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The year is off to a great start for the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery. The team has been busy hosting a series of sold-out school holiday and artist led workshops, and its Summer Session attracted a great crowd who enjoyed the music of Edgehogs and delicious food from Nowra CWA and Lions Club.
To top it off, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited to announce funding for a new climate control system, which will allow the gallery to borrow top rate artworks from major institutions around the country.
The holiday season may be ending, but there is still lots to see and do at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery. If you haven’t caught Guy Warren’s fabulous exhibition, River Rainforest Rock, get in quick as it will close on Saturday, February 9.
Showing in the North Gallery now and throughout February is Beach Life 1930s-1980s. These wonderful photographs from the Shoalhaven City Art Collection by Max Dupain and John Witzig are evocative of beach holidays past and explore the evolution of beach culture and Australian identity across the 20th Century.
On February 16, four exciting exhibitions will launch. Many may be familiar with the work of Shoalhaven local Elyssa Sykes-Smith, whose sculptural figures climb the walls of the Entertainment Centre and previously graced the front of the gallery. Elyssa has also exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture at Scenic World, Sculpture at Barangaroo, and was a joint winner of last year’s Hillview Sculpture Biennale. Plaception offers an opportunity to view new and past works from the artist in a range of materials – her recognised wooden figures but also paintings, a multimedia installation and sculptures in bronze and acrylic. These works translate the expressive qualities of the figure in relation to architecture, exploring form, space and movement.
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In the Foyer Gallery is Scissors, Paper, Rock featuring local artists Stephanie Bray, Julie Love, Derry Messum and Greer Taylor. These artists were invited to push the boundaries of traditional jewellery and to use their diverse sculptural practices to translate their work towards ‘wearable art’, presenting their final works in the medium of their choice.
If you’re an Aussie music fan, don’t miss Wayne Budge’s Faces Behind the Music – a series of black and white photographic portraits of Australia’s music royalty, including Leo Sayer, Kirk Pengilly, Pattie Amphlett and John Paul Young. The majority of the portraits were shot in the subjects’ homes, allowing the artists to portray themselves as they wished to be seen. In this series, Budge wanted to create something different than the usual promo, on stage or back stage shot - aiming to capture the person, not the celebrity.
Shared Pathways: Reimagining the Wool Road is an exhibition drawn from many years of research, community consultation and creative exploration. Curated by Jenny Robertson and Sue McCauley, it features works by Peter Solness, Jenny Robertson, Pirate Myangah, Vanessa Barbay, Trudi Last, Michael Buckley, and Cheryl Leigh Cross. This show draws on personal histories and explores the largely unknown story of how the Yuin people assisted the European Settlers, by guiding them to the best place to establish the road from the mountain to the sea.
If you want to hear more from any of the featured artists, Wayne Budge and artists from Scissors, Paper, Rock and Shared Pathways will be speaking about their exhibitions and artistic practice on Saturday, February 16 at 11am. This will be followed by the exhibitions’ launch at noon. On Saturday, March 16 at 11am, Elyssa Sykes-Smith will be speaking about her Mind Walks, one-to-one performances consisting of guided walking tours and visualisations with volunteers. Participants from local high schools will also attend to share their experiences.
If you’d rather get creative, Julie Love will be conducting a Found to Fabulous Jewellery Workshop on March 2 at 10am, where you can create your own precious jewellery using found objects.
For more information on all of the events mentioned and to book your place go to SouthCoastTickets.com.au or call the gallery on 4429 5444.
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