Visual arts and crafts - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Announcements

See the Call for entries news page for visual arts competitions and prizes.

Events

Charles Bayliss - Sydney

9 February - 25 May 2008

This exhibition by Charles Bayliss (1850-1897), a leading figure in Australia 's photographic heritage provides a unique insight into late nineteenth century Australia, both its landscape and its inhabitants. Art Gallery of New south Wales.

Sculptura - Beaudesert Queensland

13 April - 25 May 2008

An exhibition of contemporary sculpture with works by guest artists featured in Sculpture for an Ancient Land, the inaugural International Sculpture Symposium 2008 Beaudesert, and artists from throughout Australia. The Centre for Scenic Rim Arts & Culture.

Hatched 08, National Graduate Show - Perth

11 April - 25 May 2008

An exhibition of art spanning painting, ceramics, print making, sculpture, installation, textiles, animation, photography and video by new emerging artists in Australia. Perth Cultural Centre.

Churchie National Emerging Art Exhibition - Brisbane

30 May 2008

Australia's leading emerging art awards - the Churchie National Emerging Art Exhibition recognises, exposes and promotes emerging artists and their work. In 2008 the winner will receive a non-acquisitive prize of $10,000 donated by Brand & Slater Architects. Churchie.

Fiona Hall, Force Field - Sydney

6 March - 1 June 2008

Force Field represents an in-depth survey of the work of prominent Australian artist Fiona Hall. Featuring photography, sculpture, installation and video works from the 1970s to the present day and includes new work made especially for this exhibition. Museum of Contemporary Art.

The William (Monty) Howard Gift - Brisbane

3 April - 1 June 2008

In 2007 Brisbane collector William (Monty) Howard generously gifted fifty works to the Museum. His gift was inspired by the Howard family's links to QUT and the donor's satisfaction in knowing that the works will be expertly cared for and enjoyed by future generations. The exhibition features selected works by artists such as Charles Blackman, John Coburn, Ray Crooke, Lawrence Daws, Donald Friend, Frank Hinder, Lionel Lindsay, Jon Molvig and Fred Williams. The gift also includes a group of outstanding Japanese ukiyo-e prints from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. QUT Art Museum.

Head On Foundation - Sydney

1 May - 7 June 2008
Head On is a national annual photographic portrait competition and exhibition representing a diverse cross section of new and traditional photographic practices. Head On finalists will be exhibited at the Australian Centre for Photography, as part of Vivid National Photography Festival.

Andrew Wood, Flow - Tanja, New South Wales

19 April - 9 June 2008

Flow is an exhibition of sculpture works by Andrew Wood. Wood's works relate to the environmental challenges facing Australia and are produced in stone, wood and metal. Narek Galleries.

Botanicals - Sydney

5 April - 15 June 2008

Australian contemporary artists inspired by the natural environment will be showcased in Botanicals, exhibiting some of the country's finest ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, and homewares. Object galleries.

John R. Walker: Journey Through Landscape - Sydney

9 May - 15 June 2008

This exhibition of paintings and works on paper will focus on Walker's contribution to the long-standing tradition of landscape painting in Australia. S.H. Ervin Gallery

TOGART Contemporary Art Award - Northern Territory

19 June 2008

The Togart Contemporary Art Award (NT) of $15,000 cash will be awarded to the work considered by judges to be the most outstanding work in the exhibition. A people’s choice prize of
$5,000 will also be awarded.

Ian Friend: Thirty Years of Works on Paper 1977-2007 - Brisbane

24 April - 29 June 2008

This is a timely survey exhibition showcasing Queensland artist Ian Friend's meditative, abstract work. Friend often draws inspiration from literature and poetry, as he muses over the essence of human existence and personal and universal histories. Coinciding with the exhibition is the official launch of the new monograph Ian Friend: On Paper, which is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

TOGART Contemporary Art Award and exhibition - Darwin, Alice Springs

18 June - 6 July 2008 (Darwin), 2-24 October 2008 (Alice Springs)

The Togart Contemporary Art Award of $15,000 will be awarded to the work considered by judges to be the most outstanding work in the exhibition. A people’s choice prize of $5,000 will also be awarded. Darwin Convention Centre and Araluen Arts Centre.

McClelland Sculpture Survey & Award - Melbourne

18 November 2007 - 6 July 2008

Rick Amor, a Melbourne painter and 'amateur sculptor', has won the $100,000 acquisitive McClelland Sculpture Survey & Award for his bronze and cor-ten steel figure, Relic 2006. The exhibition will present the work of 35 finalists. This is one of the richest sculpture awards in Australia, displaying a wide range of works in different media and styles by both established and emerging artists. Displayed throughout 16 hectares of bush and landscaped gardens, the exhibition gives sculptors the opportunity to present their works in an outdoor exhibition context. McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, Frankston.

Intensive Drawing Workshop - Cairns, Queensland

6-11 July 2008

Geoff Dupree will deliver a 6-day Intensive Drawing Workshop at James Cook University, Cairns Campus. A sequence of drawing problems will be presented; these will assist experienced and less experienced artists to reconnect with the fundamentals of drawing through direct observation. Life model provided throughout.

Craft Revolution - Queensland

5 June - 13 July 2008

Craft Revolution explores the idea that craft is radical and revolutionary. This exhibition is a celebration of craft in all its naïve and sophisticated forms. The exhibition intends to reclaim the word craft and reject the negative associations this term has acquired. Essentially, Craft Revolution recognises the importance of a practice that has been a part of all cultures for thousands of years and rejoices in the impact craft has had and continues to have on the world. QUT Art Museum.

ConVerge: Northern Rivers Touring Ceramics Exhibition - New South Wales and Queensland

25 October 2006 - 3 August 2008

ConVerge is a touring exhibition showcasing the work of the finest ceramic artists, both emerging and established, from the Northern Rivers Region of NSW. It was launched in Brisbane in conjunction with Verge, the 2006 National Ceramic Conference and is now touring to 12 regional galleries in QLD and NSW. This exhibition highlights the diverse cultural influences that are invigorating contemporary ceramic practice in Australia. Murwillumbah, Toowoomba, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Winton, Gladstone, Lismore, Caloundra, Cairns, Bundaberg.

Melbourne Art Fair 2008 - Melbourne

30 July - 3 August 2008

Melbourne Art Fair is an exhibition of contemporary visual art and presents programs which directly benefit the work of living artists. The Melbourne Art Fair program features national and international Collector Programs, Curator Programs, Public Lecture, Forums Program, Arts Publications, Private Lounge and Guided Tours. Royal Exhibition Building.

Abstract Earth: The Photography Of Richard Woldendorp - Sydney

20 June - 3 August 2008

This exhibition acknowledges Woldendorp's important contribution to Australian landscape photography over the past 50 years and has been selected by eminent art critic John McDonald and photographer R. Ian Lloyd. Woldendorp's photographs of the environment taken from the air have established a fresh visual vocabulary for the Australian landscape. S.H. Ervin Gallery.

Sidney Nolan: A Poetic Vision - Brisbane

5 June - 17 August 2008

Sidney Nolan is widely acknowledged as Australia's most inventive and influential artist of the twentieth century. A prolific painter, draughtsman and printmaker, Nolan produced some of the most iconic images in Australian art. His unique vision embraced Australian myths and legends as well as the landscape. Drawn chiefly from the collection of Melbourne scientist and art collector Dr Douglas Kagi and the QUT Art Collection, this exhibition highlights important works by the artist from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. The exhibition coincides with the Art Gallery of New South Wales' major Sidney Nolan Retrospective showing at the Queensland Art Gallery. QUT.

The major figures of 19th Century Australian painting, lecture series - Sydney

5 - 26 August 2008

A lecture series of the major figures of 19th century Australian painting include Augustus Earle, Joseph Lycett, John Glover, Benjamin Duterrau, Eugene von Guerard, Nicholas Chevalier, Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts. Throughout the history of Australian art there have been individual figures whose work stands out. These eight painters, four pairs from different periods of the 19th century, have been selected to complement and contrast with each other. Michael Reid at Elizabeth Bay.

Swell Sculpture Festival - Currumbin, Queensland

12-21 September 2008

The Swell Sculpture Festival creates visual splendor amongst a natural coastal setting as artists create large durable artworks specifically built for the outdoor environment. The sculptures are built for the outdoor environment and utilise materials such as steel, bronze, timber, stone, glass and copper. As a major cultural event, Swell Sculpture attracts 200,000 visitors each year providing weekend activities that include a live music stage, gourmet barbeques and children's workshops. Currumbin Beach.

Art Deco, 1910 -1939 - Melbourne

28 June - 5 October 2008

The exhibition captures the spirit of the Art Deco period with important masterworks from the Victoria & Albert Museum's acclaimed collection of Art Deco, along with public and private collections from around the world. National Gallery of Victoria.

Vivid, National Photography Festival - Canberra

11 July - 12 October 2008

Vivid will be held for the first time in Canberra and will celebrate the vital role of photography in Australian life and history. Over fifty national and ACT-based institutions are collaborating to present exhibitions, conferences and a range of events for photographers, photographic historians and everyone with an interest in photography. Over one hundred exhibitions will show at fifty venues. Various locations.

The art of making sense - Melbourne

1 May - 1 November 2008

The Art of Making Sense is an exhibition of artworks from the Cunningham Dax Collection created by individuals who have experienced mental illness and/or psychological trauma. The exhibition features creative works on paper, paintings, collages, textiles and sculptures. The Cunningham Dax Collection.

Memory of a Nation - Canberra

Permanent exhibition

Memory of a Nation is a must-see for all Australians. Highlights include Edmund Barton's draft of the Constitution- complete with corrections in red pen, a letter from Don Bradman to Robert Menzies in 1963 -  agreeing to play in the PM's XI cricket match, but not without qualms, Douglas Mawson's proclamation -  which led to the Antarctic Treaty, Charles Kingsford Smith's application for a pilot's licence and Harold Holt's briefcase This exhibition showcases stories of ordinary and extraordinary Australians like Freda Beryl Wilson, Australia's first female trade commissioner, and the inspiring feats of 80-year-old Ernie Old who cycled around Australia on his trusty Malvern Star. National Archives of Australia.

 

Featured projects

The Anne and Gordon Samstag Museum of Art - A major exhibition space opens in Adelaide

In October 2007 the University of South Australia inaugurated its Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art. The building houses the Bob Hawke Prime Minister Centre, Allan Scott auditorium, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery and the University Chancellery. The multi-purpose building designed by John Wardle has given Adelaide a second venue for important exhibitions.

Announcements

Heath Ledger portrait wins People's Choice

May 2008

This year more than 32,000 people voted in the People's Choice for the Archibald Prize and their favourite portrait by far was Vincent Fantauzzo for his portrait of Heath Ledger called Heath. To date 130,000 people have visited the 2008 Archibald Prize, which is a record attendance for the gallery since Archibald began in 1921. The Ledger family, in particular Sally, Heath Ledger's mother and Vincent Fantauzzo have jointly decided to donate this painting to the Art Gallery of New South Wales. On view at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Special funding recognises the value of Indigenous arts organisations

8 March 2008
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett today announced funding of $1.3 million from the Indigenous Visual Arts Special Initiative to provide 24 Indigenous art centres with infrastructure, training and marketing support.

The Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarships

March 2008

The scholarships were established in 1992 through Gordon Samstag, an American artist who taught from 1961 to 1970 at the South Australian School of Art. Mr Samstag's gift to Australian visual artists ranks as one of the very great bequests to visual arts education in Australia. The most recent Samstag Scholarships, for twelve months overseas study commencing in 2008, were awarded to Tracy Cornish, Hayden Fowler, Giles Ryder, Simon Terrill and Joshua Webb.

Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize winners announced

12 March 2008

The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2008 is a national photographic competition created to promote contemporary photography and excellence in all forms of still photo-based artwork, including all types of analogue and digital photography. The winner of the Open Section for the 2008 competition, awarded $80,000, is Fiona Lowry. The finalists in the Primary Schools Section received a digital camera as a prize, plus a certificate of merit.

Del Kathryn Barton wins the 2008 Archibald Prize

7 March 2008

The 2008 Archibald Prize was won by Sydney artist Del Kathryn Barton for her painting You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella. The winner of the 2008 Wynne Prize was Joanne Currie Nalingu for The River is calm; the 2008 Trustees' Watercolour Prize was won by John Wolseley for Camel Gate, Border Track SA/VIC; the winner of the 2008 Sulman Prize was Rodney Pople for Stage Fright and the 2008 Packing Room Prize was won by Martin Ball for Neil Finn.

Finalists announced for The Wilderness Gallery 2008 International Mural Fest - Tasmania

January, event 23-29 March

The finalists in The Wilderness Gallery International Mural Fest have been announced. The Wilderness Gallery International Mural Fest sees nine artists engaged in a public paint-off over 6.5 days. Each artist must complete a 2100mm-high x 4800mm-wide mural, using the same poem as their mural's central theme and inspiration. Each year a new poem is selected, this year's poem is 'The Gathering' by Kentish poet Marc Wasley. The competition is conducted in Mural Park - Sheffield's very own outdoor art gallery. Mural Park, Sheffield.

 

Resources

• Collections Australia Network
• National Exhibition Touring Support Australia
• Viscopy
• Contemporary Arts Organisations of Australia (CAOS)
• RedBubble
• Artists of Australia
• Arts OutWest
• artsource - The Artists Foundation of WA
• Arts Northern Rivers - Visual Arts Network
• Photography Australia Group
• Dictionary of Australian Artists Online
• Living Treasures Online Resource