Regional printmakers celebrated in Local Provenance

12 July 2016

The seeds of the nation’s best printmakers sown in the Northern Rivers

A new exhibition title Local Provenance, curated by Susi Muddiman OAM and Jan Davis will open at the Tweed Regional Gallery on 15 July 2016. Local Provenance includes the original artist prints produced by 12 printmakers from this region. The exhibition also forms part of the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Print Council of Australia (PCA).

The title Local Provenance is a botanical term which describes plants grown from locally collected seed. The exhibition presents the work of talented printmakers who reside and continue their arts practice in the Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Kyogle and Grafton regions. The development of these artist’s careers from their local seeding to their current status as artists of national significance is aptly described in these terms.

The curators thought of the printmaking studios of Southern Cross University in Lismore as a kind of ‘hothouse’ for growing printmakers, and the local institutions such as the Lismore, Grafton and Tweed regional galleries as elaborate trellises that have supported these artists as their careers grew. The prints in the exhibition include those purchased from the artists early in their careers and now loaned by the local regional galleries and the University, alongside more recent works by each artist.

In selecting this group of artists, the curators considered those who have also benefited from the support provided by the PCA through their annual print commission.

“Jan Davis and I have both enjoyed our association over the years in contributing to the national management committee of the PCA, and it seemed apt to celebrate the PCA’s significant birthday locally with an exhibition of printmakers of our region,” Gallery Director Susi Muddiman said.

The artists included in Local Provenance are Darren Bryant, Jan Davis, Sarah Harvey, Gary Jolley, Jenny Kitchener, Leonie Lane, Shelagh Morgan, Travis Paterson, Rochelle Summerfield, Scott Trevelyan, Samuel Tupou and Christine Willcocks.

“These artists have been selected for the quality of their prints and the way they have built their professional careers through continued exhibition and publication of their practice, critical review and further study,” Jan Davis said.

“Their works have been shown throughout Australia, some have exhibited internationally, many have been commissioned artists of the PCA and all of them are in some way continuing to contribute to the local arts community.”

All are welcome to attend the official opening of Local Provenance by Dr. Stephen Garrett, Coordinator Visual Arts, Southern Cross University on Friday 15 July at 6pm.

A range of public programs have been developed to complement Local Provenance. See the artists demonstrating their work in the Gallery on Sunday 14 and 28 August, and Sunday 11 September from 11am – 2pm.

Continuing the Gallery’s collaboration with the Byron School of Art and c.a.s.e., join us for Art in the Pub: The Printmakers on Monday 17 October at 6pm (for 6.30pm) at the Courthouse Hotel, Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby.

The exhibition continues at the Tweed Regional Gallery until Sunday 4 December 2016.

Downloads

Photo 1(JPG, 52KB)

Caption: Scott Trevelyan Bees Stare at Him 2014 photopolymer etching on Hahnemuhle paper, beeswax and timber frame 40 x 30cm

Photo 2(JPG, 236KB)

Caption: Jenny Kitchener Polinate or perish 1 2013 linocut and watercolour on Arches paper 111 x 74cm