Visiting an art gallery might seem like something that only tourists do, but there’s nothing stopping locals from enjoying art in their own town. Indeed, the current exhibition at Cascade Art Gallery, featuring etchings and paintings by John Wolseley, suggests that art and local galleries are part of an ecosystem to which we all belong.
Gallery Director Kareen Anchen makes it clear that everyone is welcome, even just to visit the old gothic revival church where Cascade is based.
“There’s the wow factor, when people come through the door and see the space,” she said. “And even if they can’t afford to buy art or they’ve run out of wall space, they can become cultural ambassadors.”
The artist speaks engagingly about his influences and intricate processes. He points out that this nature-focused exhibition, named ‘The Magnificent Return of Bilbies, Bettongs and Hare Wallabies to Newhaven’, celebrates the work of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which aims to restore landscapes to secure the future of endangered species.
Mr Wolsely, who has been passionate about print-making for decades and continues to experiment and collaborate (including with Cascade’s Jeff Gardner), says that local galleries are very important.
“There are several values of a regional gallery like this but one is that artists so often go out to somewhere remote and then show the art in a metropolis like Melbourne or Sydney,” he said.
“But if they show the art in a regional place like this, the locals will come and some will buy because of that connection they have to the art.”
This fascinating exhibition in a local gallery reveals intimate, rarely-seen details of nature while highlighting and encouraging support for environmental protection, plus inspiring us with the innovative practices of a world-class artist. It’s too good to be just for the tourists.
Kareen Anchen has written an in-depth cover article about John Wolseley’s work for Imprint Magazine, which is available to purchase from the gallery. Mr Wolsely will hold an Artist Talk that promises to be enlightening on Saturday 5 April at 3pm at Cascade Art Gallery. The exhibition runs until Sunday 6 April, Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm at 1A Fountain Street, Maldon. For details visit: cascadeart.com.au.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 28 March 2025
