Gai Pritchett, Clarence Valley Independent
A collaboration of art and photography is featured in Julianne Gosper’s intricate detailed paintings of amazing birds and animals and the ethereal photography of Brian McGrath. “Artography” will be exhibited at the Old Kirk, Yamba Museum from Friday November 26 to Thursday December 23, 2021. The official opening is Friday 26 from 5.30pm with speeches at 6pm.
Julianne Gosper is a Clarence Valley based artist who has had a lifelong fascination with the natural world. She currently resides on acreage at Waterview Heights (Grafton), surrounded by bushland and its inhabitants. Her work is inspired by Australian wildlife, particularly the birds of the Clarence Valley. Julianne experiments in multiple mediums to capture the essence of her subjects, including charcoal, soft pastel, acrylic, spray paints, printmaking and ceramics.
Photographer Brian (Dino) McGrath spent his initial childhood years in the small town of Harden/Murrumburrah in the Riverina Region of NSW. It was there his interest in photography developed when Brian got a small Agfamatic Pocket Camera, or the ‘spy camera’ as he used to call it due to its similarity to cameras seen in spy movies. “I remember using it fondly and as a young boy letting my imagination go wild with games of espionage,” said Brian.
Moving to the Clarence Valley when he was eleven, Brian’s time with the camera faded as other teenage interests took over.
“Funnily I continued to have a keen interest in espionage, though no longer play acting, I became a keen reader and a huge fan of movies of this genre. After finishing high school I moved to Canberra for work where I quickly moved into the realm of surveillance as a career and was reunited with the camera. This manner of photography differed greatly from the norm. Previously I had only taken photos of people knowing they were being photographed. The essence of surveillance photography was to get the picture without the person or persons knowing. A unique challenge in itself but made more difficult by the general public not being allowed to discover your action either.”
Marriage, children and a change in career brought Brian back to the Clarence Valley. A recent change of direction reinvigorated Brian’s passion and love of photography. Brian is currently completing a Certificate IV in Photography and will be continuing onto the Diploma of Photography next year. Brian added. “Recently I have been a finalist in a photographic competition, have photographs featured in books, in calendars and a government website currently being completed.”
The Old Kirk is attached to Yamba Museum – The Story House and situated next to Yamba Golf and Country Club in River Street, Yamba.
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am – 4:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 2pm- 4:30pm. Entry is $5 Adults, Children under 15 Free. Covid sign-in regulations are mandatory.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 24 November 2021.
