Tuesday, November 2, 2010

2010 JADA Acquisitions


The announcement of the $15,000 prize and $15,000 of acquisitions was made at the gala opening by the judge of the 2010 JADA Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager, Australian Art at Queensland Art Gallery. General approval was given by the 130 guests who had gathered in the gallery for the event.

The acquisitions worth at least $15,000 in total were Anna Hoyle’s Lucky Prince and Pretty Princess, Lisa Jones’ Replicator and Miles Hall’s Baignade Rose (out of the dead land).


Anna Hoyle Lucky Prince and Pretty Princess
Lucky Prince and Pretty Princess by Anna Hoyle was the first of three drawings acquired from the JADA. This brassy, playful work aggregates images and media in a busy all over pattern found in wrapping paper or textiles to explore the flashy media driven world of consumer culture. Anna Hoyle, who lives and works in Brunswick in Melbourne, has been a finalist in the JADA since 2004.


Lisa Jones Replicator



The second acquisition, Replicator by Lisa Jones, is a carefully crafted drawing about networks, from internal structures of the human body to the social networks of cyberspace. Lisa, who has lived in Sydney since moving in 2002 from England, sees networks of all types as part of our evolving population.


Miles Hall Baignade Rose (out of the dead land)



Brisbane based artist, Miles Hall, took out the final acquisition with Baignade Rose (out of the dead land), a sensitive and evocative work. Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s poem Burnt Norton (Four Quartets), Baignade Rose or red bath or dip was first drawn in charcoal then dipped in pink acrylic to envelope the lower half of the image.










PETER ALWAST WINS 2010 JACARANDA ACQUISITIVE DRAWING AWARD and $15,000.

Peter Alwast has taken out the major prize of the $30,000 2010 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award as a first time finalist with his drawing entitled Trees, Waterfall, Back.

The artist is honoured and delighted to win this major drawing award. Peter indicated that the $15,000 winning prize which is sponsored by the Friends of the Gallery has come at a great time as he is about to commence a residency at Artspace in Sydney for six months.

The announcement of the $15,000 prize and $15,000 of acquisitions was made at the gala opening by the judge of the 2010 JADA Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager, Australian Art at Queensland Art Gallery. General approval was given by the 130 guests who had gathered in the gallery for the event.

The acquisitions worth at least $15,000 in total were Anna Hoyle’s Lucky Prince and Pretty Princess, Lisa Jones’ Replicator and Miles Hall’s Baignade Rose (out of the dead land).

The winning work and three acquisitions will join the Grafton Regional Gallery JADA Collection which contains an impressive selection of contemporary Australian drawing.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

2010 JADA Gala Opening 6pm Fri 29 Oct




Wear your sparkles and favourite kit to the gala opening of the 2010 JADA at 6pm Friday 29 October at the Grafton Regional Gallery.



Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager of Australian Art at the Queensland Art Gallery, is the 2010 JADA judge. She will be announcing the $15,000 winnner of the JADA and the artists whose work has been acquired (Julie had $15,000 to spend on the acquisitions!).

John Macdonald, art writer and art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, is our special guest speaker.

Fine wines, nibbles (includes cheese) and music round out this very traditional gallery opening.

$20 or $15 if you are a Friend of the Gallery (you can join then pay for the JADA) or if you take a punt that there is still space (unlikely) you pay $25 on the night. Limit of 150 people. Phone 02 6642 3177 to book in.

Monday, April 19, 2010


Today artist Frances Bell Parker brought some work in to the gallery to show to a few collectors. The sale of artwork is to celebrate her newfound freedom as an artist after leaving her role as the Indigenous Arts Officer at Arts Northern Rivers. It was a chance to grab a bargain as work went for well below recommended retail price.
Jude picked up a set of lino prints from a limited edition, which also feature in the print collection of the National Gallery of Australia.
There are still beautiful works on offer by contacting Frances at franclub@gmail.com .

Sunday, March 7, 2010


OK if you are after the dates for the JADA 2010 here they are.

2010 $30,000 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award

Launch and entries open Friday 30 April
Entries will be posted out to artists registered on our database.
Entries are available as an insert in Art in Australia May edition.
Entries can be downloaded from this web site from Friday 30th April
Entries will be available from the gallery.

Entries close Friday 6 August 2010

Selection and notification to artists mid August

Exhibition Dates at Grafton Regional Gallery
29 October – 11 December 2010
Official Opening: 6.00pm Friday 29 October 2010

Touring Dates
December 2010 – January 2012 (subject to change)

Proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Gallery
Image: John Philippides Portrait 2 winner JADA 2008

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Volunteers
Last Night Grafton Regional Gallery hosted our first ever volunteers info evening. The night was a great success with plenty of interested people hearing about all the different volunteer roles on offer at the gallery. Avron our volunteer coordinator was particularly thrilled.

Volunteers man the front desk and gallery shop, tend the gallery, help hang exhibitions and conduct guided tours, as well as perform a myriad of activities that we just couldn’t functions without. Our volunteers are valued members of the gallery family

If you have ever thought volunteering at the gallery might be for you, now’s the time- we are on a role.

Allan and Henk help hang a show

Sparkles Everywhere

On Wednesday 17 we unveiled the new sculpture Spare parts in the Sphere by Cass Samms at a sparkling event at sunset.. The magnificent aluminium sphere, which floats over the garden under our much love Golden Rain tree was commissioned by the Gallery Foundation to celebrate their first five years of operation.
The company was glittering and the conversation flowed as people enjoyed the beauty of the new sculpture.
Inspiration for Spare Parts in a Sphere comes from shapes found in nature, especially insects. The lacework like construction of the piece hi-lights the negative spaces and enhances the dappled light falling on the sculpture through the trees. The sculpture is supported by three legs that allow it to float over the surface of the garden like a dream or fantastic apparition.

We are thrilled with our new sculpture by this talented young artist. Cass Samms is one to watch!!!!
Kay Alden George Burkitt Jude McBean & Cass Samms at the Sculpture Launch 17 Feb 10

Monday, February 15, 2010




What a Night

On Friday 5th February over 100 people gathered for the openings of five new exhibitions
My Favourite Australian
The Ken Done Print Collection
Phil Greed & Ray Rixon: Pandanus Tectorius
Katka Adams: It is not common for hens to have pillows
Ulmarra Public School: A Bend in the River

All the shows remain on display until 14 March 2010
We had great artist talks from Ken, Phil & Ray and Katka as well as toasting the whole affair with a glass of bubbles.
With the new licenses all organised the gallery are thrilled to once again be able to have a bar.
A great night was had by all- we hope to see you at one soon.