artspoken
March 2015
ch
rg
c o f f s h a r b o u r
regional gallery
Gentle reader,
Welcome to the March 2015 edition of Artspoken.
This month the Gallery is thrilled to present Moving House, a collaborative exhibition by Peter
and Susan O’Doherty. After more than 20 years of touring with Mental as Anything, Peter
O’Doherty is now focused on his visual arts career. He has already won the Paddington
Art Prize, the Mosman Art Prize and been a finalist in the Sulman Prize. Susan O’Doherty is
an abstract painter and is also considered one of Australia’s finest assemblage artists, a
reputation built on her conceptual as well as construction skills. Susan has also been a finalist
of several prizes and has exhibited paintings and assemblages in Australia and abroad.
Moving House explores the process of moving, the passing of time and the uprooting and rebuilding
of identity. Paintings in this show reference suburbia in the 1950s, 60s and 70s while the assemblages
wittily reference everyday household objects of those decades. Moving House is wry and gently
nostalgic and will inevitably trigger fond memories in most viewers. Both artists will be present on
opening night and will discuss their work at 10.30 am at a free morning tea at the Gallery on Saturday
the 7th of March. nb. See Friends column for details of a dinner invitation with Peter and Susan!
Work by Val Allen will also be installed in this exhibition cycle. Val is a Nambucca based artist with a keen
eye for colour and abstraction. Her paintings are confident, lyrical and well-conceived. They are also
very reasonably priced so should you be interested in a purchase do speak to reception volunteers.
Please also note that Raymond Mather’s Dance classes begin at the Gallery
at 4pm on Saturday 14th of March. Many readers will have met Raymond’s
flamboyant alter ego, trivialis maximus mirroballis, at the Gallery’s hugely
successful trivia night. Raymond has an impressive international cv which
includes choreography for the movie Strictly Ballroom. The emphasis is on social
dancing and having fun. You do not need a partner to attend and everyone
over 16 is welcome. This gallery fundraiser involves dances of every style from
cha cha to jive to Viennese waltz. Cost is $15 per 2 hour lesson. Raymond’s
classes will be held fortnightly from 4-6pm and culminate in a fabulous,
over the top tea dance event. Please call Gallery reception on 6648 4863
for details. Hope to see you in the gallery and ‘on the floor’ very soon.
Leigh
CHRG-Home of EMSLA-the Eutick Memorial Still Life Award
FORTHCOMING
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS
floor talk: Susan and Peter O’Doherty
Saturday 7 March 10am –11am
Join artists Susan and Peter O’Doherty for an informal floor talk about
Moving House. We will also take a closer look at Val Allen’s
A Celebration of Life
Morning tea provided
Coffs Coast Printmakers at the Gallery
Wednesday 18 March 10am –11.30am
This group is for anyone
interested in printmaking,
whether they are beginners
or experienced printmakers,
all are welcome. An
overview of printmaking
will be covered along with
a demonstration of the
Gallery’s Adana printing
machine. There are a
variety of beautiful blocks
for participants to print from
following the demonstration.
Further meetings for the
group will be discussed.
$5 covers all materials used.
Bring any special papers you might like to print on.
Bookings essential to the Gallery reception 6648 4861
Enquiries to Sue McEntyre 6648 4861
Seniors Week Life Drawing
Thursday 19 March 4pm –6pm
Come along to this evening of life drawing for
seniors at the gallery. Enjoy a wine while you
draw the figure and learn a few life-drawing
tips. Materials are supplied but if you have a
drawing board and drawing materials please
bring these along as we have limited easels
and boards.
$5 includes materials, models and refreshments.
Places are limited. Bookings to gallery reception are
essential and close on Friday 13 March
School Programs
ARCHIBALD 2014 IS COMING
to Coffs Harbour Regional
Gallery April 18- May 30.
For the exciting array of
programs around this
exhibition please contact
Sue McEntyre on 6648 4861.
From the friends
of the gallery
Dear Friends,
A very active (as usual) couple of
months for the Gallery as you can see
from Leigh’s items in the newsletter.
We have a special treat for our
Friends on Thursday 5 March – an
exclusive dinner with Peter and Susan
O’Doherty whose exhibition Moving
House opens on Friday 6 March. The
dinner is 6 pm at the Gallery with
tickets $30 each for Friends and
$40 for non-members. Numbers are
limited so priority will be given to
Friends as a reward for your support.
Seats can be booked by registering
at EVENTBRITE - CLICK HERE or ringing
0412 668 315. Eventbrite will list the
registration as FREE but tickets are
PAYABLE at the door for those who
have booked. These are two very
interesting artists to meet. Peter is a
recognised fine artist specialising
in still life and everyday suburban
scenes. He is also a musician with
Australian band Dog Trumpet
(alongside his brother Chris, aka
Reg Mombassa) and formerly with
Australian band Mental As Anything.
Although he never attended art
school, unlike the other members of
the Mentals, he eventually became
the most prolific artist of the five, and
second most acclaimed after his
brother Chris. He left the Mentals in
2000 to concentrate full-time on his
art. He now specialises in still life and
built landscapes. He has entered the
Archibald Prize numerous times with
many of his works making the Salon
des Refusés.
Susan is one of Australia’s leading
assemblage artists. Susan said, “It
might take me six weeks to make one;
to collect all the pieces and put them
together.”
While these paintings and
assemblages are about very personal
memories they present a shared
image of growing up with common
pop influences and families constantly
on the move. The pair has worked
side-by-side in the same studio for
more than twenty years but this is their
first show together, both challenging
and unifying how they work. Come
and meet them!
See you at the Gallery,
Leonie Henschke
President,
Friends of the
Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery
Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Rigby House, cnr Coff & Duke St, Coffs Harbour
Bookings, enquiries & payment to Gallery Reception 02 6648 4863 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday
Locked Bag 155 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 [email protected] www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au