Five Ways to Experience MRAG

1. Look Closer

Margaret Olley, 'Bedroom Still Life', 1997, Oil on board (Masonite), 61 x 91cm.

Purchased by Maitland Regional Art Gallery with the assistance of the Art Gallery Society, 1998.

Margaret Olley’s 'Bedroom Still Life', one of MRAG’s most treasured paintings, is now on display in the exhibition 'Hello Again – it's nice to see your face'. This gentle self-portrait of the much-loved Australian artist’s wistful reflection is surrounded by an eclectic collection of her ‘everyday’ trinkets.

Look for perfume bottles, feathers, pencils, shells, a notebook, and a sewing kit, all set against a wallpaper backdrop of colourful blooms.

What are your eyes most drawn to in this exquisite painting?

'Bedroom Still Life' has been loaned many times to major art galleries, most recently QAGOMA in Brisbane for the 2019 exhibition 'Margaret Olley – A Generous Life'.

2. See Make Do

Now, more than ever, we seek meaning and connection through art, as it helps us to understand how we’re feeling about the changing world around us.

MRAG will keep offering opportunities for you to ‘See Make Do’ at the Gallery when possible, such as through pre-booked Free Art Sunday sessions. And we will continue to invite you to enjoy extra special content and art activities on our website, developed for you, your family, and friends to enjoy from the comfort of your home.

#MRAGfromhome

3. Take a Piece of MRAG Home

Teval Guner ceramics will be available in the Gallery Shop in the lead-up to Christmas 2020.

When did you last do a happy dance? This season the Gallery Shop is brimming with fun, thoughtful pieces and one-of-a-kind treasures which we hope will bring joy to you or a special someone else.

By purchasing a ‘little something’ here you are directly supporting MRAG and/or an artist. Cue: ‘happy dance’!

PLUS we are extremely excited that a small selection of exhibition catalogues, from exhibitions past and present, is now available to purchase via our website. Happy dances all round!

Don't forget members receive 10% off Gallery Shop purchases all year round!

4. Explore the Sensory Garden

The original vision for the garden space behind Café Seraphine at MRAG was for it to be a Maitland Community Sensory Garden, complete with artist-designed arbours and a raised vegetable garden. The garden that has evolved over the years offers plenty for the senses to enjoy, with native and edible plants, several sculptures, and the occasional visit from a tawny frogmouth or green tree frog.

The much-loved orange and red flowering gums are spectacular in Summer.

We would love help from a volunteer to maintain and develop the existing garden, so please do contact the Gallery if you are interested.

5. Make a Mandala

Mandala made by the Learning & Audience Development team in the MRAG garden for an #MRAGfromhome activity

One of the first activities developed for the #MRAGfromhome series was making a mandala out of natural materials.

Mandalas are intricately patterned motifs that encourage us to focus and reflect.

This activity was inspired by both the MRAG garden and Dr Simone Patterson’s 'Mandala' prints (which were on display in the exhibition 'Guns to Roses'). Get some fresh air in your garden or local park; collect leaves, seed pods, sticks or other natural materials; and make your own mandala out of these, paying attention to the season’s colours and textures.

See mrag.org.au/do-at-home/ for activity details