“I feel like I’m Margaret Olley for the night,” I told my friend Kate as we wandered around, enjoying the current exhibition at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. In common with the renowned Australian artist (who also hails from Lismore), l love attending exhibition openings. In her later years, she walked with the aid of a walking frame, and was quite a sight as she made her way, cutting through the crowds. Though without her gravitas, I similarly maneuvered in a wheelchair for the Elizabeth Cummings exhibition opening.… Read the rest “Exhibition Opening (in a wheelchair)”
“I always kind of skip through the Wynne Prize.”, I told my friend Michaela. We were visiting the Archibald Prize, Australia’s most prestigious portraiture award. This year’s competition saw a record number of entries, with over 1000 works.
The unanimous winner was a portrait of singer Jessica Cerro, better known as Montaigne. She represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest a few years ago. Critics said Gutman’s painting captured the artist’s energy and charisma, while also conveying a sense of vulnerability.… Read the rest “Archibald Prize”
“A word of warning, it’s Valentine’s Day, and it’s pretty busy down on the street”, I said to my neighbor, as we chatted briefly today in the back laneway.
It’s ALWAYS busy on Valentine’s Day at our end of Crown Street. As a long-term single person, I always forget about it every year until I’m confronted by all the doe-eyed couples at nearby restaurants. As I sat and enjoyed a late afternoon beer at the nearby bar, The Nocturne, a young woman walked in with a huge box of roses.… Read the rest “Doco”
“It’s the first work you see as you enter the new wing of the Art Gallery of NSW”, I texted my colleague and friend, Lisa. Her partner, Genevieve is the artist responsible for the work which re-imagines historical photographs of Aboriginal people as contemporary videos. “She did that fifteen years or so ago”, Lisa told me, anxious to pass on the news to Genevieve about her work’s prominent role.
The new Indigenous art space is amazing.… Read the rest “AGNSW”