FRIENDSHIP QUILTS

Most of 2012/2013 has been devoted to the making of Friendship Quilts.

A friendship quilt is made by members of a group – each makes a block (square) to a pattern and, sometimes, colourway selected by one member. Usually that is enough to make a quilt. Each member participating finishes up with a quilt in their chosen design and very special because it is a permanent reminder of friends.

The ST Gill Room has been developed as a space for quarterly exhibitions on a history theme. Up first was the John McDouall Stuart display of artefacts from his 1862 expedition, next a selection of small objects borrowed from Burra National Trust. Now we have David Sprod’s collection of his uncles war cartoons, books, magazine covers and other ephemera. It is a fascinating insight into a delightfully “odd” man.

The eyes, open or closed, are an integral part of any portrait. Their presence or absence demonstrates a choice made by the artist at the moment of conception of the idea. The relationship between artist and subject is more than it seems. Sharing takes place in the form of cups of tea, conversation and companionship, and interaction shows in the resulting artwork.

JUMPING FENCES: Burra Regional Art Gallery 28 February to 1 May 2013 and 69 Smith Street Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne 22 May to 9 June. Jumping Fences is an exhibition of landscape work based on an idea I had last year when I realised how well positioned Burra Gallery is to bring regional artists together and […]

The International Baltic Mini Textile Triennial originated in Gdynia Poland and is organised by the Museum of the City of Gdynia. Poland’s strong art textile position in the art world, as well as the textile industry around the town of Lodz, are the backbones of the numerous textile art events and exhibitions taking place in […]

I paint from life, either in my studio or ‘en plein air’, without the aid of photography. I have written just a little bit of background about some of the works in this exhibition. The painting   “Black Cockerel’ was one of many done whilst sitting amongst the cages of prize poultry at the Royal […]

First shown at the Adelaide Festival Centre as part of the annual SALA Festival, ‘OUR MOB 2010’ was a statewide celebration of regional and remote South Australian Indigenous artists. The exhibition ‘OUR MOB 2010-ON TOUR’ has now been especially curated to tour regional South Australia. The touring exhibition is curated by Susan Jenkins (Adelaide Festival […]

The new exhibition “Back to Burra” in Burra Gallery is not to be missed by locals and those who love Burra. The aim of the exhibition is to unite the past with the present and there are works by Len Bence, Aileen Moorhouse, Russell Philip, and Glenys Christopher, all Burra artists, with Aussie Kanck, Roland Weight, Allen Peters and many more that do just that. A view of the future is also displayed in a triptych by Kerry Youde, together with lots of beautiful jewellery and ceramics for sale to make the perfect Christmas gift. One of the biggest, best and most beautiful of exhibitions that have been shown in the gallery, and the most relevant for the region. Gallery opening times are 1 to 4 pm every day, with the exception of the Christmas/New Year break. The gallery thrives when local viewers take an interest. “Back to Burra” will be on show until 23 January 2013.

Please touch the Art…

This exhibition falls under the genre of “automata”:interactive sculptures requiring visitors to turn handles, push buttons and look through lenses at working dioramas. The works appeal to a wide range of age groups. It is nostalgic, investigating art, science and mechanics at several levels. “Archers Arcadia” is a collective name for David Archer’s many works forming this installation.

This is a competition to challenge the ways we portray the world of nature. A Burra Gallery tradition producing powerful and imaginative works in a variety of media. Judges this year are Len Bence and Roger Boehm. Come and join on us on Sunday, September 9 at 2pm to see who is selected and make your own decision for the peoples choice prize.