Couple power fuels Shoalhaven exhibition

Shoalhaven couple Richard Morecroft and Alison Mackay have individual exhibitions on display in two of the spaces at the art gallery, while the main gallery is filled with the works of another couple, Max Dupain and Olive Cotton, who’s photographs depict their 1937 camping trip to Culburra.

Dupain’s image The Sunbaker is one of Australia’s most iconic photographs and was taken during that Shoalhaven holiday. The images from both photographers capture the feel of a bygone era.

Olive Cotton (1911–2003) and Max Dupain (1911–1992) were pioneering modernist photographers.

Cotton’s lifelong obsession with photography began aged 11. She was a childhood friend of Dupain’s and in 1934 she joined his photo studio, where she made her best-known work, Teacup Ballet, in about 1935.

Between 1939 and 1941, Dupain and Cotton were married.

Still life artist Alison Mackay’s paintings and drawings explore the magnificently cluttered living space of the late Margaret Olley, one of Australia’s most celebrated painters.

Olley’s home full of objects has been faithfully recreated at the Tweed Regional Gallery in northern NSW and after being an artist in residence at Tweed, Alison assembled this exhibition titled After Olley.

Alison was given special access to the Olley archive, drawing some of the items that Olley used in her own still life paintings, which are now catalogued, tagged and stored.

Richard Morecroft, also known for his nightly appearances on television’s SBS quiz show Letters and Numbers, has a separate exhibition of large multi-panelled photographic works which look at human constructions from luxurious hotel foyers, to air-conditioning plant rooms.

All three exhibitions are on display until the end of January.

The Shoalhaven City Arts Centre is located at 12 Berry Street, Nowra and is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and on Saturday’s from 10am to 2pm. For more information contact 4429 5444 or visit the website.