Friday night’s opening was a great success with five local artists opening two new selling exhibitions at NERAM.
One Work is the result of collaboration between artists Stuart Boggs, Rowen Matthews, Frances Alter and Robyn Jackson who were inspired by the landscape and environment at Digger’s Camp in the Yuraygir National Park, between Yamba and Coffs Harbour.
“The exhibition’s centrepiece is a massive multi-panel painting which mixes up the work of each artist to create a single artwork responding to the site,” said Robert Heather, Director of the New England Regional Art Museum. “Each artist contributed towards creating a visceral impression of the rugged coastal environment and seascape of this beautiful location.”
One Work came about because artist Stuart Boggs wanted to explore how different artists could work together to create a single painting and helped to bring the group of artists together in the remote location. “It has been a varied journey over the past two years,” he said. “The problem solving process was difficult at times but also rewarding.”
Stuart Boggs originally studied science and worked as a geologist before studying art at the New England Institute of TAFE. He has exhibited his paintings in many group and solo shows, and has been selected as a finalist in a number of prizes including winning the Warwick Art Prize. He is now the proprietor of Gallery 126 in Armidale.
Frances Alter is a full time visual arts education lecturer at the University of New England, Armidale where she teaches all forms of visual arts practice to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has studied, worked and exhibited around Australia including her 2014 solo show Carried Away at NERAM.
Robyn Jackson studied a Diploma of Fine Art majoring in painting in 1997 and finds inspiration in the local New England landscape for her acrylic paintings. She has exhibited regularly in local, regional and Sydney galleries.
Rowen Matthews has been exhibiting his work around Australia since 2001, including group and solo exhibitions in the Blue Mountains and New England regions. His work is held in the collections of Charles Sturt University, Cowra Regional Art Gallery and Launceston City Council.
The central One Work consists of 24 panels painted by the four artists as well as a series of small paintings by each artist, videos and found objects from the beach site.
Works on display in this exhibition are for sale, proceeds will go towards New England Regional Art Museum and the exhibition is on show until Sunday 15 November 2015.
Popular Culture gets the Pop Art Treatment in Made in Australia
Popular artist Jonathon Larsen presents a series of prints responding to Australian popular culture icons such as Ned Kelly, Vegemite, pineapples, fast cars and utes in his new exhibition Made in Australia.
In the exhibition he takes a sideways glance at Australia using colourful prints which blend Pop Art, Modernism and easily recognised cultural, political and environmental references in an irreverent way.
“Jonathon has taken some of the things we all recognise and take for granted as his starting point on an artistic journey that will stimulate new ideas and a few laughs,” said Robert Heather, Director of New England Regional Art Museum. “He takes the viewer on a wild ride through suburbia, regional Australia and our own backyards.”
Jonathon Larsen is a multidisciplinary artist and designer living in Armidale who has worked in a range of media including animation, painting, filmmaking, sculpture and printmaking and he has exhibited his work in exhibitions throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
He also conducts the popular printmaking classes at the New England Regional Art Museum.
Works on display in this exhibition are for sale, proceeds will go towards New England Regional Art Museum and the exhibition is on show until Sunday 15 November 2015.
Media Enquiries:
Robert Heather, Director, New England Regional Art Museum Tel: 02 6772 5255
