General News
18 July, 2024
New exhibition launches
Art lovers will be unable to take the wool from their eyes at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery’s newest showcase launching this weekend. The exhibition, titled Expressions, has been made possible through a loan agreement between the gallery and...
Art lovers will be unable to take the wool from their eyes at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery’s newest showcase launching this weekend.
The exhibition, titled Expressions, has been made possible through a loan agreement between the gallery and the National Wool Museum, with the displayed quilts former winners of the museum’s biannual Expressions national prize and now in their collection.
Central Goldfields Art Gallery coordinator Helen Kaptein said the partnership helps showcase the skills of leading artists across Australia.
“This is really the best of the best when it comes to art quilters, this exhibition brings together all of the past 12 winners of this award into one exhibition,” she said.
“This is only coming to the Central Goldfields Art Gallery as the result of our partnership, so it really provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see these outstanding artworks all in the one room.
“People really connect with textiles and hand made art, so I’m looking forward to the discussions and enjoyment our visitors will have when they come to see this exhibition.”
The local gallery has earned a reputation for showcasing quality art quilts after starting a personal collection and hosting the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award since 2011.
Ms Kaptein said the art form has a deep connection with the local community.
“We have such a strong textile tradition here with the Maryborough Knitting Mill and even more broadly the farming and agriculture part of our community,” she said.
“As an art gallery, to be able to display the possibilities of textiles and fibre in this wonderful art form is a really good fit.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Liesbeth Long said she continues to be fascinated by how these natural materials are turned into beautiful artworks.
“Naturally I have an affinity to these wonderful works of wool, being a sheep farmer myself. It’s amazing what these artists have achieved with simple, raw material literally off the sheep’s back,” she said.
“The collection reflects our national interest in the natural environment, and the colours are stunning thanks to the use of hand-dyed and recycled textiles and threads.
“It’s a huge achievement to bring this truly unique exhibition together, combining our gallery’s collection with Australia’s most acclaimed quilts.”
The showcase will run alongside The Art of Gold exhibition at the gallery, showcasing beautiful colonial and contemporary gold jewellery courtesy of the National Gallery of Australia.
The Expressions exhibition will officially open this Saturday, July 20 at 2 pm with director of the National Wool Museum, Padraic Fisher, guest speaking.