InSight Magazine Nov 22 - Feb 23

Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, Into the Blue, InSight Membership, What’s On, Gallery Café and Shop plus Braemar Gallery

image: WAGANA DANCERS Yindyang Bila 2022, still photo by Sue Healey.

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Paul Brinkman – Manager, Arts & Cultural Services

In this, our 10th year of operations at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, it is a great time to reflect on all of our achievements. We have shown over 162 exhibitions, exhibited over 380 local artists’ work, presented over 1,500 public programs and welcomed our 1,000,000th visitor. In the face of fires, floods and pandemics, the Cultural Centre has been a community meeting place, a place of respite and a place to celebrate what makes the Blue Mountains so special.

Without the community’s fantastic support and enthusiasm towards our exhibitions and programs the Cultural Centre would not be the buzzing space that it is today, and I thank all of our artists, creatives and visitors that have been a part of our story. To all of our past and present staff, your dedication to making the Cultural Centre a space of creativity, learning, innovation and wonder has been the key to our success and the national recognition within the public gallery sector that we enjoy is testament to your hard work.

In the context of regional galleries we are still young, an adolescent full of courage and potential. In the next 10 years we will strive to continue to bring the best of the Arts to the Blue Mountains and in doing so we will enthral, surprise, challenge and inspire.

It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of artist Peter Kingston. Peter was a great supporter of the Cultural Centre and his artworks that we have in our Collection are testament to his fond regard for the Blue Mountains. A friend and inspiration to many, Peter’s passing is a significant loss to Australia’s visual arts community. We extend our condolences to Caroline and Fairlie.

A Place for Artists and Art Lovers

A new commission donated by Cultural Centre volunteer Rae Druitt

A new commission has been donated to the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery Fine Art Collection by volunteer Rae Druitt.

Two artworks by Blackheath-based artist Julie Paterson highlight the unseen side of Eucalypts.

Silver Top is an interpretation of the very top of a flowering eucalyptus sieberi (Silver Top Ash) from the perspective of an insect or bird. The LibraryofShapes is a companion piece showing the individual stencils placed randomly as the artist used them to build up the main work.

Rae and Julie spent some time together discussing the vision for the work. Julie was inspired by a particular comment Rae made, “It all happens at the top with the Eucalypts, and no one gets to see that.”

The new works will be unveiled on our 10th Birthday Community Day celebrations on Saturday 19 November.

JULIE PATERSON Silver Top (detail) 2022, unique state stencil print using acrylic printing paste and bees wax finish on Belgian Linen, 120 x 180 cm. Commissioned for the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Collection by Rae Druitt 2022.

JULIE PATERSON Library of Shapes (Silver Top) 2022, unique state stencil print using acrylic printing paste on Belgian Linen, 110 x 110 cm. Commissioned for the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Collection by Rae Druitt 2022.

InSight Membership

B ecome an InSight Member today and join our community of art lovers. By becoming an InSight Member you will receive invitations to exclusive events at discounted rates, gain insider knowledge into the Cultural Centre Fine Art Collection and are supporting us in continuing to deliver dynamic exhibitions and programs.

YOUR INSIGHT MEMBERSHIP PLAN FROM 1 JUL 2022: Individual Adult: $50* Duo (2 adults, children 16 & under free): $70** Concession: $40* Individual Patron: $200 Business: $250

* 2 x complimentary guest tickets per membership. **4 x complimentary guest tickets per duo membership. Complimentary tickets only valid when accompanied by an InSight Member.

HOW TO JOIN:

Visit our friendly staff at Reception or call 4780 5410 to join or renew. Staff can provide an InSight Membership Form where you can provide your details. This form can also be posted to;

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre InSight Membership Application Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780

We now have online registration and renewals to make your InSight journey more convenient for you. Visit the InSight Membership page on our website for the link.

Join now and receive:

• UNLIMITED FREE entry to Blue Mountains City Art Gallery and Into the Blue

• DISCOUNTS on Cultural Centre public programs

• 10% DISCOUNT at the Gallery Shop and Gallery Café

• LIMITED complimentary tickets for guests *conditions apply

• INVITATIONS to exhibition openings and exclusive events

• INSIDER knowledge into the Cultural Centre Fine Art Collection

• SUBSCRIPTION to InSight Magazine, delivered three times a year

• SUBSCRIPTION to the Cultural Centre’s monthly e-newsletter

• ACCESS to InSight Members Lounge (Wednesday – Friday, subject to availability)

Into the Blue

In 2000, the Greater Blue Mountains area was added to the World Heritage List in recognition of the exceptional diversity and integrity of its eucalypt forest communities.

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre features Into the Blue (the Blue Mountains World Heritage Interpretive Centre). This high tech and interactive exhibition introduces audiences to the richness and wonders of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Explore the people and places of this unique area through stories which tell of the natural as well as the social landscapes.

Blue Mountains City Art Gallery

Adrienne Richards: The Way We Live Now

Oct – 27 Nov

The Way We Live Now uses drawing and ceramics to explore the concept of ‘Bio history’ – the study of human situations, past and present, against the backdrop of life on Earth.

Inspired by Stephen Boyden’s book The Bionarrative - the story of life and hope for the future, Richards has created an imaginary archaeological dig where the fragments and shards of humans’ material culture are juxtaposed with those of the rest of our living planet.

Hand built ceramic forms, surface decoration and glazing techniques come together to highlight environmental issues, humans place on Earth and to question ‘the way we live now’.

A Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Exposé Program exhibition

ADRIENNE RICHARDS Bionarrative Shards (horizontal) 2022, glazed stoneware and porcelain, dimensions variable. Image courtesy the artist.

The Archibald Prize 2022 Regional Tour

Oct

The annual Archibald Prize is eagerly anticipated by artists and audiences alike. Judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, the prize is awarded to the best portrait painting. Since 1921 it has highlighted figures from all walks of life, from famous faces to local heroes, reflecting back to us the stories of our times.

Ben Pearse’s Pop-up Portrait studio

Saturday 29 Oct

am – 3 pm

via Eventbrite

min time slots

Saturday 12 Nov

am – 3 pm

via Eventbrite

min time slots

On the opening night of The Archibald Prize 2022 Regional Tour, local photographer Ben Pearse offered portrait sessions for visitors.

If you missed this opportunity, don’t worry, Ben will be at the Cultural Centre again for his Popup Portrait Studio on two additional dates.

Put yourself before the bright lights, open up to a new experience and let Ben capture a treasured memento for you.

Cost per portrait sitting: $35 / $30 InSight Members

Archibald Prize 2022 finalist, Kim Leutwyler Courtney and Shane, oil on canvas, 102 x 76.3 cm © the artist. Sitter: Courtney Act and Shane Jenek.

Murray and Burgess: Lost Song

Lost Song is a visual interpretation of the song of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera Phrygia) by Blue Mountains artists Ro Murray and Mandy Burgess.

In association with Birdlife Australia, Taronga Zoo and Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Murray and Burgess investigate aspects of the Regent Honeyeater’s song, habitat, and culture to highlight the plight of the bird’s survival and the fight to prevent its extinction.

A Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Exposé Program exhibition

Call and Response is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Murray and Burgess would like to acknowledge the assistance of Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Taronga Zoo and BirdLife Australia in the development of this exhibition.

MURRAY AND BURGESS Lost Song (detail) 2022, digital print, 63 cm x 40 cm. Courtesy the artists.

Saturday 3 Dec

2 – 3 pm

Join us for a talk with artists Ro Murray and Mandy Burgess, and composer Felicity Wilcox. They will discuss the inspiration and process behind the work and talk about Wilcox’s new composition Call and Response which forms part of the exhibition. Call and Response will be performed after the talk by Jane Sheldon - voice, Claire Edwardes - percussion and Jason Noble - clarinet.

A repeat performance will be played on Friday 9 December at the exhibition opening from 6 pm.

$5.50 / FREE InSight Members

Tickets via Eventbrite.

Artist Talk: Ro Murray, Mandy Burgess and Felicity Wilcox

Photo: Ro Murray and Mandy Burgess.

Blue Mountains City Art Gallery

WATER presence & absence

The exhibition and satellite programs for WATER presence & absence explore the urgent need for awareness around our most precious resource – water. In collaboration with Penrith Regional Gallery and Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, and drawing on the shared connection to local waterways, a Water Trail of exhibitions, public programs, talks and events focusing on planetary and water health has been created.

Featuring works by Jo Clancy & Wagana Dancers, David Haines & Joyce Hinterding, Aunty Sharyn Halls with Craig Bender & Vera Hong, Sue Healey, Gabriella Hirst, Yvonne Koolmatrie, Rachel O’Reilly, Venessa Possum, Rochelle Summerfield with Tracy Pateman & Will Rodgers, Leanne Tobin and Judy Watson.

A Blue Mountains City Art Gallery exhibition curated by Rilka Oakley

A collaborative project between Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and Penrith Regional Gallery

A Blue Mountains City Council Planetary Health Initiative This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW

HAINES & HINTERDING Transmissions 2022 production still, dual-channel video installation. Image courtesy the artists and Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney. Photo: the artists.

WATER TRAIL

Visitors can experience a WATER TRAIL of exhibitions, programs talks and events across a range of sites including Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, Penrith Regional Gallery and Hawkesbury Regional Gallery.

Visit WATERTRAIL.AU for the full program.

WATER Symposium & Performance

Saturday 10 Dec 10.30 am – 3 pm

Join us for talks by exhibiting artists and water scientists including David Haines & Joyce Hinterding, Aunty Sharyn Halls, Cindy Laws, Tracy Pateman, Leanne Tobin, Judy Watson, and Dr Ian Wright. Jo Clancy & Wagana Dancers will perform the new work Yindyang Bila during the day.

Free event.

Garguree Swampcare & Streamwatch

Sunday 4 Dec 2022, 11 am Sunday 15 Jan 2023 8.30 am & 11 am 2 hour sessions

Join local Bushcare legend and Gundungurra man, David King for a waterbug session and a walk & talk in the Gully, Katoomba.

$15 / $10 InSight Members Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

All ticket funds raised will go to Garguree Swampcare.

SPLASH!

Sunday 11 Dec 11 am – 2 pm

A day of watery fun with citizen science water activities. Meet some turtles up close with Turtle Rescues, see presentations from local schools, take part in interactive displays and talks from the BMCC Healthy Waterways Team plus creative activities led by the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture Resource Centre, live music and delicious food.

Splash! around with us and experience water in this handson interactive festival.

Free event.

Blue

City Art Gallery

Blue Mountains Portraits 2023

Blue Mountains Portraits is the Cultural Centre’s annual celebration of the local community and its diverse members. The exhibiting artists portray the unique people that make up the cultural fabric of the Blue Mountains and tell the stories behind the person. Over thirty artworks in a broad range of styles and media such as painting, photography, drawing, collage and mixed media will be exhibited together with a selection of local students’ work.

A Blue Mountains City Art Gallery exhibition

Blue Mountains Portraits People’s Choice Winner 2022 CATHIE COX In the Garden 202, mixed media on tissue covered linoleum, 82 x 41 cm.

Sunset Portraits

Saturday 18 Feb 5 7 pm

Our Sunset Portraits are on again! Beginning with an exclusive after-hours tour of the Blue Mountains Portraits exhibition, followed by a portrait drawing tutorial in our spacious foyer. Claim a position on the patio to create your very own masterpiece while listening to live music and enjoying the view as the sun sets in front of you. Your ticket includes a glass of wine or beer, an individual antipasto platter, a portrait model and all drawing materials. Come and join us for this fun and creative evening of portraiture.

$66 / $55 InSight Members

Tickets via Eventbrite.

Blue

City Art Gallery

The Semblance of Things: Portraits by Nick Stathopoulos

4 Feb – 2 Apr

The Semblance of Things is a comprehensive survey of Nick Stathopoulos’ portraits from the past 30 years documenting the evolution of his hyper-real style. The artist delves beneath the painted surface, revealing psychological insights and reaching beyond the superficial likeness of a portrait. As well as the curated selection of portraits, the exhibition includes archival photographs, sketchbooks, and video clips. Subjects include celebrities Isla Fisher, David Stratton, Barry Crocker, Shaun Tan, Grahame Bond (Aunty Jack), Mr. Squiggle, and many more. This is the first time these portraits have been exhibited together, with works ranging in scale, from the blockbuster Archibald finalists to more intimate and personal work.

A Blue Mountains City Art Gallery exhibition curated by Rilka Oakley

Artist Talk with Nick Stathopoulos

Saturday 4 Feb

11 am – 12 pm

Join exhibiting artist Nick Stathopoulos for a floor talk in the Gallery; an exciting opportunity to walk around the exhibition with Nick and hear the fascinating stories behind his paintings.

$5.50 / FREE InSight Members Tickets via Eventbrite.

IMAGE: Nick Stathopoulos (left to right)

Deng (detail) 2016, acrylic & oil glaze on canvas, 138 x 138 cm. Image courtesy Art Gallery of NSW. Jenny (detail) 2015, acrylic & oil glaze on canvas, 138 x 138 cm. Image courtesy the artist. The white shirt – portrait of Tané Andrews (detail) 2021, acrylic & oil on poly-cotton, 153 x 80 cm. Image courtesy Art Gallery of NSW.

WATER presence & absence

Jo Clancy & Wagana Dancers

Rilka Oakley: What is your interest in the theme of WATER and what is your dance/film about? Is there a particular story you are telling?

Jo Clancy: Yindyang Bila is slow river in Wiradjuri language. My great grandmother was a Bogan River Wiradjuri woman. She was born to the river, she was removed from the river, she worked on hands and knees scrubbing floors with water from the river. Her song and dance comes to me from the river. Yindyang Bila is for her.

Rilka Oakley: Can you tell us about your connection to the locations where you created this work?

Jo Clancy: I travelled to the Bogan River in Peak Hill and to Ganguddy near Rylstone with my cousin Tammi Gissell and my kinship daughter Shana O’Brien to Winhangadurinya (listen deeply, meditate, connect and reflect) with the Songlines that travel through these waters and Country. We shared song and dance with women and girls in each community and we were guided by Spirit to begin piecing the work together.

Sue Healey and Richard joined us in each location to witness some of the making, to observe the Corroborees and to meet Country. Sue listened, watched and gently guided our Wagana to meet the camera.

Rilka Oakley: How does the collaboration process work for both of you and have you collaborated before? What are both of your roles in this project?

Jo Clancy: I have always admired Sue’s work and was fortunate to collaborate with her on a youth dance project called Meeting Place earlier this year. Her understanding, her experience and her relationship with dance, coupled with her beautiful aesthetic and knowledge of film making and performance installation has been a privilege to entrust Yindyang Bila with.

Sue Healey: My role has been to capture the movement of the three women, in the very special locations of Bogan River and Ganguddy, and render these performances into a digital space. My intention is always to honour the quality of the live action and find ways to allow it to exist in the exhibition space, so that more people can experience its message, beyond the performance. It has been a privilege to witness the song and dance within these very powerful spaces.

A Q&A with Curator Rilka Oakley and WATER artists Jo Clancy, Sue Healey and Leanne Tobin.

Leanne Tobin

Rilka Oakley: How is your practice related to water and water health?

Leanne Tobin: Telling the story of the eel’s (Burra) lifecycle through my artwork, allows audiences to understand these migratory cycles and the importance of clean water. My art practice is strongly linked with the need to raise awareness of our role as custodians. The old wisdoms of the Traditional Custodians hold relevance, even more so today, as we struggle with floods, fires, droughts, and poisoned waterways. The significance of recognising seasonal changes in advance, was knowledge used to live safely in the natural environment, but this was thwarted by the arrival of the colonisers.

The use of glass as a medium was intentional, harking back to its river-sand origins. The reflections and rippling shadows of the hand-blown glass eels in The Call of Ngura, emulate water but are also a metaphor for the ongoing struggle the Dharug have endured. The adaption to new environs is seen in the need for our people to ‘go with the flow’, to bend with the current and not resist. Enduring smallpox (galgala), massacres and subjection, teetering on the verge of extinction, the Dharug have managed to adapt.

Paying homage to the phenomenal eel itself, the work also acknowledges the amazing qualities of the eel. Within their life cycle, Burra move between saltwater and freshwater: they can climb dams, creep across land, and undergo extreme physical transformations.

Made in collaboration with glass workers Ben and Kathy Edols.

Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from Create NSW.

LEANNE TOBIN Ngalawan – We Live, We Remain: The Call of Ngura (Country) (detail), 2022, blown glass. Courtesy the artist.

Inspired Watercolour with Tania Mason

Saturday 19 Nov

10.30 am – 4 pm

Tania’s inspiration for this workshop comes from her artist residency at BigCi, Bilpin.

Take the opportunity to extend your watercolour skills; create abstract and figurative pieces while investigating new ways of creating a final composition. With the help of still-life setups develop a series of compositions, both quick sketches and more developed pieces. You will be inspired as you learn various expressive methods while looking at a variety of traditional, ancient and contemporary illustrations.

$130 / $120 InSight Members

Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

Ballpoint Pen Pet Portraits

Saturday 26 Nov

10.30 am – 1.30 pm

“This medium takes time and patience to master, for me, it has become similar to meditation, with very satisfying results.”

Alison Rose

Join artist Alison Rose to learn the process of drawing pet portraits with the humble ballpoint pen. Learn the tips and tricks and discover how to make the most of this everyday medium. Using coloured ballpoint pens you will play with mark making and reconsider what may be thought of as ‘mistakes’.

You will receive instructions for taking reference photos of your pet. Prior to the class Alison will prepare your photos so you can start drawing your pet portrait in the workshop.

$65 / $55 InSight Members

Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

Image: Alison Rose.

Image: Tania Mason.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to wear a bee suit? Would you like to smoke the hive and learn how to inspect a beehive? Discover beekeeping at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre with a monthly afternoon tea and Beekeeping for Beginners Workshop with Fifi’s Bees.

Afternoon Tea with the Bees

1st Saturday of the month

2.30 – 4 pm

A free monthly meeting. Learn about practical beekeeping, queen spotting, and how to hold thousands of bees in your hands.

Free event. Bookings essential for both

Beekeeping for Beginners

Friday 16 Dec

9.30 am – 4 pm

In this full day workshop learn the basics of beekeeping and gain the confidence to set up your own backyard beehive.

$180 / $162 InSight Members

To book visit www.fifisbees.com.au/discoverbeekeeping

Christmas Wollemi Artisan Market

Saturday 3 Dec

10 am – 2 pm

Join us for our annual Christmas Wollemi Artisan Market featuring live music and a range of products from talented Blue Mountains artists, designers and food producers. Showcasing art, jewellery, homewares, accessories and more, the market is the perfect opportunity to shop local and find unique, artisanal gifts this Christmas.

Free event.

Urban Art Tours

Saturdays

10.30 – 11.30 am

Join a volunteer guide from the Cultural Centre on an urban art trail around the township of Katoomba. The tour will visit over 15 artworks, some more hidden than others in the streets of Katoomba. Stretch your legs and discover the variety of artworks to be found; sculpture, installation, sound and light works as well as many murals.

$15 / $10 InSight Members

Includes a free hot drink up to the value of $4.50. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

10th Birthday Community Day

Saturday 19 Nov

The Cultural Centre is turning 10 years old and we are celebrating with a free community day.

Enjoy free entry into the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery and our permanent Into the Blue World Heritage exhibition, special birthday treats from our café and lots more!

Free gallery tours of The Archibald Prize 2022 exhibition will be run by our volunteer guides throughout the day, and your young ones can try our free creative kids activities.

At 10.30 am we will be unveiling a new major commission for the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Fine Art Collection by local artist Julie Paterson.

Free event.

Meet the team

Olivia Wynne Cultural Development Projects Officer and Braemar Gallery Administration

It’s a joy to work in the Cultural Development team, supporting activities that are helping to create a culturally diverse and vibrant Blue Mountains community. I’m thrilled to be meeting incredible artists and working on new initiatives like the Propel Projects Emerging Performers Residency.

Eloise Short Front of House Attendant

Over the years, my family and I have enjoyed the many wonderful exhibitions, events, workshops and services the Cultural Centre provides. I’m truly delighted to have joined this fantastic team and I’m thoroughly enjoying welcoming all our visitors to the Centre.

Introducing you to some of the newest team members you will see working in and around the Cultural Centre, we asked them why they love working here!

Gallery

Ringing in Summer with the bright and bold flavours of our house-made delights.

Featuring house-made breads, grazing plates, seasonal salads as well as our classic soups and quiches.

FOCACCIA BREAD AND CORIANDER SALSA

FOCACCIA BREAD RECIPE:

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1 x sachet dried yeast, 7g

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons olive oil

Method:

Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined, using hands to gently form a dough.

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth and elastic.

Let dough prove in an oiled bowl until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 180’C, transfer dough to an oiled baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, bake until golden on top and cooked through.

CORIANDER SALSA:

1 x bunch fresh coriander

1-2 cloves garlic

1 lime, zest and juice

½ orange, zest and juice

½ - 1 red chilli (optional)

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a food processor or blender, process until all combined and smooth.

Add water to mixture if consistency is too thick.

ENJOY!

Gallery Shop

Offering a unique retail experience, the Gallery Shop stocks a wide variety of quality Australian made gifts, books and homewares, with a focus on artisan products designed and made in the Blue Mountains.

InSight Members receive a 10% discount on items in the Shop and invitations to exclusive member sales throughout the year.

To The Trees

To The Trees was the title of one of the first illustrations Lauren created when she started out as a freelance illustrator in 2012. It depicts a person walking away from a city full of pollution and towards the trees. It is symbolic of the values that are so important to Lauren in her personal and business life.

Her goal is to create work and products that inspire connection and love for the earth and for each other. This is done by creating heartfelt artworks and reproducing them in the most environmentally friendly ways available - using only 100% recycled paper, manufacturing all products within Australia and packaging with minimal to no plastic.

Botanicals Australia

Botanicals Australia capture the natural beauty of garden flowers and Australian native flora into an elegant collection of natural perfumes, luxurious body oils and floral waters; supporting self-love and wellbeing.

Their entire range of products are handcrafted in small batches, formulated using pure therapeutic 100% plant-based ingredients sourced locally here in Australia with a strong focus on organic and Australian grown.

Discover the unique and elegant collection of Botanicals with subtle natural aromas and delicate florals. The perfect gift for yourself or a loved one this Christmas.

Braemar House & Gallery

Braemar House is home to the treasured Braemar Gallery, a Council operated community exhibition space for visual artists.

104 Macquarie Rd, Springwood

Thu – Sun, 10 am – 4 pm Free admission

See the Cultural Centre website for the latest on Braemar Gallery exhibitions.

Captured Moments

27 Oct – 20 Nov

Captured Moments showcases still life pastel works, paintings and photographs which elevate the commonplace world around us into certainty, beauty and immortality. Both artists explore introspection and the appreciation of the beauty of everyday things, however humble and the sheer satisfaction expressed in composition, light and colour.

Catherine Fox

Captured Carbon

27 Oct – 20 Nov

Catherine invites the viewer to celebrate the unique beauty of the Australian landscape, the diversity of the native vegetation and its capacity to regenerate. Paintings reference the wide expanses evident in this landscape as well as the many plants thriving within these expanses. Colour and texture have been used in these images from across Australia to evoke the natural varieties of native bushland and the brilliant flashes of colour we love in our native blossoms.

Natalie Sharpe

What Lies Beneath

24 Nov – 18 Dec

This exhibition showcases Natalie’s beautiful and intricate illustrations using a combination of watercolour, pen, ink, paper and board. Her work is centred around engaging in a conversation with her subconscious or intuitive self-implementing a technique called stream of consciousness drawing. Bringing into service her recent studies in shamanic practices, alongside deepening her connection to earth and plants, she illustrates her way around shapes ‘in conversation’ - resulting in quite a fascinating dialogue.

Sandra Coleman & Adam Wolnicki

CATHERINE FOX Flinders Red Gum 2021, pastel and charcoal on paper with glue, 50 x 60 cm.

Ellissa Nolan

Parrots of the Blue Mountains

24 Nov – 18 Dec

This exhibition is a visual exposé of 16 parrot species living in our World Heritage natural environment. These include black and ganggang cockatoos, lorikeets, corellas, king parrots, rosellas, galahs and red-rumped parrots. Informed by ecological monitoring undertaken by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, this exhibition aims to increase awareness on the vast range of parrot species native to this region.

Mandy Evans

A Strange and Familiar Landscape

24 Nov – 18 Dec

Mandy’s paintings explore how the world has changed since COVID-19. Within her imagined, surreal, atmospheric landscapes are recognisable and familiar elements. Some include figures, in protective wear, perhaps against the pandemic or fire/spacesuits. Emphasising our common struggle and humanity, these figures also possess an unknown quality; they could be from outer space - aliens! Since Covid our innate connection to nature and its uncontrollability has been illuminated. Representative of the changes we have experienced and imposed on the environment, these landscapes and the figures within may be a new archetype, symbolising alienation, isolation, dislocation and on the other hand, support, help and change.

Braemar End of Year Exhibition

Braemar House & Gallery 22 Dec 2022 15 Jan 2023

Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub 20 Dec 2022 30 Jan 2023

Braemar Gallery presents the annual exhibition of works by Braemar Gallery volunteers. Bringing over 40 dedicated volunteers together, they share their stories, reflect on their year and how it has impacted the artists imagination and output.

ELLISSA NOLAN Gang Gang (male) 2021, watercolour on paper,

x

19 Jan – 12 Feb

A connection of friendship and creativity has brought Sally, Rhonnie and Tanya together. Their connection was the spark that ignited the idea for this exhibition. They began to explore the importance of everyday interactions with family, friends, objects and place in forming strong connections in life. Sometimes memories are triggered, humorous or sad, other times visceral reactions are felt. It is through their art they respond to each individual experience. Experimentation with colours, imagery, medium and texture aids to tell their story.

Deidre Mellis Life Patterns

19 Jan – 12 Feb

Deirdre’s artworks represent her personal response to nature from a design perspective. Her paintings start with simple curves which grow and gain momentum as lines, shapes and colours are juxtaposed to express elements in nature. Each painting has different challenges which make for an exciting process and unknown end result. Her art making often draws on animal and plant life and the wonderful lines and shapes found in our environment. Whether using abstraction or semi-abstraction, her passion is movement and colour and the exploration of vibrant patterns in nature.

Jennie Deane LOOKOUT

16 Feb – 12 Mar

LOOKOUT encapsulates Jennie’s exploration and rediscovery of the natural landscape of the Blue Mountains from the time of pandemic lockdowns. In the period of the exhibition’s creation, Jennie visited many lookouts, documenting through sketching and photographing the scenery around her. This practice has continued on from the pandemic, reconnecting her with the landscape she has chosen as her home. Through a broad range of mediums, Jennie encourages the viewer to join her in discovering or reconnecting with their own backyard.

Louise Fox and Cathie Cox The Art of Foraging

16 Feb – 12 Mar

Our environment has an abundance of natural forms. They inspire wonder delight and playful inventiveness. Foraging for fragments of the natural world, locally and beyond, is an absorbing activity for Louise and Cathie. Their process proceeds from discovery to collection, leading to storage and often culminates with the expression of some part of the objects’ significance through their art. Among the items collected, both native and exotic, are leaves, weeds, seeds, pods, discarded fragments and lifeless insects. These feature as tools for mark-making, dye sources for eco printing, as sculptures or images created naturalistically or in a fanciful form.

Rhonnie Toole, Sally Gersbach and Tanya Taggart Everyday Connections

ADMISSION: Adults: $5.50

Australian concession card holders: $3.20

InSight Members: Free Children under 16: Free

Your admission ticket allows entry to our permanent exhibition Into the Blue and the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery

We thank the dedicated volunteers at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre who provide valuable support to staff and visitors.

OPENING HOURS:

Monday – Friday: 10 am – 5 pm Saturday + Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm Closed public holidays

The Gallery Café opens 9.30 am weekdays. Café closed public holidays

BLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTRE: Level 1, 30 Parke St Katoomba 02 4780 5410

info@bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au

InSight Magazine is proudly designed and printed in the Blue Mountains.