Three Good Reasons

Three Good Reasons

The Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum has a number of exhibitions opening at the end of the week.  Annual display Intercity Images: Gladstone Saiki Photographic Exchange will be officially opened this Friday night, 5.30pm 11 April 2014 along with moving image exhibition Past Present Future #21stcenturyart-making and local artist display, The Ruby Campbell Collection Exhibition. The three new shows will all be officially opened by Cr Gail Sellers, Mayor of Gladstone Region.
Now in its 12th year, Intercity Images invites photographers of the Gladstone Region to capture the spirit of Central Queensland’s lifestyle, people and environment.  Thanks to the initiatives of the Gladstone Saiki Sister City Advisory Committee and the support of Gladstone Regional Council, the exchange enticed 95 photographers to enter almost 150 photographs.  All entries are currently up on display until 26 April. At Friday's launch, it will be announced which entries have been selected to be enlarged and posted to Sister City, Saiki City in Japan for display there in June.  The thirty photographers whose work has been selected will each receive a certificate at the exhibition's opening to commemorate their achievement.   

Contemporary exhibition Past Present Future #21stcenturyart-making presents a short history of moving images, including early experimental works as well as the art-Rage tapes of the 1990's.  The exhibition also features works by nationally recognised new media artist, David M. Thomas.  Working across a diverse range of tactile and electronic media, David addresses the idea of 'self' through the use of language, jokes and the manipulation of his and other people’s appearances.  These physical and digital interventions result in works that both defend and question the nature of the modern individual. 

As part of the lead up to the exhibition, nine artists took part in a three day workshop lead by David M. Thomas and learned from him and fellow artist Susanne Howard, methods to creating their own moving image works.  Some of the results from this master class will be shown in the exhibition space after Easter.  The master class and display is supported by the Lake Awoonga Dam Alliance's Lake Awoonga Immersion Fund and Stage & Audio, Event Solutions and will be available to see until 24 May.

The Ruby Campbell Collection Exhibition returns to the Gallery & Museum to once again impress the crowds.  Campbell (1888 - 1977) was a self-taught artist and a modest country woman. Inspired by the great Australian artists of her time, she too had an expert eye for detail and confidence in a diversity of mediums.  Although she lived on a remote homestead near Biloela, her extraordinary ability as an artist is undeniable.  The exhibition displays a small sample of works from her extensive collection of watercolours, drawings, etchings and wood carvings.  It is presented in conjunction with the artist's family and is on display until 10 May.  At the official launch, Bettina MacAulay art consultant and former Curator of Queensland Art Gallery, will give a brief talk discussing Ruby and her art making. 

The Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum is located on the corner of Goondoon & Bramston Streets, Gladstone.  It is open 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday with FREE admission.  The Gallery & Museum will be closed Good Friday, but open Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday as well as ANZAC Day.