Kyoko Imazu – Storytellers @ Megalo Studio and Gallery

2-23 July 2016

Variety is the strength of the exhibitions at the Megalo Studio and Gallery. This one is  emotionally sensitive and almost has some of that tone of Maurice Sendak. It has a fairytale style in its gentle softness. The weaving of children, animals and nature into the frame is whimsical and induces happiness and unease in different pictures.

The other awesome feature of this exhibition is the display of cut page books and sculptures. Using white and off white card Kyoko Imazu has created a fantasy world byt cutting and layering of scenes to tell a story. Some of these are free standing almost maze looking and others are fold out books. The one I found the most engaging was the layered cut out in which one side of the card was brightly coloured to provide a reflected coloured hue to the scene.  Marvelous and intricate and very fascinating to look at over time.

Sample pics and gallery sheets below

 

Into the limelight @ ANU School of Arts Gallery

July 27 – Aug 6 2017

I always love exhibitions of school  student art. This one is a big one. 400 works from Primary, Secondary and College age students. There is a broad set of arts represented – pottery clothing, photography, painting, collage, sculpture and other media. I guess it is curated to bring good examples together but it is still a wonderful collection of delightful creativity.

The website is below and some sample pictures:

http://soa.anu.edu.au/event/step-limelight-5

Dogs and Pigs – Shan Cosbie @ Belconnen Arts Centre

24 June – 17 July 2016

Striking name for an art exhibition heh – Pigs and Dogs. Shan Crosbie explores different attitudes humans have to animals that are in many aspects similar. The artist points out in the blurb that we eat out bacon and love our dog.

Each of the eighty portraits of dogs and pigs on the wall present the animals as loveable and relatable.  Shan clearly wants to highlight these seemingly strange attitudes to creatures that are likeable.

Look at the pics below and the gallery sheet.

Habitual Creatures @ Belconnen Arts Centre

24 June – 17 July 2016

Tom Buckland, Rebecca Selleck and Sian Watson

Animals and humans have interacted since creation in diverse ways. The three artists in this exhibition have taken that interaction into view in sculpture, photography and interactive works.

The three artists embrace the complexity of the relationships because they think about animals in different ways an have experienced cultural attitudes that have shaped their views. Some of these works are fun.Rebecca Selleck constructed “Mixoma” with a rabbit skin exterior which invites the viewer to touch. Fur has come close to being removed  from out lives so it was almost confonting to have it close. Tom Buckland has created a large microscope under which you can stand and look up through the viewer to be confronted by a large eyeball staring down at you. Sian has produced some marvelous paintings of insects and spiders. Lots of great stuff here.

Have a look below at the works pictured by use of a phone and the gallery sheet and price list is there also.

 

2 degrees @ Canberra Contemporary Art Space

15 July – 20 Aug 2016

2 Degrees is an artistic response to issues surrounding climate change. The artists involved are: Daniel Bonson, GW Bot, David Buckland, Søren Dahlgaard, Jacky Green, Annika Harding, Timothy James Johnson and Andrew Styan. There are a big variety of styles. In the cube an artist uses a rotating piece of coal under light and use of a projection screen to highlight its role in the problem. In the big space there is an inflatable tropical island which then photographed in the middle of a wheat field and on a bush escarpment.

The exhibition has serious focus but has fun elements. Pics below:

Michael Taylor A survey 1963-2016 @ Canberra Museum and Gallery

9 July – 2 October 2016

There is a major retrospective of the nearly 50 years of art work by Michael Taylor. The paintings are abstract. The abstraction ranges from the gloomy dark to the pastel and almost pretty. There are paintings that are tortured and confused looking and others that look peaceful and settled. I am not a fan of abstract art but this exhibition gives a great

insight to the long artistic production of Michael Taylor.

Pics below with an article from the Canberra Times.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/michael-taylor-a-survey-19632016-at-canberra-museum-and-gallery-20160714-gq5g7q.html

A matter of time @ Queanbeyan Arts Centre

28 June – 16 July 2016

Each year an exhibition quilts happens in Queanbeyan. Quilters are set a fixed size and a theme and they all create artistic works in quilt form for the display. This year the theme was “A matter of time”.

Gorgeous, varied and often sumptuous these works are remarkable in their beauty and complexity.  I am in awe of the talent and skill of these artists and all I can say is look at the sample pics below.