard: 'No more than what you see, 1993-2023', 4 - 26 August 2023, Bett Gallery, Level 1/65 Murray Street, Hobart Anne Morrison, 'Spin Drift', 23 August - 16 September 2023 , Despard Gallery, 77 Salamanca Place, Hobart NEW SOUTH WALES Sally Scales, 'Aralya-Nyuna', 16 August - 9 September 2023, N.Smith Gallery, 6 Napier Street, Paddington David Noonan, 'Masken' runs to 19 August 2023, Roslyn Oxley9, 8 Soudan Lane, Paddington Louise Olsen, 'Manifestations', 30 August - 23 September 2023, Olsen Gallery, 63 Jersey Road, Woollahra Wendy Sharpe, 'Wheel of Fortune', 1 August - 26 August 2023, King Street Gallery on William, 177-185 William Street, Darlinghurst Amanda Penrose Hart, 'Dragonflies', 29 August - 23 September 2023, King Street Gallery on William, 177-185 William Street, Darlinghurst Kate Dorrough, 'The Vessel' runs to 12 August 2023, Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay Melinda Schawel, 'Light as a Feather', 12 August - 13 September 2023, Wagner Contemporary, Level 1, 2 Hampden Street, Paddington Winter Group Exhibition runs to 12 August 2023, Martin Browne Contemporary, 15 Hampden Street, Paddington VICTORIA Phillip Edwards, 'Place of the heart' runs to 12 August 2023, Australian Galleries, 35 Derby Street, Collingwood Kate Lewis, Yoko Ozawa, Archer Davies, Lilli Stromland, 22 August - 23 September 2023, [MARS] Gallery, 7 James Street, Windsor Esther Erlich, 'Divine', 3 - 27 August 2023, Fox Galleries, 63 Wellington Street, Collingwood Miles Hall, 'Fall to Earth runs to 12 August 2023, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, 155 Langridge Street, Collingwood Juz Kitson, 'All will reveal itself when you dive in and dive in deep' runs to 6 August 2023, Sophie Gannon Gallery, 5 Albert Street, Richmond Michelle Molinari, 'Anthropocene', 8 - 26 August 2023, Flinders Lane Gallery, Level 1/37 Swanston Street, Melbourne Lara Merrett, 'Tissu Tissue' runs to 12 August 2023, Sullivan+Strumpf, 107-109 Rupert Street, Collingwood Margaret McIntosh, 'Daytime Telly' runs to 13 August 2023, James Makin Gallery, 89 Islington Street, Collingwood 'Melbourne Now' runs to 20 August 2023, National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne QUEENSLAND Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken, 'Kungkarangkalpa: Seven Sisters' runs to 5 August, Jan Murphy Gallery, 486 Brunswick St, New Farm Sally Anderson, 'Carrying Flood Face Flowers' runs to 17 August 2023, Edwina Corlette Gallery, 629 Brunswick Street, New Farm David Green, 'We Were All Young Once' runs to 12 August 2023, Anthea Polson Art, 29 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach SOUTH AUSTRALIA Angela Valamanesh (SALA), 12 August - 10 September 2023, GAGPROJECTS, 39 Rundle Street, Kent Town WESTERN AUSTRALIA Jennifer Cochrane: 'Shadows, Sleepers and Self-Portraits', 12 August - 9 September 2023, Collective WA, 2/565 Hay Street, Perth Jeremy Kirwan-Ward: 'Certain Times', 12 August - 9 September 2023, Collective WA, 2/565 Hay Street, Perth |
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Wendy Sharpe, '3 Fates with Suburban Street' (2023) |
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Jennifer Cochrane, 'Sleeper Self-Portrait 4' (detail), 2023 |
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Juz Kitson, 'Portrait in my studio on Murramarang country ...' (2023) |
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