Elemental

Deborah Klein, Memory #15, 2015, archival pigment print, 22 x 22.5 cm

Some of my Leaves of Absence prints are part of the group show Elemental, opening tomorrow at La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre in Bendigo.

The four natural elements: earth, air, fire and water, are the basis for this exhibition by fourteen Goldfields printmakers who live or work in Central Victoria. The unique dry landscape, shaped by mountains, hills and flat plains, provides rich material for artists to observe changes in animal and plant behaviour and in weather patterns.

Exhibiting artists:

Leonie Auhl, Kim Barter, Rosemary Eagle, David Frazer, Jackie Gorring, Deborah Klein, Anne Langdon, Amanda Lawler, Dianne Longley, Val McCann, Jan Palethorpe, James Pasakos, Barbara Semler and Josephine Walsh

Landscape artist and Director of Port Jackson Press, Jeff Makin, will launch the exhibition on Thursday 25 February, 6 - 8 pm.

The exhibition runs from 24 February – 10 April.

La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre

121 View Street

Bendigo Vic 3350

T: 03 5441 8724

E: vac@latrobe.edu.au/vac

Gallery hours: Tues - Fri 10 am – 5 pm. Sat - Sun 12 pm – 5 pm

Goldfields Printmakers in Bendigo

Goldfields Printmakers at Bendigo Art Gallery cafe last Saturday. From foreground, left: Loris Button, Penny Peckhan, 
Leonie Auhl, Josephine Walsh, Dianne Longley. From foreground, right: Jimmy Pasakos, Jackie Gorring,
Jan Palenthorpe, Diana Orinda Burns (not visible in this view) and Barbara Semler.

2015 has been a particularly significant year for the Goldfields Printmakers. In September, a folio of our work titled Not Born Digital traveled with GP founder Jimmy Pasakos to IMPACT9, the international printmaking conference at Hangzhou, China. During October-November, the same works were exhibited at Ararat Regional Art Gallery in Victoria. Jimmy Pasakos, David Frazer and I were also part of Parallel Prints, a group show/exchange portfolio. Curated by Jimmy and New Zealand artist Mark Graver, it was simultaneously exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Wharepuke Print Studios, Kerikeri, New Zealand in early October. (To date, the Parallel Prints portfolio has been acquired by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Federation University, Ballarat and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart). In late October-early November, two GP members, Dianne Longley and myself, were presenters at the inaugural Mildura BMW Print Triennial.

Last Saturday, December 12, a number of us met for a celebratory gathering in the elegant cafe at Bendigo Art Gallery (where, incidentally, they served the finest scones I've ever tasted).

In fact, our reason for meeting there was twofold. In early 2016 several of the group (myself included) will be part of the exhibition Elemental at Latrobe University Visual Arts Centre (VAC Gallery). It's conveniently located directly across the road, so this was a perfect opportunity for us to discuss the exhibition at length with curator Josephine Walsh and to familiarize ourselves with the gallery spaces. Elemental will run from 24 February-10 April, 2016. 

(Since Saturday's meeting, Josephine has received confirmation that Elemental will also be exhibited at Light Square Gallery in Adelaide between 9 May- 3 June, 2016).

With the Year of Print 2016 nearly upon us, the Goldfields Printmakers are ready and set for another productive year.