News + Media Releases

Cowra Regional Art Gallery Hosts Archibald Finalist Drawing & Painting Workshop – 29 & 30 September 2018

Friday, September 14, 2018

From 29 to 30 September 2018, Cowra Regional Art Gallery is hosting a special two-day outdoor “Landscape Drawing and Painting Workshop” by renowned landscape and portrait painter Sinead Davies.

Sinead Davies was born in Ireland and studied at the Byam Shaw School in London, winning the British Foundation Institute Award of the Royal Academy of Art in 1980.  She recently received a Master of Fine Art from the University of NSW, represented Ireland at the Cleveland International Drawing Biennale in 1981 and was selected for exhibition in the Camden Arts show and the British Drawing show in 1982.  The following year, she moved to Australia.  During the last ten years Sinead has been a finalist in the ANL Marine Art Prize, the Blake Prize, the Doug Moran Prize, the Archibald Prize and a Portia Geach finalist four times.

This two-day workshop is suitable for those who love to try new things with the workshop open to beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. Called ‘plein air’ or ‘open air’ painting, participants will be working in an outdoor environment on a local property not far from Cowra’s town centre during the two days of the workshop.

“Working outside is an enjoyable way to learn, develop and hone your art-making skills.  It provides a direct connection with the landscape as the main point of focus.  It provides a platform in which you can work in the traditional figurative landscape manner”, said Sinead Davies.

Remember Me: the lost diggers of Vignacourt

Friday, July 20, 2018

The small French village of Vignacourt was always behind the front lines. For much of the First World War it was a staging point, casualty clearing station and recreation area for troops of all nationalities moving up to and then back from the battlefields on the Somme. Remember me: the lost diggers of Vignacourt tells the story of how one enterprising photographer took the opportunity of this passing traffic to establish a business taking portrait photographs.

Captured on glass, printed into postcards and posted home, the photographs made by the Thuillier family enabled Australian soldiers to maintain a fragile link with loved ones in Australia. The Thuillier collection covers many of the significant aspects of Australian involvement on the Western Front, from military life to the friendships and bonds formed between the soldiers and civilians.

The exhibition showcases a selection of the photographs as handmade traditional darkroom prints and draws on the Australian War Memorial’s own collections to tell the story of these men in their own voices. An Australian War Memorial Touring Exhibition.

A special exhibition opening at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery is on Friday 20 July 2018 at 6pm for 6.30pm including an official welcome by Cr Bill West, Mayor Cowra Shire Council and the opening address by Guest Speaker Major General (Retired) Brian Dawson AM, CSC, representing the Australian War Memorial. Admission is free.

On Saturday 21 July from 1.30pm the Gallery is presenting a special Floor Talk by Joanne Smedley, Curator of Photographs in the Photographs, Film and Sound Section at the Australian War Memorial. This will include some of the key stories in the Vignacourt collection, how it was uncovered, its journey to Australia and the extensive research work that has been undertaken by both Memorial staff and members of the public. Joanne will discuss some of the personalities who have been identified and how this has occurred when no identification information was received with the collection.

Following the exhibition floor talk visitors who have a photographic collection are invited to bring along a few key photographs from their collection to discuss with Joanne Smedley (who is a First World War specialist) for comment. One thing though as a public servant she does not give valuations.

The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is located at 77 Darling Street and open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 2pm – 4pm. General admission is free. For Gallery enquires telephone 63402190. The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is a Cultural Facility of the Cowra Shire Council.

Image: Two soldiers of the 5th Australian Division, November 2016. Courtesy the Kerry Stokes Collection, The Louis and Antoinette Thuillier Collection.

For media enquires contact the Gallery Director Brian Langer on 0429072282

2018 Calleen Art Award People’s Choice Announced

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Bridget Dolan ‘The Unseen’

The votes are in and the winner of the People’s Choice for the 2018 Calleen Art Award is Sydney based artist Bridget Dolan for her dramatic painting The Unseen 2018 oil on polyester 120cm x 120cm.

“My work investigates the complicated nature of human relationships – what civility means in contemporary life and how we reach each other across cultural and ideological divides. I draw on my experience in the performing arts as a dancer and theatre maker to paint work that holds tension between brave vulnerability, tenderness and fear,” said Bridget.

This year the Calleen Art Award exhibition consisted of an amazing range of 46 outstanding paintings selected from over 200 entries received from around Australia.

Congratulations to Bridget Dolan who receives $500 courtesy of the Friends of the Gallery.

The 2018 Calleen Art Award Exhibition Closing Date Extended!

Friday, May 25, 2018

Due to a change in the Cowra Regional Art Gallery exhibition schedule, the closing date of the 2018 Calleen Art Award has been extended to Sunday 17 June 2018.  This acclaimed exhibition features a diverse range of artworks by 46 finalists, including mid-career artists and exciting new artistic talent selected by a panel of art professionals from over 200 entries received from around Australia.

The Calleen Art Award is an acquisitive national painting prize (in any subject or style) established in 1977 by Cowra arts patron, Mrs. Patricia Fagan OAM.  During the past 41 years the award has developed as a significant art prize through the support of the Calleen Trust.

Cairns-based Brian Robinson, Torres Strait Islander artist, has taken out this year’s $20,000 Calleen Art Award for his work Sowing the Crops and Reading the Stars.  The work is characteristic of Robinson’s graphic style and strongly informed by his background growing up on the Torres Strait Islands located between Papua New Guinea and the tip of Cape York Peninsula.  The painting references traditional gardening practices and a dependence on understanding the four seasons, including knowledge of the movement of stars and constellations, tidal patterns and the migration of birds and certain sea creatures.

Visitors to the exhibition can vote in the People’s Choice Award (non-acquisitive) with the winning artist receiving $500 in prize money courtesy of the Friends of the Gallery.

Gallery is located at 77 Darling Street (opposite the World Peace Bell).  Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 2pm to 4pm.  Admission is free.

Note: Cowra Regional Art Gallery is closed for maintenance and changeovers from 18 June 2018. A new exhibition Remember Me from the Australian War Memorial opens Friday 20 July 2018.