A restaurant proper at Wyndham…

…who’d of thunk?

 

Just when we were despairing of there ever being anywhere to eat (except Uma’s at Pambula) Pete and Ainslie at the Wyndham General Store have opened a restaurant – complete with bone fide chef!!  Saturday was our first opportunity to give it a run and we were exclaiming so much over everything that we didn’t remember to take a snap until the pudd came…

All rather sweet, not over fancy (as in pretentious) and you can’t go wrong (from Megsie’s point of view) when you’re talking local oysters and duck. Yummy.

Looks like a return visit, toot sweet, to try those sticky lamb shanks…

Two birds in the hand…

 

The Gang dropped by Peter Dunne’s studio on Saturday to check out Megsie’s portrait – all done bar the tweaking. Kinda cute…especially the parrot!

Wedding of the Year…

Well there was nothing more momentous than this happening in 2012, that’s for sure – Shay and Les tied the proverbial knot.

 

 

How adorable it was, and how priviledged we were to be included.

We love youse guys.

Snaps of the ceremonials, the gorgeous reception on the terrace of the National Library and the ultimate recovery/Dicko Pool partay here. Too damned good.

The National Student Art Glass Prize…

 

Don’t fret if you missed the opening (the Gang did too – it clashed with the Tweed River opening of TdF), this show runs until 16th June so there’s plenty of time to mosey across.

Meanwhile Michael’s been kind enough to send all the g(l)oss, from the announcement of the winner…

 

 

…to lots of lovely snaps…

 

 

…and the catalogue essay…

 

Encouraging the next generation 

The National Student Art Glass Prize 2012 (NSAGP) rewards creativity, innovation and quality. It’s not the artist’s reputation or name being judged but the artistic merit technique and innovation behind their art practice. The NSAGP is an acquisitive prize and is open to all artists studying art glass at an Australian University. The quality of work coming out of these institutions meant the inaugural biennial NSAGP (2010) had 40 artists from around Australia short-listed and was then reduced to 24 finalists with Belinda Toll from Australian National University in Canberra, taking out the top award. This year 45 artists have been short-listed and from this 30 finalists have been chosen.

The NSAGP exhibition is an eagerly anticipated opportunity to view a cross section of art glass being produced in this country and is a major highlight on the Australian art glass calendar. The passion and commitment shown by the lecturers, tutors and academics from Sydney College of the Arts at University of Sydney, Monash University in Victoria, South Australian School of Art at University of South Australia, The School of Art at the Australian National University in Canberra, Edith Cowan University in  Western Australian is overwhelming and inspiring.

As with the inaugural 2010 NSAGP,  the winner of the 2012 prize will not only have their work acquired into the National Art Glass Collection but will receive two Masterclasses at the renowned North Lands Creative Glass Centre on the north east coast of Scotland as part of North Lands International Masterclasses and Conference Program.

The Australian studio glass community is highly professional; this is due in large part to the institutions and the training artists receive. It is because of this professional attitude and the vast variety of techniques that national and international collectors have a passion for Australian contemporary art glass.

Australian institutions are having on the next generation of art glass practitioners and offers a glimpse into the future of this magnificent art form.

The national and international recognition of the NSAGP continues to expand and to fulfil one of its core task’s; to help develop and promote the profile of new artists. Once again the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery is delighted by the quality of work on display and is proud to be fostering the next generation of Australian contemporary art glass makers. 

 

Our own faves were Emma Borland…

 

 

Spike Deane (which we’ve shown before)…

 

 

and Marcaela Faithfull…

 

 

Especially the last; so sweet we could eat it.

All refreshingly fun (ie not taking themselves so bloody seriously – which is an artform in itself, we reckon.)

Flick through the snaps here.

Tour de Tweed…

Last Friday the Gang did the airport foxtrot to the Tweed River Regional Gallery for the latest episode of Tour de Force: in case of emergency break glass; Megsie being guest speaker at the opening (and giving a floortalk as well.)

What a fabulous facility – though we’d be more than content with something a touch under half the size. And the outlook! Sooo Bega Valley…

 

 

…we can just picture it up at the Lookout.

Anyhoo, it was a big turnout for both the talk and the opening – which also featured the ‘unveiling’ of Margot Anthony’s portrait by Rob Hannaford. All very spooky given that we’re moving into peak portrait season in a big way back at home (the Shirley Hannan’s getting very close.) It was certainly a real priviledge to meet Margot and Doug…

 

 

…what lovely folks they are up there. And what a great job they did with Tour. Brilliant.

 

 

Plenty of serious room. Totally cool. More snaps here.

And yet another surprise on the night…

 

 

…Deb Cox en famille at dinner.

The only disappointment was Suzi’s absence; she was away on her global inspection of museum-held-artist-studios, in preparation for the Tweed’s accessioning of the delectable Margaret Olley pile.

[The ultimate mission we reckon. How splendid. n(Ed).]

And then it was back on the plane the next morning for Melbourne…

 

 

…for a serious fall-about with the l’il bro (no snaps, too busy partying.)  But we can report that we certainly made up for the years of absence (we only see him when he’s over filming something.)

 

 

We had a very laid back Sunday, as you do, before Phil took off up-country again and Granny and Megsie slipped into one last drinkie before the old chook’s hip-op the next morning…

 

 

At 6am Monday morning we headed off – the Gang to Tulla/Merimbula and Granny to her date with her orthopedic surgeon at the Mercy.

(She’s fine, btw.)

Afternoon sitting…

Megsie spent the better part of the arvo sitting for Peter Dunne…

 

 

He’s thinking of entering it for this year’s Shirley Hannan. Brave man, we reckon.

 

A lofty view…

Couldn’t resist this little photo opp – last week the Community Services mob held an event in the Regional Library (which shares a foyer entrance with the Gallery); a sunny reception with bunches of orange helium balloons. It was all taken down by the end of the day…but late the next morning a lone stray floated quietly into the gallery and did the rounds of the exhibition.

We kid you not – didn’t see it arrive (the doors stand open) and didn’t see it leave. We came out of the office to find it serenely circling the room, stopping to hover at each work in turn, and were so charmed by it that we immediately grabbed the camera…

Adorable.

Atonement comes down this week – we’re going to miss it.

Fundraising b’day at Spiral…

On Wednesday night Spiral Gallery held a gala fundraiser on the approx date of their 14th anniversary. A lovely night was had by all the faithfuls, with music courtesy of Maestro Mark…

…main attraction courtesy of Anna Senior (as in film wardrobe highlights)…

…and lots more besides…

The focus of the evening was the tasting and purchase of boxes of wine, all labelled with paintings by the co-op’s practicing stars. And when it came down to it, frankly, the quality of the wine was of no import – the object of the exercise being support of the gallery. (The Gang bought a mixed doz, which we’ll just whack on the table at the next partay.)

Bega spotto…

All roads lead to Bega. Spotted yesterday, first up, was Klausie – who Megsie had a coffee-meet with (he’s the guest speaker for Tour de Force: in case of emergency break glass, which opens at the BVRG on Friday 20th.)

Lovely to see him back in the pink, and off and running again; he’s celebrating his 75th birthay with an exhibition at the Canberra Glassworks in August/September, which will be held in concert with a master class he’s giving with Kirstie, followed hard on the heels by SOFA Chicago and then by another show early next year at Heller in New York (which will travel afterwards to Israel.) Phew!! So it’s full speed ahead in the workshop stakes.

Meanwhile up at the BVRG Rob and Sandy were in the swing of a photo shoot with The Hill girls…

Sculpture on the Edge 2011…

(2 weeks ago)

We’re going to fast track through the kultural happenings of a fortnight ago. The Gang had decided to sandwich the Sculpture on the Edge and Ivy Hill openings into a convenient overnighter at Paradise, camping with Granny and the mob (Minnie, Harijs, Clairie, Keithie, Marcus, Trish & Artie.)

Blustery weather at Bermi discouraged lingering, turning the Friday evening event into a fast trot. There was the inevitable Ned…

…an astonishing horsey piece…

…3D rendered 2D by Trev and Dinah…

…and much more besides.

We didn’t get down to the flat (where Suzi and Andy’s camel was) or to the small sculpture show in the Hall – too busy doing the quick press of the flesh in the lee of the wind… And then fush’n chups called. We’d arrived too late for gelati (the price of being the passenger, alas) so it was an evening of fleeting regrets all round. 

There followed a lovely night of chat and beverage around the campfire, a Keithie brekky…

…lots of things uniquely Wapengo…

…including a swim followed by a nice long walk and a late’n lazy lunch of Cobargo snags. Noice.

We then managed to stuff up somewhat with the Ivy Hill opening – arriving a good hour and a half before the punters…

Ah well. We did a quick round regardless – sweet show, and on for another week for those in the vicinity.

We arrived back at the hideout much earlier than expected, only to find the Wyndham version of dog day afternoon…

Gotta love ‘em.

Other things wot caught our eye here.