Basic Instinct | 2 - 26 March 2011

Basic Instinct signals the kick off of our 2011 exhibition schedule. We have loads instore for the year including solo exhibitions by Heather B. Swann, Monika Tichacek, Rhys Lee, Michael Cusack, McLean Edwards, Marie Hagerty, Michael Doolan, Del Kathryn Barton and Lionel Bawden, so stay tuned to all of our updates.

Basic Instinct is a group exhibition bringing together the work of eleven contemporary Australian artists for whom drawing is an essential element of their practice.

Alongside eight of our gallery artists we have invited Patrick Doherty, Lorraine Heller-Nicholas and Simon O'Carrigan to be a part of the show which aims to locate the intrinsic, subliminal and instinctive quality that drawing holds for the exhibiting artists.

Head to our website to find out more about this exhibition and the exhibiting artists, including pricing.

Please note: Six of Del Kathryn Barton's drawings will join the Basic Instinct exhibition after the Freehand exhibition closes on Sunday at Heide Museum of Modern Art. We will let you know as soon as they are on the wall.

Jane Burton and Fabrice Bigot | Film project

Gallery artist Jane Burton and partner Fabrice Bigot have been busy collaborating on some film projects. Their most recent film Imitation of Life (a dual video installation, 3:30min) was recently awarded Winner - Best Experimental Film at the Three Minute Film Festival in Indiana USA.

The film / installation will be screened in Melbourne at Screen Space, from September 16 - October 8. We will keep you updated!

Your move: Australian artists play chess

Inspired by the international exhibition The Art of Chess, Bendigo Art Gallery commissioned thirteen of Australia’s leading contemporary artists make a work in response to the game of chess. Michael Doolan, Lionel Bawden and Kate Rohde were each invited to make a work for the show, Your move: Australian artists play chess, and was exhibited late last year at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

See a previous post on our blog.


The exhibition is now touring and will open today at UQ Art Museum, until April 24 2011 before touring to McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park, Victoria and the Samstag Museum, South Australia.

Lara Merrett and Del Kathryn Barton: Hong Kong

The work of Del Kathryn Barton and Lara Merrett will feature in Wattle - the first major survey exhibition of contemporary Australian art in Hong Kong. The exhibition will take place at the Cat Street Gallery and features a curator’s pick of forty-five artists currently working in Australia and includes painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media installation. The exhibition will open on Saturday February 26th from 6pm.

WATTLE | Contemporary Australian Art
24 February 2011 - 26 March 2011

Magda Matwiejew: Female Eye Film Festival

Magda Matwiejew's film Pretty Ballerina has been nominated for the best Experimental Film at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.

The Female Eye Film Festival is an annual event - now in it's 9th year - that celebrates female directors from around the world.

The festival will run from March 16 - 20.

Locust Jones: Art for literacy

Gallery artist Locust Jones along with other well known Australian artists and a group of teens from Lurnea High School will participate in the exhibition, Subtext: Art for Literacy presented by the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation at Carriageworks.

The centrepiece of the show is an impressive 25m long canvas that Jones worked on with 21 students from East Turkestan, Iraq, Vietnam, Sudan, Argentina and Thailand. The work came together over a series of 5 workshops where the stories of the students were translated onto the canvas.

Read more about the project here.

The show will open this evening and run until March 5.

Del Kathryn Barton: Artist Talk

Del Kathryn Barton will speak about her new series of drawings especially created for the freehand exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art tomorrow at 2pm.

This is a free event.

Jane Burton - In the Blood

Jane Burton will exhibit a new body of work, titled, In the blood at Gippsland Art Gallery. Curator of Gippsland Art Gallery, Simon Gregg has written an exquisite essay about Jane's work in the limited edition catalogue.

Gregg writes about Jane's luscious and evocative photographs, their deep appeal to the imagination and their reference to the Australian Gothic. In the blood will officially open this evening from 6.30pm by Dr David Hansen, curator and art writer. Jane Burton will hold an artist talk before the opening at 6pm.



Jane Burton In the blood
Gippsland Art Gallery
February 5 - March 27 2011



top image: Jane Burton, In the Blood #2 2010, 17 x 25 cm, pigment print, edn of 3
bottom image: Jane Burton, In the Blood #8 2010, 17 x 25 cm, pigment print, edn of 3

Sam Jinks - Pieta'

Gallery artist Sam Jinks, renowned for his incredible hyper real sculptures will exhibit a collection of works including the moving Pieta' at Gippsland Art Gallery.

Gippsland Art Gallery curator Simon Gregg, has written a beautiful essay, in the limited edition catalogue. Gregg's essay looks at Jinks' exploration of the experience of being human and death as part of the greater cycle of birth and life as a recurring theme in the work.

Pieta' will officially open on Friday 11 February from 6.30pm by Andrew Gaynor, independent curator and arts researcher.

Sam Jinks
Pietá
Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale
12 February - 20 March

Simon Obarzanek: Photofile

Kirsten Rann has written a feature piece on the work of gallery artist, Simon Obarzanek, titled Unperfect Bodies in the current and final print issue of Photofile 91: The Body and Space.

Curious Colony: travelling exhibition

You may recall we posted about Curious Colony: A twenty first century Wunderkammer when it was first exhibited at Newcastle Region Art Gallery? Gallery artists Kate Rohde and Phillip Wolfhagen were both invited to participate in the exhibition. Well the exhibition has been on the move and is now on show at the National Trust S.H Ervin Gallery. If you missed it the first time you can still catch it, until February 20.


Curious Colony: A twenty first century Wunderkammer
National Trust S.H Ervin Gallery
January 11 - February 20 2011.

Nusra Latif Qureshi - Reframed

Nusra Latif Qureshi (who featured in our Figuration Now show) has work in the Reframed exhibition at Counihan Gallery, Brunswick. Reframed brings together a selection of works form the Moreland Art Collection that explore social and environmental themes.

Until Sunday February 13.

Lisa Roet - White Ape

Lisa Roet's White Ape was collected late yesterday for delivery to New Zealand. White Ape will be exhibited at Gow Langsford Gallery alongside a collection of charcoal drawings and bronze works.

Lisa Roet at Gow Langsford Gallery
March 2 - 26 2011

Kate Rohde: McClelland Gallery & Sculpture Park

Rachael and I took a trip out to McClelland to see Kate Rohde's Lucky Cat - a finalist in the McClelland 2010 Sculpture Survey and Award.

The works are on display until July 17.

Aida Tomescu: Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize 2011

Aida Tomescu has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize 2011 @ Bendigo Art Gallery.

A winner announcement and official opening will take place from 6pm, February 11... fingers crossed!

Exhibition Dates: February 12 - April 3

Lisa Roet: Gow Langsford New Zealand

We are pleased to announce that gallery artist, Lisa Roet will exhibit at Gow Langsford Gallery, New Zealand.

The exhibition will showcase a selection of bronze works and charcoal drawings from March 2 - 26.

See more about Lisa Roet here.

Titania Henderson: 2011 Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award

Titania Henderson has had 2 works accepted as finalists in the 2011 Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award.

The winner of the first prize acquisitive award will be announced at the opening on March 28, from 6-8pm.

50 of Australia's most collectable artists 2011

Australian Art Collector has released their annual 50 issue with the list of 50 of Australia's most collectable artists 2011. We are pleased to note that several of our artists were on the list, including:

Del Kathryn Barton
Locust Jones
Aida Tomescu
Philip Wolfhagen

Jonathon Nichols - new blog

Gallery artist Jonathon Nichols has recently established a blog with information and images from as far back as 1992. This is a comprehensive survey of his exhibition history and general goings on, including a studio glimpse - one to add to your 'favorites'.

http://jonathan-nichols.blogspot.com/

Happy Holidays!

On behalf of the KWG team we wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

The gallery will close today from 5pm and will re-open February 2 2011 with an exciting exhibition schedule lined up. We are also looking forward to welcoming back Melanie Flynn from maternity leave.

Thank you for your ongoing support... enjoy the summer!

Karen, Rachael and Laura