WHITE NIGHT BALLARAT

For me, White Night Ballarat has always been an evening of sheer magic, but not for an instant did I dream I’d ever be part of it. Thank you to the amazing White Night team for inviting me to be one of this year’s featured artists. There will be two animated projections of my work, one on Cobb’s Corner (National Mutual Building) and the other on Eureka House (north wall). Based on the teaser I was shown a couple of days ago, I’m doubly excited for the sun to go down on Saturday, 1 June. 

Reposted from White Night’s Facebook page:

Local artist Deborah Klein infuses an ethereal quality into her work, weaving tales of enchantment. 

The notion of “looking over the overlooked” is a powerful concept, and using moths as a metaphor is particularly poignant. Often overshadowed by the more flamboyant butterflies, moths possess their own quiet beauty and serve as a reminder of the hidden wonders that exist in the world.

These hidden wonders will shine bright and flutter across Cobb's Corner at White Night Ballarat. Decorated Women is one of the incredible projections in the White Night Ballarat program. Be sure to come and see it for yourself on 1 June, 2024.

UNSOLVED HISTORIES - Opening highlights

After Saturday’s lively opening of Unsolved Histories at The Old Butchers Shop Gallery, I fully expected Sunday would be comparatively quiet. My plan for the day, such as I had one, was to belatedly post some of Saturday’s highlights.

But it was not to be. By yesterday’s end, I reckon we had nearly as many visitors through as on the previous day. It was terrific to see so many faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, and I’ve so enjoyed chatting with many of you over the past two days.

The very short video directly below was shot by Julie Bennett, Director of The Old Butchers Shop Gallery.

A million thanks to everyone who has called in so far, to those who have purchased works and to the friends who stepped in to take these photographs, predominantly Jimmy Pasakos, but also Tim Gresham and Doug Willis.

Thank you to Julie Bennett for inviting me to show in this gem of a gallery and to my partner, Shane Jones, for far more reasons than I can possibly count. 

The exhibition is open weekends from 12-4 pm or by appointment until Sunday 26 May. 

Ballarat Times: PAINTING A PORTRAIT OF HISTORY’S LOST WOMEN

On the eve of the launch of UNSOLVED HISTORIES at The Old Butchers Shop Gallery, Ballarat, I received this delightful and very well-timed surprise.

Many thanks to Tim Bottams for his article in yesterday’s Ballarat Times, Saturday 3 May. 

UNSOLVED HISTORIES officially opens today at 2pm. For further details, scroll down to my last two posts.

Behind the door

Scroll down to see some of what has been going on behind the closed door of The Old Butcher Shop Gallery over the last few days.

Better yet, come along and see for yourself when my solo exhibition UNSOLVED HISTORIES opens tomorrow, Saturday 4 May, at 2 pm. 

The gallery is open weekends from 12-4 pm or by appointment. 

With enormous gratitude and thanks to Shane Jones (in views two and four above) for his invaluable help and tireless support throughout this project.

UNSOLVED HISTORIES continues to Sunday 26 May. 

For further information, scroll down to the invitation in my previous post.

Your invitation to UNSOLVED HISTORIES

Attached is your very own invitation to UNSOLVED HISTORIES, my upcoming solo exhibition at The Old Butchers Shop Gallery, Ballarat.

Opening reception: Saturday, 4 May from 2-4 pm

UNSOLVED HISTORIES
Old Butcher’s Shop Gallery 
112 Seymour Street
Soldiers Hill
Ballarat Vic 3350

I’d love to see you at the opening celebration. But if you can’t join us, I’ll be sitting the exhibition throughout its run and do hope you’ll stop by and say hello. 

The gallery is open weekends from 12-4 pm; otherwise by appointment.

UNSOLVED HISTORIES continues to Sunday, 26 May.

Opening of ONE HUNDRED FACES 2024

Some snippets of yesterday afternoon’s delightful opening of One Hundred Faces at Playing in the Attic in Talbot, snapped later in the day when the crowd had thinned out. 

That’s me directly above, second from right, along with participating artists Loris Button, Shane Jones and Tiffany Titshall. 

The views below include Libby Drew, Scott Bain, fellow exhibiting artist, Christine Hickson, Trudy McLauchlan (Proprietor of Playing in the Attic and One Hundred Faces Curator), artist Shane Jones and canines Zelda and Iris.

The weather was perfect and, as always, the show looked great. Thanks for having us, Trudy, and for all your hard work. 

Now, what to make for next year’s One Hundred Faces?

Cat Woman

There’s a new Super Hero in town. Meet Cat Woman, 2024, acrylic on canvas board, 10.3 x 10.3 cm, my second contribution to the fifth annual One Hundred Faces exhibition at Playing in the Attic. (See previous post).

Recently I posted some progress views of the painting, but Alice B. Cat, its primary inspiration, was, as always, a major distraction, so here’s the completed work, sans that inveterate scene-stealer.

Looking forward to the exhibition opening and to meeting some of the other artists. Hoping to see you there too. From the previews I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a ripper! 

One Hundred Faces opens tomorrow, Saturday 27 April, at 2 pm and runs until the end of May.

Playing in the Attic

13 Ballaarat Street, 

Talbot, VIC, Australia

Phone: 0428 580 309

Instagram: instagram.com/playingintheattic

Hours:

Monday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday CLOSED

WednesdayCLOSED

Thursday CLOSED

Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

One Hundred Faces 2024

Pictured top: Masked Australian Painted Lady, acrylic on canvas on board, 10.3 x 10.3 cm, part of the annual One Hundred Faces exhibition at Playing in the Attic in Talbot. The mask is based on the Australian painted lady butterfly (Vanessa kershawi). 

Masks seem to have emerged as a central theme in my works for this year’s One Hundred Faces, although it wasn’t intentional. Masked Australian Painted Lady is pictured above on the easel with its companion work, Cat Woman.  

The exhibition opens on Saturday 27 April at 2pm and runs to the end of May.

Photo credit for first image: Tim Gresham.

2024 NEWS

Coming events:

UNSOLVED HISTORIES

Solo exhibition

The Old Butchers Shop Gallery, Ballarat

Deborah Klein’s emblematic ‘rear view portraits’ allude to the countless women who have fallen through the cracks of history. Her latest solo exhibition marks the first time this body of paintings and works on paper, created over the last 6 years, has been exhibited in Ballarat. 

 

Presented in conjunction with Ballarat Heritage Festival.

 

The Old Butchers Shop Gallery

112 Seymour Street 

Soldiers Hill 

Ballarat VIC 3350

Gallery hours: Saturday and Sunday 12-4 pm 

Weekdays by appointment

I: @theoldbutchersshopgallery

E: theoldbutchersshopgallery@gmail.com

The exhibition runs from 4 - 26 May

DECORATED WOMEN

Animated Projection

White Night Ballarat

Deborah is one of the featured artists in White Night Ballarat, the city’s acclaimed festival of projections, illuminations, music and interactive works.

Deborah Klein’s enigmatic tattooed and masked women are the stuff of fairy tales. Adopting adornments drawn from nature, they metamorphose before our eyes, reclaiming the night in a veritable enchanted forest right in the heart of Ballarat. 

Ballarat CBD

https://whitenight.com.au/ballarat/program/

Saturday 1 June, 6 pm – midnight

 

SELF-PUBLISHING ARTISTS

Panel Conversation

CAM ART BOOK FAIR

Castlemaine Art Museum, Castlemaine

The CAM Art Book Fair returns in June 2024, in connection with NGV Melbourne Art Book Fair. 

Melbourne Art Book Fair is part of Melbourne Design Week 2024, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.  

Deborah will take part in the panel discussion Self-Publishing Artists Reaching Across and Beyond the Region at Castlemaine Art Gallery.

 

Links to all Art Book Fair events are below:

NGV: https://www.artbookfair.melbourne/events/panel-conversation-self-publishing-artists-reaching-across-and-beyond-the-region/ 

CAM: https://castlemaineartmuseum.org.au/news

 

Castlemaine Art Museum 
14 Lyttleton Street (PO Box 248)
Castlemaine VIC 3450
03 5472 2292
castlemaineartmuseum.org.au

 

Sunday 2 June, 10 – 11 am

 

DECORATED WOMEN

Solo exhibition

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, Melbourne

Tattooing has variously been described as the oldest profession after prostitution and tax collection, an act of bravery and a specialized art form that marks its wearer as the member of a tribe. The tattoo publicizes and politicizes through its permanence and visibility.

Comprising recent paintings and works on paper, Decorated Women revisits the Tattooed Faces and Figures, a key theme in the artist’s oeuvre, taking it in entirely new directions.

 

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery
Level 8, Room 16

The Nicholas Building

37 Swanston Street

Melbourne, 3000 (Cnr. Flinders Lane)

 

The exhibition runs from 4 - 21 December