NEA members visiting Wangaratta are finding time to pop in to see the new 'Art Gallery on Ovens', a wonderful initiative involving a cooperative of twelve fine artists who live and work in North East Victoria. It's a beautiful space in the blue stone lane way beside Where's My Coffee (formerly Gloria Jeans) in Ovens Street, Wangaratta near the bridge. Congratulations to all concerned, including NEA exhibitors Janet Leith and Joan Mullarvey, and past exhibitor Kate Jenvey.
'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
What a wonderful entry, Janet! The official closing time for postcard responses to be delivered to NEA - Saturday 24th September at 2pm!. 'Postcards to New York' - a response exhibition to the 'Postcards from New York's Hunter Valley' exhibition, will be on display at NEA from Tuesday 3rd September until Saturday. 27 September. Contact Irina 0407491756
In 2018 artwork by a number of NEA artists was exhibited in the foyer display window of the Rural City of Benalla offices in Bridge Street, part of an arts bank like project inspired and facilitated by Benalla's Mayor, Councillor Don Firth. Works by Tim Bowtell, Jamie Ferguson, Frank Burgers and Julie Burdis featured in the small gallery space near the lift in 2018.. With the Council requiring the display window for Benalla Festival's 'Our Backyard' and Christmas exhibitions at the end of the year, a change of venue was arranged to the Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop Learning Centre in Fawckner Drive. Janet Leith's 'The Arborist' and 'The Stripey Bike Rider' have now been on display there for a number of weeks. Recently Janet visited the library to see her work on exhibition, meeting the new librarian along the way. If you are in the library, have a look at Janet's paintings on the wall towards the back of the library. An occasional BLog
Photos - Annie Longmuir, Bev Lee, Simmon Tan; Cooinda, with more to be added.
Benalla Art Gallery is offering drawing workshops throughout Term 4 from 6 October – 15 December led by three of our prominent, regional artists and teachers – Janet Leith, Kate Jenvey and Margaret Zaal.
This represents a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in drawing and develop your drawing skills with Janet, who is a current exhibitor at NEA, and Kate and Margaret, inaugural members of NEA who have exhibited and conducted successful workshops at NEA in the past. The workshop series is being held on Saturday afternoons from 1 – 4 pm from 6th October to 15th December. (Please note: participants must be 14 yrs plus). SATURDAY WORKSHOP DATES: 6 Oct Janet Leith - Portraiture (facial proportions and tonal structure) 13 Oct Janet Leith - Life Drawing (the nude) 20 Oct Janet Leith - The Figure (exploring line using the clothed figure) 27 Oct Janet Leith - Structures (focusing on shape, form and tone) 3 Nov No workshop - Melbourne Cup weekend 10 Nov Kate Jenvey - Fundamentals of drawing (finding form) 17 Nov Broken River Potters workshop 24 Nov Kate Jenvey -Tantalising textures (light and shade) 1 Dec Margaret Zaal - Botanical Drawing 8 Dec Margaret Zaal - Botanical Drawing 15 Dec Margaret Zaal - Botanical Drawing TIME: 1 - 4pm Studio Space Benalla Art Gallery COST: $20 Members $25 Non Members BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: (03) 57602619 gallery@benalla.vic.gov.au Paint Presto is a wonderful complement to the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. On Day 2 It's most enjoyable to wonder between venues and come across the artists developing their work in the streets and in the outside venues. Last year on Day 2 (Saturday) 'Paint Day', Janet Leith could be found painting outside the Wangaratta Art Gallery next to the Jazz Festival's WPACC jazz venues; while Frank Burgers had a most enjoyable time along with some other artists in the Blues tent. The Paint Presto website is well worth visiting if you would like to find out more - https://www.paintpresto.com - and if you would like to apply. The last day for entries is October 30. We at NEA were delighted to learn that two of our volunteer artists, Janet Leith and Cornelia Selover, were chosen for Melbourne's Archibald Prize off-shoot exhibition, the 2017 'Salon De Refuses' Janet Leith's portrait of 'The Dressmaker' author Rosalie Ham. "I was inspired by Rosalie’s passion for the written word and her quirky, fun persona. As an avid reader myself, I decided I wanted to celebrate not only the genius of the author herself in my Archibald entry for 2017, but also the act of reading as a means of relaxation and enjoyment." Cornelia Selover's portrait of 'Kitty May Allwood' Cornelia Selover's many portraits of 'Kitty May'' leading up to the portrait submitted to the Archibald Prize are well known to people who follow Cornelia's work. 'Kitty May' #25 and #26 were displayed in NEA;s 'In Your Face' portrait exhibition in July. 'Kitty May' featured in the 'Salon Refuses' is a stunning final portrait in Cornelia's 'Kitty May' series. HIDDEN FACES - The 2017 Victorian Salon des Refuses Pan Pacific Melbourne Hotel, South Wharf August 28th - November 16th 2017 Congratulations to both Janet Leith and Cornelia Selover on their selection. An occasional blog based on September Newsletter item written by Meralyn Vincent.
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