Cut out – Meredith Hughes and Naomi Souwer @ Belconnen Arts Centre

20 Oct – 12 Nov 2017

This is a small exhibition with nine works. Each piece is a composite of outline shapes and object shapes laid out on the wall. Each of the elements are cut from larger pieces and put on the wall as glue-backed paper. The papers are sometimes cut because of their rich patterned surface that when cut in outline shapes are striking in shape and colour. Other parts or the work are cut outs of flowers people and many other items taken from fabric or wall papers to create pictures and artworks of vivid colour and intriguing composition.

More details of this exhibition is on the BAC website page

https://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/2017/07/09/meet-team-naomi-zouwer-artist-teacher/

Marilou Chagnaud – Papiers Flottants @ ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery

10-21 Oct 2017

Some exhibitions are small but of a class that is quite memorable, The work of Marilou Chagnaud at the ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery are remarkable. There are five geometric designs in black and white that almost move as you walk by. There is a timber frame that is hung with wonderful curved line prints on white paper hanging in rows. When you move the frame a bit the sheets move in a way that looks like wonderful ocean wave. There is a folded set of curved lined sheets woven into a spring loaded fan on the floor. Each of the elements of this exhibition are beautiful.

The web page is below

http://soa.anu.edu.au/event/tunica

Bringing Meaning Landscape paintings by Zhou Xiaoping @ Chinese Museum Melbourne

25 Aug 21 Feb 2018

Occasionally you bump into something awesomely interesting in surprising places. I like to visit the Chinese Museum when in Melbourne. On a recent visit I encountered the work of Zhou Xiaoping there and was wowed by the inspiring story of a Chinese artist working with Australian Indigenous artists in the western deserts. The artists influenced each other and the resulting works were new and inspiring. There was a video that tracked the development of the relationship through to an exhibition in the major national gallery in Beijing. The web page is below.

http://chinesemuseum.com.au/bringing-meaning-zhouxiaoping/

Angela Brennan – Forms of Life @ Ian Potter Museum of Art

5 Sept 25 Feb 2018

Angela Brennan has mounted an exhibition at the Ian Potter Museum of Art that plays with ancient artifacts discovered by Melbourne University Archaeological expeditions. The pottery is colourful and varied and is inspired by a set of pots that are also displayed in the gallery. She has added some dresses inspired by the same ancient cultures. The gallery web page is below.

http://www.art-museum.unimelb.edu.au/exhibitions/exhib-date/2017-09-05/exhib/angela-brennan-forms-of-life

 

Premier and the Pen @ State Library of Victoria

I love little targeted exhibitions. On a visit to the State Library of Victoria recently I walked through their large exhibition on books in history and encountered a small exhibition about the relationship between a Premier and the political cartoonists. It was a delightful collection of cartoons of a series of Victorian Premiers with fascinating textual stories about the relationships and contexts of the cartoons and the Premiers. It gave an insight into a past era but pointed to an important ongoing part of our modern society.

A link to a talk that was held that includes one of the cartoons.

https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/premier-pen-pop-talk

Watford at Werribbee @ Wyndam Art Gallery

5-29 October 2017

An exhibition of local historical artifacts is always an important feature of the program of a local art gallery. The artist, Lyndal Jones is exhibiting an evolving set of artifacts drawn from a derelict building in Avoca in central Victoria to create a sense of history and local remembrance. The exhibition or installation is part of an international project. There is more information on the gallery website.

https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/whats-on/watford-werribee

Ann Zahalka – Landscape revisited @ Murray Art Museum Albury

26 May – 5 Nov 2017

Ann Zahalka gives you a new take on iconic Australian paintings. She takes familiar landscape paintings and inserts new people to give them a cheekily different take on their place in our history. Each of these artworks have a funny side to them. One which originally had an English pioneer couple preparing to build their first house among tall gum trees now features a set of post World War Two Italian migrants sitting in the same scene.

The gallery page is below.

http://www.mamalbury.com.au/see-and-do/exhibitions/the-landscape-revisited-anne-zahalka