Celebrating women artists at Manning Regional Art Gallery
Published on 23 September 2024
Manning Regional Art Gallery is presenting three new exhibitions, featuring the work of women artists over the last 50 years.
The exhibitions, Femme-Maison: Imagined Boundaries, Women Artists from the Collection and Beyond; Obsession; and Aligned, will all be on exhibition from 24 September until 16 November, with the official opening event to be held on Friday, 27 September at 6pm.
In recognition of two important anniversaries – the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Art Movement in Australia and the 60th anniversary of Macquarie University, Sydney – curators of Femme-Maison: Imagined Boundaries, Women Artists from the Collection and Beyond have delved into the University’s collection to unearth a rich visual narrative of women's creative spaces, including works by Tracey Moffatt, Wendy Sharpe, Janet Laurence, and Kerry Lester.
“Macquarie University’s collection crosses a range of mediums from painting, photography, prints and drawings to glassware, ceramics, textiles, and video works,” explained Gallery Director, Rachel Piercy.
“A collection can reveal multiple viewpoints and conceptions, being nuanced by its history of continuity and gaps. So, this exhibition will be very rich in variety and meaning.”
Obsession is a beautiful exhibition of new work by The Print Circle, Sydney. It explores the intriguing practice of printmaking in all its forms. A degree of obsession is required to indulge in such a process driven medium. Each artist individually explores and interprets the theme of obsession, drawing from their own lives and experiences. The Print Circle was formed at the Workshop Arts Centre, Willoughby in 1970. The purpose was to encourage experimental and innovative printmaking techniques, and to support and exhibit the work of women printmakers. For over 50 years, the group has exhibited regularly in Sydney and regional NSW. The artists produce limited edition prints using both traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques, including etching, lithography, silkscreen, collagraphs, wood, and linocuts as well as photopolymer etching, and artist books.
In Aligned, local artists Corinne Miller and Clare Wallace explore the juxtaposition of beauty and fragility which characterises our planet. The extreme events of recent years, including fires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have influenced the artists’ choice of materials and processes. From teabags to op shop finds, the artists are ever mindful of working sustainably, using recycled materials, and conserving precious resources in a wasteful world.
Tickets for the official opening night are $15 for adults and are available at https://events.humanitix.com/exhibition-openings-or-femme-maison-obsession-aligned. Find out more by visiting https://mrag.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Home or phone (02) 6592 5455.