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
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. Wednesday evenings 7pm-9pm
Cost $25 per class Starting with drawing, adjusted to individual requirements, project orientated. First class: drawing eggs, greylead tonal study. What to Bring:
These classes start with a number of drawing projects, then, as we advance, introduce painting media. These are student focused, ongoing and open ended art classes, catering to individual needs and development. Typically I aim to expose my students to:
My goal is to help learners to achieve confidence in self expression and independence in the pursuit of their creative journey. If you have an interest in making art, a desire to develop your skills and knowledge and enjoy your creative journey, this is for you... Classes are held in my studios upstairs at NEA, 122 Bridge Street East, Benalla - the towering brick building with massive murals painted on them. Contact Frank 0488 676 127 'Aimee' Janet Leith, 2019 Oil on Canvas North East Artisan’s Biennial portrait prize “In Your Face” closed on Saturday 31st August after a month of high visitation, complementing events and interesting debates.
With its closure comes the announcement of “The People’s Choice” award, collated from the many votes of visitors to the exhibition. The $500 prize has been comprehensively won by Janet Leith with her portrait of a young woman “Aimee”. Janet’s practice as an artist is centred in Wangaratta, although she has strong links to Benalla, both at North Eastern Artisans and Benalla Art Gallery. “Aimee” is a refreshing and vivid portrait of a young woman moving from the left to right side of the picture whilst engaging the viewer directly with her eyes. Visitors obviously shared the positive elements the portrait represented. The First Prize of the In Your Face Portrait Prize was shared by Frank Burgers’ “Mum”and Tanya Tabone’s “ Uncle Fred, Pumpkin Head”. Selected by the official judge Debora Halpern, both portraits represented members of the artist’s family, honestly depicted. In Your Face is rapidly developing into the exhibition prize to watch in the North East, with a wide selection of styles and subjects exhibited. It is a reliable measure of the people’s pulse in image and art. North East Artisans thanks the artists, judge and organising committee and especially the sponsors and public, who make the prize come alive. We can’t wait till the 2021 prize…. Simon Klose 'Uncle Fred, Pumpkin Head' Tanya Tabone (2019) "This digital work has been specifically created for the 2019 In Your Face Exhibition. The piece is a portrait of my Great Uncle Fred which I photographed at an event and have digitally altered to convey my impressions of him as an artistic subject. When viewed from afar, this is a realistic photographic portrait of my uncle who always pulls silly faces. It is only upon closer inspection that you can see a blurring of the details of his likeness. This demonstrates how age blurs the line between life and the memories we hold. His eyes and face capture his fun, strong personality, but the dry brush stroke softens his features so that they jump around like a memory when you try to focus on a face you have loved." Tanya Tabone 2019 'Mum' Frank Burgers (2019) "I’ve been working on this painting for years. Mum is changing over time, and I am hoping the painting will evolve into a summary of what it means to be the son of Hannie Burgers. She has always been a strong and independent woman, and continued living on her own when dad passes away in 2005. Before that she survived a tumour the size of a golf ball, removed from her head when she was in her late 40’s. Mum always retained a positive outlook on life. That, her generosity, and her caring nature, defines the wonderful woman she is. She loved colour." Frank Burgers 2019 'The In Your Face' NEA Portrait Prize 2019 exhibition is open at NEA from 10 - 4 Tuesdays to Fridays and 10 - 2 on Saturdays. to 31st August If a volunteer is available, it my also be open on Mondays from 10 to 4 pm (NEA is usually closed on a Monday)
NEA would like to acknowledge financial support towards the cost of running the 'In Your Face Exhibition' from Benalla Rural City Community Sponsorship fund and V-Line Benalla Station Community funding. Photographs: Tanya Tabone and Janet Leith ‘In Your Face’ Portrait Prize Winners Announced The region’s best portraits have been celebrated at the ‘In Your Face’ Portrait Prize on Friday August 2nd, 2019, with joint winners Frank Burgers for his work ‘Mum’ and Tanya Tabone for her work ‘Uncle Fred - Pumpkin Head’. Renowned mosaic artist, Deborah Halpern, named the winners at the opening night celebration for the North East Artisans (NEA) exhibition on Friday August 2nd, 2019. The works were selected from a shortlist of 26 works of varied mediums. The Portrait Prize of $1,000 was shared between the two winners. An additional $500 People’s Choice Award will be voted on during the exhibition at NEA, which is on display until August 31st, 2019. Mr Burgers winning artwork is an oil painting featuring his mother which has taken years to complete. ‘Mum has always been a strong and independent woman who has survived many ordeals,’ said Mr Burgers. ‘I am hoping that her positive outlook, generosity and caring nature come through in my portrait,’ said Mr Burgers. Ms Tabone’s work is a digital artwork of her great Uncle Fred. ‘I hoped to capture my Uncle’s fun, strong personality in this piece,’ said Ms Tabone. ‘I love capturing photos that reveal the essence of someone’s character. ‘It is an honour to be selected among such a fine selection of artists and I’m very grateful to North East Artisans and Deborah Halpern for this opportunity,’ said Ms Tabone. The exhibition is on display at North East Artisan’s Exhibition Gallery until August 31st, 2019. Explore the In Your Face Portrait Exhibition from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Friday and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. Frank Burgers teaches art classes at North East Artisans on Wednesday nights for $25 per class. Bookings can be made by contacting Frank on 0488 676 127. Tanya Tabone offers digital portrait photography for families and individuals and can be contacted on 0447 744 663. Source; NEA Media Release
Expressions of interest now required for life drawing (un-tutored).
Tuesday or Thursday nights, Six x 3 hour sessions $100. Starting date to be announced when 6 people have committed.. Contact Frank Burgers on 0488676127 Currently showing in the Rural City of Benalla's window 'Foyer Gallery' - Frank Burger's 'Coin Counter I' and 'Coin Counter 2' from his 'Coin Counter' series. Frank Burger's ‘Coin Counter’ series The drawings are 100x70cm, framed to about 120x90cm. There are 3 in the series, all charcoal, pastel and gouache on Fabriano Rosapina paper. Titles: 'Coin Counter 1', 'Coin Counter 2', and 'An economy of sheep’. Coin Counters are the metal tubes used to 'prop up' the subject matter in two of the drawings. They are components of coin rolling machines from my 'Armaguard' days: coins are fed into a chute at the top of the machine, then fall down into the 'coin counters' where a laser light shines through a hole, counts the coins and stops the flow of coins before lowering the stack of coins down for paper wrapping. In my drawings these components symbolized the economic nature of society, which, in relation with the other objects depicted, made for interesting metaphors and interpretations of meaning. The third drawing,'An economy of sheep' continues this conversation with different still life objects.It was completed somewhat later (2011-2012), and shares with the other two the same media, technique and intention. To clarify, Coin Counter 1 has the boat, Coin Counter 2 has the elephant, An economy of sheep has the kitchen scales and sheep skull. LIFE DRAWING at NEA!
Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 9:30pm Commences Wed 7th Feb. and continues through Feb 14th, 21st, 28th, Mar 7th and 14th Easels with drawing boards and clips provided. Please bring your own paper and drawing materials. Painting (on a reasonable scale) can also be accommodated. A break with tea, coffee and bikkies is provided. A gold coin donation would be much appreciated. $110 when paying in full for all 6 sessions on first night. $22 per session casual. Cash only, so the model can be paid on the night. Note for casuals; there are 10 easels readily available with preferences going to core participants. Seating can also be arranged. Please contact Frank Burgers (0488676127) to book a spot or come in to the NEA shop and pay over the counter. Expressions of interest can also be recorded at the front counter. Upstairs workshop space North East Artisans, 122 Bridge St, Benalla. Hosted by Frank Burgers, NEA member. "I hope to start life drawing at NEA within the next 3 weeks, quicker if the response from you guys is overwhelming!
What I need is for you to: call me or email with a resounding commitment. To keep things simple, I ask you to pay the full amount ($110) on the first evening in cash please. See flyer below (or download here) for details. Frank Burgers 0488 676127" Still Life with Crash – 2012 Oil on Linen Frank Burgers ‘Still Life with Crash’ is one of my favourite paintings from this period. It is a nostalgic reminiscing of relationships and the general chaos of life. It is about loose associations created between objects and things that one would not expect to make connections. It is Modernist at its roots, playing with line, colour and the physical manipulation of oil paint. It is entirely autobiographical, a neurotic navel gazing much like the rest of the contemporary art world. (Except for the stuff that is entirely political – or making some sort of statement devoid of ego). Autobiographical in the sense that Images are sourced from the sub-conscious, random images and ideas until the painting achieves its own kind of logic. Metaphor, I love metaphor and the potential for stories that a calculated mismatch of images conjures up. Meaning lies in the baggage that every viewer brings to the picture. I just set the scene…. Frank Burgers, 2017 Ps: I will consider parting with this painting if I felt confident it went to a good, caring home. It would also take a considerate sum to consolidate my loss. It truly is one of a kind. It is a painting of original conception uniquely resolved, without the repeated application of formulae. It is hand crafted. Its price, on application, is less than a top of the range flat screen TV, but reflects the cost of materials, the cost of production including studio rent and professional fees paid, gallery commissions, previous sales records and career achievements, tax, longevity, and value added due to the unique nature of this product. Considering the above, offers can be left in writing, on the couch in my upstairs studio. Please include contact details and phone number. Artwork: Frank Burger'- studio wall at NEA LIFE DRAWING @ NEAMonday 5th, 19th and 26th June
7 to 10 pm $22 casual rate Refreshments provided (donation appreciated) NEA, 122 Bridge Street, Benalla 3672 (Old SEC building near KFC) Contact Frank: 0488676127 |
NEA News Blog
|