An architectural critique of the Tweed River Art Gallery
April 17, 2013
Nicholas Simmonds, an architecture student at Griffith University Gold Coast, completed this architectural critique of Tweed River Art Gallery for a university assignment …
The Tweed River Art Gallery, a unique and interesting display of modern rural architecture. Striking yet very simple, the building is in its own right a sculptural display of modern art.
Northern Rivers Conservatorium to Raise the Roof with a Music Marathon
February 20, 2013
The Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre aims to raise $15,000 to fund repairs to its historic building in downtown Lismore.
The main fundraising event is a 12-hour Music Marathon, to be held on Saturday 23 March from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Tweed Theatre mystery finale for Raelene Richards
October 3, 2012
Tweed Theatre Company (TTC) stalwart Raelene Richards makes her final appearance in the mystery/comedy thriller, Find the Lady, starting 19th October at the Tweed Civic Centre.
With over 19 years experience and 17 shows with the TTC, Raelene is sad to say it’s her last role but has many fond memories of great casts and shows.
She plays Mrs Pratt in the English comedy set in the 1960s and the challenging dialogue is similar to Fawlty Towers style banter.
It is a whodunit and all eight characters are amateur detectives, as mystery murders and intrigue are weaved throughout by the playwright Michael Pertwee.
Pertwee is famous for his episodes of the classic show The Saint and A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Forum, starring Frankie Howard.
Raelene’s most demanding role was Friends and Relations where she had eight costume changes.
Raelene has been active behind the scenes as well. She has been TTC vice-president for eight years and all-rounder at all TTC shows in costume, production and a myriad of jobs that go into producing every show. She has also directed five TTC shows and wants to continue.
“I want to concentrate on directing as I want to give back to the theatre by coaching the kids in the pantomimes in particular,” she said.
PICTURE: Chris Hawkins, Gai Byrne, Raelene Richards, Anita Murcia, Clayton Wetherall and Sue-Ellen McCubben prepare for the play.
State Government grants $200,000 to Margaret Olley Art Centre
August 29, 2012
The NSW Minister for the Arts, George Souris, today visisted the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah to announce $200,000 in funding for the proposed Margaret Olley Art Centre.
The funding, which will be matched by Tweed Shire Council, has been provided through the 2012 Arts Funding Program.
Digby Moran a dual finalist in NSW Parliament art award
August 23, 2012
Bundjalung artist Digby Moran has been selected as a finalist in the Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize for not one, but two artworks.
Both Starlight and Someone’s Always Watching You, painted by Digby this year, have been selected. The Prize is an annual acquisitive prize of $40,000 and is awarded to the finest example of contemporary Aboriginal art in New South Wales.
Each of Digby’s selected artworks is currently on display at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery as part of Digby’s solo exhibition Bundjalung Dreaming. The exhibition continues until 2 September, however the two selected works will leave early to travel to Sydney for the Art Prize exhibition.
Starlight takes inspiration from the diamond pattern carved on the narrow Bundjalung Boondie (c1850) also currently on display at the Gallery. The painting has a sophisticated composition that features the intersection of four concentric diamond patterns marked out by white lines, at regular intervals, on a black background. Two of the concentric diamonds are further detailed with grey lines alternating with the white.
Centre yourself to this painting, stand back and the result is something quite hypnotic and to many, optically unsettling.
The sophisticated use of a limited palette, line and space creates a lenticular-like image that moves and vibrates like shimmering or shooting starlight.
Someone’s Always Watching You is another example of the artist’s incredible ability to create images that seem to move right before your eyes. A series of black lines that suggest form around two eyes start to ‘move’ against the white background. As this occurs eyes look as though they are flickering and following you around the room.
Of the inspiration for this painting, Digby said: “Growing up an old wise man said to me ‘No matter what you do, someone’s always watching you’. Now I am older and wiser I understand he was telling me that my ancestors’ spirits are always around me, protecting me.”
The Gallery is open from Wednesday to Friday between 10am and 4pm and on weekends between 9.30am and 2.30pm. The Gallery is closed on public holidays.
Angus McDonald and Tim Olsen talk art
July 4, 2012
Internationally renowned art figures Angus McDonald, of Lennox Head, and Tim Olsen will join friends and guests at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa on August 9 to discuss the art world they inhabit.
“Art evolves constantly and is a mirror reflecting the era we live in,” said McDonald (pictured). “What is art for the artist, the art lover, the art world. Why do we make it and collect it? What makes a piece of art a piece of art? What is all the fuss about anyway?”
Tim Olsen, of the Tim Olsen Gallery in Sydney, will introduce McDonald and give an introductory talk on collecting art and growing up in the art world.
The walls of The Byron at Byron on Thursday August 9 will be adorned with paintings from Angus’ private collection as well as some of his own work.
“Angus was always a much better drawer than me,” said Olsen. “And he didn’t even do art as a subject. He was studying to become an economist and businessman and I was the one who was becoming an artist.
“It has all turned out the wrong way around!
“Angus is an incredible draftsman who is able to translate his understanding of light and shade and tonality. He is one of the most underrated still life artists in Australia today.
“His still lives are not just pictures adorned with pots and drapery, intermingled with fruit. They are conversations or stories about how things interrelate in space. Each object relates with one another in a way that there is a conversation, saying do I really belong here.
“As a person Angus has always been a wylie character, a maverick, completely unpredictable. He’s a loyal friend and a talented artist that I am proud to have within my stable”.
Love is in the air in Tweed
May 27, 2012
Fame the Musical, directed by Annie Loctoki, may be a well-known movie and TV series about the gritty side of the theatre but it is actually full of romantic stories including a real-life romance which blossomed on the stage.
The show, being presented by the Tweed Theatre Company (TTC), has six main characters who all begin as freshman at the Performing Arts School in New York. The story weaves three love stories around these characters while in real life the TTC cast has its own love story.
Ensemble cast members, Lara Wilkinson, 16, and Guy Williams, 18, (both pictured), met two years ago. Guy is originally a hip hop dancer while Lara is an actor and singer with four major shows under her belt.
They met at an Arts Week concert where Guy was working as part of the sound crew backstage and Lara was performing. He was struck by her amazing voice and introduced himself. The rest is history.
“I got talked into the show by Lara but I’ve been a big supporter of hers for years. It is my first big production so it is great for Lara to be helping me,” said Guy.
Bundjalung artists’ work on show at Grafton gallery
May 19, 2012
Arts Northern Rivers, in partnership with Grafton Regional Gallery, is excited to announce the opening of an exhibition of new works by 12 leading male Bundjalung artists.
Return to Country has been inspired by the acquisition of three traditional Bundjalung clubs dating back to the mid 1800s, as an addition to Grafton Regional Gallery’s collection.
The exhibition brings together artists from across the Bundjalung nation who have found inspiration in these significant Aboriginal artefacts.
Their works explore the stories, mark-making and interpretation of ancient designs, and examine what it means to be a Bundjalung man and the connection to country.
Arts Northern Rivers CEO Peter wood said: “I am delighted that Arts Northern Rivers has been able to work in partnership with Grafton Regional Gallery to help realise this important exhibition.
“The return to country of these artefacts has created a great sense of anticipation and excitement throughout the Bundjalung nation, leading to the development of an application for project funding that will, if successful, see the re-invigoration of traditional Bundjalung mark-making techniques and future exhibitions.”
Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Development Officer Rob Appo agreed, saying: “This exhibition showcases some of our finest Bundjalung artists all of whom have used the return of these clubs as the inspiration for their work. There is great potential to see this grow into an important project for Indigenous artists in the Northern Rivers region.”
Return to Country opens at Grafton Regional Gallery on Friday, May 25, on the eve of national Sorry Day.
Members of the public are invited to attend a floortalk at 5.30pm presented by Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Development Officer Robert Appo, curator of the exhibition.
Portrait of Margot Anthony by artist Robert Hannaford on display
March 21, 2012
A portrait of Margot Anthony AM, one of the Tweed River Art Gallery’s strongest patrons, is a highlight of New Acquisitions to the Collection, the latest exhibition at the Gallery featuring over 70 new works.
The portrait by Robert Hannaford, commissioned by the Tweed River Art Gallery Foundation with assistance from the Friends of the Gallery and the Gallery’s donation fund, was completed as part of the artist’s exhibition Robert Hannaford: Open Studio, shown at the Gallery in late 2011 where visitors were offered the rare opportunity to see the artist and his sitter at work.
From chorus line to star
March 21, 2012
First-time choreographer, 18 year old Emma-Lee Boulton, is working her cast hard in week eight of rehearsals of Tweed Theatre Company’s (TTC) production of Peter Pan – the Musical, opening 7th April.
Director Natalie Trengove says for such a young girl she is very good.
“I’ve known Emma-Lee since she just a girl in the chorus and she has really come into her own this year. I’ve given her full rein and I am delighted. You’ve got to give people their head in the beginning as a director,” said Natalie.
Emma also appears on stage as a servant, a pirate, an Indian squaw and backstage as stage manager, so she has a major part in shaping the show. When asked why she applied for all these parts she says without blinking “why not?”.
“I love having a busy life. I finished Certificate 3 in live production and theatre last year with lots of hands on work in sound, lighting and design,” said Emma-Lee.
She has had no problems teaching the pirates some fancy moves, including simulating being on a boat and dancing at the same time. She is on stage for most of the show so the guys are happy that she is there just in case they need to follow her.
Emma-Lee is a veteran of been in four TTC production and she is very impressed with her charges so far.
“I’ve only been involved with dance and acting for 2 years but I’ve worked with most of the cast before so that makes it easier as they know me,” she said.
The show begins on 7th April and runs for 7 shows until 22nd April at the Tweed Civic Centre, Brett St, Tweed Heads. Tickets can be booked online at www.tweedtheatre.com.au and are on sale at the Tweed and Murwillumbah Tourist Centres. For more information check out the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TweedTheatreCompany
