Have you got a piece of art you can afford to mark at $50 to put in our annual $50 Christmas exhibition? All members welcome to join. Submit your work this week - the exhibition starts at the beginning of December.
Title : Greta Thunberg leading the Next Generation (work in progress)
Medium: Oil on canvas Artist : Tim Bowtell Although this painting is not finished – there is more to do, the artist Tim Bowtell has kindly agreed to the request to exhibit it for this collection of NEA Studio Artists’ work. This is a traditional painting with a contemporary and topical subject. Actually, the idea of a traditional painting with a contemporary and topical subject is traditional as well. Artists such as Delacriox, David, Picasso, Arthur Streeton and Juan Davila and an army of others have successfully stung the public consciousness with artworks which bring timeless ideas and values to the fore. Jacque Louis David’s “The Oath of the Horatii” (1875) depicted a Roman patrician holding swords upward for his sons to take in commitment and pledge to defend Rome. Originally exhibited in the Paris Salon, the painting created a great controversy which carried across to the evolving political climate in France at the time. 1875 was the year of the establishment of the Third Republic in France. The painting now stars in the Louvre. Arthur Streeton painted “The Last of the Messmates” in 1928. The painting depicts a lone tree standing in a cleared landscape. Cleared as far as the eye can see. The land is littered with the trash of the former Dandenong Ranges forest. Streeton and the Australian painters of his “Impressionist” group focussed on the Australian land, the environment and its particular beauty. “The Last of the Messmates” was a protest painting, foretelling the end of the forestation of the Dandenongs – once called the lungs of Melbourne…. The centre of this composition is Greta Thunberg. The three figures on the ground in blue suits raise their arms and form a pyramid composition drawing the eye to Greta. Behind Greta are her followers. They are all young. She leads them away from the devastation of the landscape ravaged with fires and polluting smoke. The blue suited figures in the foreground attempt to stop Greta, but her eyes are firmly raised above their entreating arms. One of the raised hands holds a lump of coal. This painting was commenced well before the current fire season began. Some people will find it quite unsettling. The two untitled works by Simon Klose in NEA's current 'Upstairs Downstairs' exhibition do not refer to any specific experience or subject. They are intended to be autonomous experiences in their own right, although others may understand them through their own associations or experiences.
The works are intended to be read as an ‘object’ and a ‘subject’ where the object and subject are as close as possible to being the same. They employ the traditional relationship of viewer and subject, although they differ in that the smaller is closer to a pictorial representation whilst the larger work is enhanced by the wall on which it is located. What may be experienced by a viewer at best will reflect the many and layered processes and decisions which have led to the present works. The process of their making employed sensing as well as thought, a form of engagement that best communicates making and meaning that is embedded there in the work. A work is completed to attain a ‘truth’, not simply a preference or a liking – that comes from having a primary objective in mind. Then, I naturally discover beauty as well, so the traditional trilogy of perception, truth and beauty is there. Simon Klose Studio Artist Exhibitiions Coordinator ‘#15’ – Bruce Buckley
Number 15 is a painting from an image created by a photographic process. Using a photograph circumvents some of the problems artists encounter with drawing, but not all. Whilst the looking and putting of lines and tones is avoided the other pictorial elements remain. Composition, colour, translation of one medium to another. The process brings its own unique challenges to resolve before a successful compelling image can be created. Number 15 has some very close tonal values – the nose, the eyes and the number fifteen ticket are the three elements which allow us to see the image. They enliven the image, the rest is mainly the black hair of the coat. The animal looks directly at us. Its baleful stare states facts and asks questions. Simon Klose NEA Exhibitions Coordinator
Over the past few years a 'between exhibitions' tradition has been established of exhibition team members bringing work from the upstairs studios into the Exhibition Gallery (Gallery 2). These exhibitions now have a title - 'Upstairs Downstairs'.. The current, 'Upstairs Downstairs' exhibition features work from studio artists Mervyn Beamish, Bruce Buckley, Frank Burgers, Katharine Martin-Burgers and Simon Klose; costumes from the Killer Pig Productions team and a large work in progress by Tim Bowtell. There may also be works on display by other local artists during the exhibition. 'Upstairs, Downstairs' exhibition, NEA Exhibitions Gallery, 12 January to 7 March 2020
In 2019 the 'Lessen the Pollution, Better Their Lives'; 'Identity', 'Postcards from New York's Hudson Valley', 'Postcards to New York' and 'Creativity Untamed' exhibitions all resulted from applications to exhibit at NEA. We would like to invite artists or groups from NEA or the community to showcase work in our large Exhibition Gallery space in 2020. There is a very reasonable weekly room hire fee; Curating and organising all aspects of the exhibition are the responsibility of the artist/s or group, with mentoring provided if required by NEA's Exhibitions Coordinator, Simon Klose. The NEA exhibitions for the year have not been finalised - quite a few months are still free. Applications will be considered based on availability. Please refer to the Exhibitions Application below for details. If anyone has any requests or theme ideas for NEA exhibitions this year, please contact Simon Klose 0412 545 656 Irina Korotkow, speaking at the opening of the 'Postcards to New York Response Exhibition' she coinspired and created, Exhibitions Gallery, October 2019.
The brainchild of NEA's Exhibitions Coordinator Simon Klose, the $50 Christmas Exhibition is now underway in the Exhibitions Gallery (Gallery 2). Featuring works by NEA members, early sales are promising - new works will be installed as works sell! If something takes your eye, our Gallery Shop volunteers will assist you. '$50 Christmas'
A special Christmas exhibition provided by members of North East Artisans Friday December 6 2019 to Thursday January 9 2020 '$50 Christmas' is an exhibition of affordable artwork by members of the North East Artisans made or selected to meet the Christmas Season’s tradition of giving gifts. Our '$50 Christmas' exhibition provides gift opportunities which will be thoughtful, individual and have high personal and human value. Although the price of the artworks is fixed at a ridiculously low $50 – this is meant as a humorous and ironic gesture – but really - it is NEA's gift to Benalla's Festive Season. We're not making any money here.... The idea of the exhibition is to bring NEA's exhibition space into the commercial domain with a $50 splash opportunity for the Festive Season commercial mayhem period. There is no entry fee (waived) but the 20% commission stands - so the "in hand" artist payment for sold works will be $40. We hope the exhibition will help the Gallery Shop as well....if there's nothing in the exhibition then try the shop.... The exhibition runs from Friday December 6 to Thursday January 9. Works are to be dropped off on Tuesday 3rd December from 10 am to 4 pm and collected on 10 January from 10 am to 4 pm. Further details are available on the attached Conditions and Application form. We don't expect members to give works away - but if there is oldish stock or an idea for a less labour intensive artwork than usual this is the time to bring it forward The EXHIBITION team - simon, bev, cathy, frank and grace (and sometimes Tim) The Exhibition team is sending out invitations today to NEA members to enter works in the '$50' Christmas exhibition. If you are thinking of entering, or find yourself talking to a member who may be interested, the work entered doesn't need to be new work, can be concepts you are currently developing.
Entries are due in next Tuesday 3rd December, although there will be some grace as the opening isn't until Friday 6 December. Please check out the web post below, the Conditions and Application form, and the poster developed by Tim Bowtell in response to an invitation by Simon Klose, Exhibitions team leader. It's already causing lots of discussion... which is what art's all about! (If you are aware of rapper 50 Cents...or Fiddycents you'll understand the connection!) $50 Christmas Exhibition From NEA Members ‘Affordable, creative and fantastic” An in-house Christmas exhibition provided by artists of the North East Artisans Friday December 6 2019 to Thursday January 9 2020 North East Artisans 122 Bridge Street Benalla $50 is an exhibition of artworks by members of the North East Artisans made or selected to meet the Christmas Season’s tradition of giving gifts and presents which are thoughtful, individual and have high personal and human value. Although the price of the artworks is fixed at a ridiculously low $50 – this is meant as a humorous and ironic gesture – it is the choice of the artists to determine their own contribution to the equation of principles and ideas.
Don’t expect works to be glazed and framed = although some may be – but expect a great gift opportunity provided by people who share the North East with us and want to provide a positive human contribution to the seasons character. Simon Klose This slide show is under construction - More to come!
We've just received the news that the Postcards response show is opening later today (November 9) at Beacon Arts Riverwinds Gallery in New York. Love the title = 'Air Mail: Artist Postcards from Oz'. We've received first image, along with a link to the exhibition information on the Gallery's website. If you are planning a trip to NY, the show runs through to December 8. Find out more: https://beaconarts.org/events/air-mail-artist-postcards-from-oz/
It's almost time for the end of year exhibition of work by students from the Flexible Learning Centre, which is scheduled for Tuesday 19 to Saturday 30 November.
This round up of April's exhibition of work 'Kaleidoscope of Colour' on the NEFLC website is interesting to read. (Click on the image for a clearer view). The Wisdom and Experience exhibition held at NEA during Seniors Month proved to be a reflective and valued experience for many visitors to the Exhibitions Gallery.. A People's Choice award of $200 was shared by Berni Hurst, for her work 'Down the Hillside' and Cathy Pianta, for her oil pastel 'Freedom'. Honorable Mentions were accorded by the people to Bruce Buckley for 'Love'', Mary Kennedy for 'Cleopatra' and Rob Matthews, for Memories of Coming Home; Bernie Hurst 'Down the Hillside Imixed)' (foreground) with 'Desert Mountain Range' (acrylic) Berni Hurst wrote about 'Down The Hillside' ' It's amazing how resilient our Bush is after a Bushfire. The new growth coming up in stark contrast to the Blackened tree trunks and Rocks. The smell of the Bush and beautiful colours of the Australian Bushlands have always fascinated me as is evident in this piece.' Cathy Pianta pictured with 'Freedom' and 'My Favourite Picass0' Like Berni, Cathy Pianta received votes for both her works, however 'Freedom' was awarded the joint winner. Cathy wrote about 'Freedom', (Oil pastel on board 2019) "The striking combination of strength, colour, youth and beauty in the face of a young West Papuan independence fighter (2019) prompted my attempt to capture this. ' Broken River Painters who exhibited in Wisdom Experience this year included Jan Burge, Jacquelie Durand, Carol Perry, Norah Waghorne, Marian Wroe and Lee Voight. Jan, Jacqueline, Carol, Norah and Marion are pictured in this gallery of photos with Denise Ellison, Rob Matthews and Cathy Pianta.
Party Time!
"An exhibition of images, objects ad artworks of and for parties! Parties of people of any age! Fancy dress! Weddings, parties, anything! Party for one! two! or a whole (Benalla) town! Yippee! Hola! Fantastique!" The Benalla Festival theme for 2019 'Fiesta of Festivities' has inspired a party themed exhibition and opening celebration at North East Artisans. November 2nd to 16th 2019 North East Artisans 122 Bridge Street Benalla Opening - Saturday 2nd November, 6 to 8 pm 'Party Time' will display party related paintings, photographs, sculpture, decorations, costuming and more - that our creative community members love, or perhaps want us to think about. NEA North East Artisans Come and see the North East's best! For more information - contact Simon 0412 545 656 or Elizabeth 0476 136 487 A major component of Benalla’s Seniors Festival, the exhibition “Wisdom and Experience” presents the work of over forty senior artists within a special theme..
The wide range of subjects and media is initially quite amazing. But after reading a few of the artists’ statements it becomes clear that the whole exhibition is a wonderful story of thought, care and the wise assessment of what counts in life and the world we all share. From the beauty of a tranquil lakeside setting, with a sole individual communing with the majesty of nature to the over life size couple sharing and embrace with real affection and dignity, the exhibition is an uplifting revelation of the value of a life well lived and an inspired artwork well produced. Visitors can vote for their favourite artists and make a donation to the people’s choice prize. Its very voxpop, but here at NEA we believe visitors will be quietly moved and deeply impressed at the depth of talent and thought Benalla’s community can draw together. Wisdom and Experience was officially opened by Cr Barbara Alexander AO with additional remarks by NEA's Exhibitions Coordinator Simon Klose.. The exhibition, which received finding support from Aged Friendly Benalla, runs until 26 October. Most of the works are for sale at very reasonable prices. Add to your store of Wisdom …. Wisdom and Experience Exhibition 2019 Exhibitions Gallery (Gallery 2) 8th to 26th October Tuesdays to Fridays 9 - 4; Saturday 9 - 2 For further information contact Simon Klose, Exhibition coordinator 0412 545 656 The 'Postcards to New York' exhibition at NEA came to an end on Saturday 28th September. Exhibitors, their family and friends, and members and friends of NEA farewelled the postcards at a celebration on Friday 27 September. We will include news of the installation and exhibition at the Riverwinds Gallery in Beacon, New York, in upcoming news posts. Just a sample from the 83 postcards contributed to this community exhibition. and international postcard exchange: . Friday night. It was a mild evening; the departure lounge gallery was quietly filling with members and friends. Light music from the talented Benalla Guitar Ensemble floated across the room. Wine and finger food circulated.
The pictures on the wall were gathered together, ready to go, a lot of them, over 60 works. Compared to the pictures which came across from New York to Benalla, the local products look slightly wild, off the wall and energetic, ready for anything. Did I hear them humming there on the walls? When they hit New York, crowded onto the gallery walls, telling their story to anyone who will look, I think the message will be loud and clear. Energy, invention, directness and a staggering diversity of image and subject. It’s a great message and a great project. Congratulations to the artists and the curator Irina Korotkow... look out New York…. Simon Klose Exhibitions Coordinator BogARTS is a group of Strathbogie residents wanting to practice and promote the imagination in all her wonderful guises.
This year BogARTS have taken on the running of the Strathbogie Art Show, part of a week long art festival being staged by BogArts from the 1st to the 9th of November 2019. The Festival kicks off with a grand opening on Fri 1st then public exhibition on the 2nd and 3rd . From Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th there will be an outdoor sculpture walk . The week caps off with spoken word, singing workshop and a Gypsy Punk Masquerade Party with Hello Tut Tut – all on Sat 9th. There is a link to the BogARTS Entry form below. Please note - entries close at 4pm on Friday October 4th! More information is available at https://bogartsfestival.org/ or contact John O’Brien 0439 818 366 https://bogartsfestival.org/ |
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