Painting

Gothic and romantic aesthetics and ideas have been a longstanding influence on how I think and work. I often think of my sculptures as giving form to spirits, whether ghosts from ‘the other side’ or denizens of a parallel world or, less literally, from the world of the psychological unconscious that ‘haunts’ reality: Kirsten Bishop.

The official opening of the Empire Air Training Scheme Memorial at Wagga's RAAF Base took place at Wagga last week, conjuring up many memories for towns like Narrandera which were part of this scheme. Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack helped to officially open the memorial project.

Murrami woman Dorothy Roddy is June’s Artist of the Month ... Documenting the history of the Riverina Welfare Farm for Boys and the POW Camp 15 eras between 1928 and 1947 at what is now Yanco Agricultural Institute, the exhibition features 12 oil paintings which should appeal to art lovers as well as history buffs.

What do you look for in a tourist attraction? An exciting new project is in the planning phase that will tell a story of a community, showcase our history and add the local region to the insanely popular silo art trail. Plans are afoot to turn the Barham water tower into a 20m high billboard that will attract tourists for an overnight stop to experience everything our towns have to offer.

Broome artist Sobrane Simcock, is well known for her brightly coloured, joy-filled paintings and her well-stocked gallery is filled with her eye-catching work.   Her artwork also appears in large-scale murals adorning hundreds of walls, watertanks and streetscapes around Australia. But there’s one colourful talent Sobrane usually keeps to herself.   Sobrane is a synesthete; one of those rare people with the perceptual phenomenon known as synesthesia.

Local artists Sally Anderson and Kerry Punton are displaying their beautiful works of art at Harcourt General Store. The theme, contemporary chinoiserie, examines the 17th and 18th-century western style of interior design that represents fanciful European Interpretations of Chinese styles.

Gabrielle Duykers. A unique piece of artwork showcasing the natural features of Kingston has been crowned the best mural in the nation. Commissioned by Kingston District Council in the wake of the Keilira Bushfire, ‘Wind Dance’ received the Gold Award for the Best External Mural at the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards announced last week. In a collective statement, the judges said the mural was vibrant, creative and would entice visitors to explore more of the region.

It’s not until you’re up close to the mural drawn onto Casino’s water tower that you can really know the scale of the artwork. It is huge. Mural painters Steve Falco and Jordan Bruce are aware of the impact the mural will have on the town’s residents. The water tower can be seen from nearly everywhere.

Simon Dow. Esteemed artist and Archibald winner in 2018, Yvette Coppersmith, judge of this year’s Maldon Portrait Prize titled I Be Human, addressed the finalists for the prize at the exhibition opening, at EDGE Galleries in Maldon. Yvette expressed her delight at the quality and diversity of the exhibiting portraits. This made her task of selecting the winner, Gabrielle Martin’s portrait ‘The Ecologist’ all the more challenging.

The hard-working team of artists from Apparition Media have completed the final artwork on the Narrandera Water Tower. This impressive new addition was completed in just four days adding to the already popular attraction overlooking Narrandera.

The transformation of the 83-year-old art deco water tower in South Casino has been a long time coming. Richmond Valley Council put forward several mural designs for the community to decide which one was best for the tower.

Nancy Whittaker. The MANet upcoming IBHuman Portrait Prize exhibitions are to be held at the EDGE Gallery. The Painting, Drawing and Mixed Media finalists exhibition will be held from 5-13 February and Photography Finalists will be held from 19 – 27 February.

Emma Pritchard. Proud Bundjalung, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr artist Danielle Gorogo doesn’t just have one canvas displaying her beautiful artwork, she has several. Only in this instance, her canvases are the stunning uniforms Clarence Regional Library staff are proudly wearing.

Nancy Whittaker. Just down the road from me is the fabulously revitalised Methodist Church, which is now Cascade Art Gallery.  At the recent launch of Jeff Gardner’s book of poetry and prints Lucy the Dragon, Dr. Juliet O’Conor made a very insightful speech. She is a specialist in children’s book history, having curated a collection of five centuries of children’s books at the State Library of Victoria.

Ali Bohn. “I wanted to make the bathrooms a nice, bright space to go when you’re feeling flat and I thought a nice mural of flowers would look really good": Barham Public School Captain, Shaylah Carter.

Bonalbo Artists Alliance exhibition coordinator Vilya de Tozser said 105 portraits featured in the exhibition at Bonalbo Memorial Hall on Saturday, December 11.

Gai Pritchett. 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 ... Julianne Gosper is a Clarence Valley based artist who has had a lifelong  fascination with the natural world ... Photographer Brian (Dino) McGrath spent his initial childhood years in the small town of Harden/Murrumburrah in the Riverina Region of NSW.

Over 100 artworks from Central Goldfields Art Gallery now can be viewed online on Google Arts & Culture by people around the world, due to a new partnership between Google and the Gallery. Central Goldfields Art Gallery is the latest Australian partner to join more than 2,000 cultural institutions from over 80 countries across the globe, bringing important works from regional Victoria online, for the world to explore and enjoy.

Experimenta Life Forms reveals how contemporary artists are exploring notions of life, at a time when technological change and new research findings are making definitions of ‘life’ increasingly difficult to pin down.

Greater Shepparton City Council is excited to announce the official virtual opening of the new Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) building on Friday 19 November at 7.00pm. The virtual opening will be available online for everyone to view and will feature some very special guests and presenters.

This exhibition tells the story of mentorship, art and friendship between Margaret Olley (1923–2011) and Ben Quilty (b.1973), two of Australia’s most celebrated artists. At Home  is a sublime collection of recent still life paintings by Ben Quilty alongside still lifes and interiors by Margaret Olley, from the latter half of her extraordinary career.

Emma Pritchard. Clarence Valley residents will have the unique opportunity to view, and participate, in a stunning exhibition at the Clarence Regional Library in Grafton. Highlighted as part of the library’s ‘Local Faces, Local Voices’ program, the exhibition is entitled About Face and will feature exquisite portraiture created by renowned artist Terry Bouton and will demonstrate the intricate and intriguing details of portraits, and how they are brought to life.