Indigenous artists encouraged to enter Telstra Award
March 7, 2010
Indigenous artists from the New South Wales North Coast region are encouraged to enter their work in the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award which is now open for entries.
In 2010 the Telstra Art Award will celebrate its 27th year and is the longest-running art award dedicated to the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
$35,000 Country Energy Art Prize regional launch
February 13, 2010
The prestigious $35,000 Country Energy Art Prize for Landscape Painting will soon be open for 2010.
A regional launch of the prize will be held at the Tweed River Art Gallery at 11am on Tuesday 16 February to officially launch the 2010 prize and invite artists to enter.
‘Shakespeare’s Playground’ workshops come to the Far North Coast
February 11, 2010
The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble’s vision is to strengthen the connections and relationships between community members, and to create evocative, engaging theatre that awakes the senses and impassions the lives of its audiences and artists.
To that end, QSE’s Christina Koch (pictured) is currently touring northern NSW in search of budding public speakers and community leaders.
Turning old wood into fine art
February 10, 2010
Opening at Retrospect Galleries this week, The Inbetween is an exhibition of new finely detailed and colourful works on wood by two exceptional young Australian artist/designers with a passion for life, surf and the environment.
On Saturday morning they will also present a free talk and demonstration on how to turn an old wooden box or timber panel into a stunning original artwork.
Luke Taaffe’s beautiful flowing detailed work represents a life living by the ocean and its surrounding environment. Waves, boats, whales and octopus all make regular appearances on his colourful panels, usually taken from weathered old wooden boxes.
Taaffe says the eroded and often-found materials he paints on reflect the salt-decaying effects of oceanside living and how it impacts on man’s desire for development and progress.
Tweed is first to host a new exhibition of work by Sidney Nolan
January 11, 2010
The Tweed River Art Gallery will be the first regional gallery to host a new travelling exhibition from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra featuring 80 striking works by renowned artist Sidney Nolan, which provide new insights into Australia’s military history and identity.
The Australian artist spent 20 years working on a series of paintings inspired by the Gallipoli campaign and underpinned by personal tragedy.
Australian War Memorial Director Steve Gower said: “Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series constitutes a personal and public interpretation of a campaign that cost so many Australian lives.
“Nolan donated this collection to the Memorial in 1978 in memory of his soldier brother, who died in a tragic accident before the end of the Second World War.
Tweed couple cast successful bid in art auction
January 11, 2010
Local Tweed Shire couple Nela and John Turnbull are the proud new owners of an outstanding set of artists’ proofs as the winners in a silent auction organised by the Tweed River Art Gallery as one of the Gallery’s 20th anniversary events.
The coveted set of artists’ proofs formed the centerpiece of the Gallery’s Anniversary Print Collection project which saw the Gallery commission six leading Australian artists to create a work in response to the Gallery and the Tweed region.
Gallery Director Susi Muddiman said Nela and John (all pictured) placed the most generous bid for the outstanding set of original artworks.
The Turnbulls said they were delighted to have been able to support the project.
Another unveiling and talk for The Hannah Cabinet
December 10, 2009
The Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina is pleased to advise that Geoff Hannah will be presenting a further talk and unveiling of his masterpiece, The Hannah Cabinet, at the Gallery this Sunday, 13 December, at 3pm.
The Hannah Cabinet will be on display at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, in Cherry Street, Ballina until mid-February 2009.
Call the Northern Rivers Community Gallery on 6681 6167 for details.
Northern Rivers artists featured in new book
December 9, 2009
Sixteen local Northern Rivers artists are featured in a new book being launched this week by Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay.
‘In Retrospect 10′ is a stunning full-colour 140-page publication introducing 34 artists from around the country, all represented locally by Retrospect Galleries.
Local artists Alberto Sanchez, Anna Nordstrom, Cornelia Burless, Daniel Clemmett, Dolores Cupcake, Erika Mayer, Fiona Kennedy-Altoft, Hilary Herrmann, James McMillan, John Cottrell, Michelle Dawson, Nikky Morgan Smith, Noel Hart, Rick Shearman, Sarah Harvey and Stephen Phibbs are featured in the publication.
Alongside are Sydney-based artists Bennett, Johnny Romeo, Kareem Rizk, Kareena Zerefos, Luke Taaffe, Kevin Tran and Mia Taninaka, Queenslanders Jan Van Dijk, Nic Plowman, Simon DeGroot and Troy Archer, Victorians Dave Bowers, Doug Bartlett, James Looker, Laura Skerlj and Nick Morris, Adelaide’s Dennis Ropar and American artists Fawn Gehweiler and Kelsey Brookes.
Extra funding for film and jokes
December 3, 2009
Two Northern Rivers festivals have been successful in gaining funding from the Tourism NSW Regional Flagship Events Program for 2010 – the Byron Bay International Film Festival and the Big Joke Comedy Festival in Bangalow.
Each will receive $10,000 towards organisational and promotion costs.
The Byron Bay Film Festival celebrates the spirit of Byron Bay and the North Coast through the universal medium of independent film. It will be held over nine days from 5-13 March.
Its director, J’aimee Skippon-Volke, said the funding represents genuine recognition of the commitment to grow the event so that it becomes an annual icon on the Australian calendar.
Funding boost for NORPA, Screenworks
December 2, 2009
Page MP Janelle Saffin says the vibrant Northern Rivers arts community has been recognised in the latest round of the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.
“Two highly regarded local organisations, Screenworks and NORPA, have been successful in securing funding for exciting local arts projects,” she said.
“NORPA has been granted $19,000 for its Generator Dance Residency project. It will be done in partnership with Sydney’s Performance Space.
“Under the project a Sydney-based artist will work in residence at NORPA with three local dancers to develop a new dance work.
