I SPY with my little eye … is a new exhibition specifically for children. It is already attracting strong interest from school groups, as well as preschool children and their parents.
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I spy with my little eye is a timeless game, much loved by generations of children - it seemed an appropriate title for an exhibition designed to focus children’s attention on the visual arts. The exhibition is supported by a range of interactive activities aimed at encouraging children to be engaged and stimulated by art.
The gallery walls have been freshly repainted a brilliant, cheerful yellow and I have included artworks that I think will naturally appeal to children, as well as others that may be a bit more challenging, for example a self-portrait of the artist as a pencil and an expansive pure abstract work.
The exhibition draws from the gallery’s collection and features more than 30 works by artists including Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, Howard Arkley, Elisabeth Cummings, McLean Edwards and Neil Cuthbert and sculptors Michael Snape and Janine Hilder.
There is great variety in the use of colour in these works, from a brilliantly coloured McLean Edwards and Ken Done to a subtle, harmonious work by Peter Boggs. There is a black and white photograph by Max Dupain and several drawings in pencil, aerosol and ink.
Characters from Storm Boy and Alice in Wonderland appear in works, as does Dame Edna Everage as a ceramic teapot.
One of the most popular works in the exhibition is Jenny Orchard’s Banksficia, a startlingly organic figure with rich animistic and vegetative embodiments, assembled on a central supporting steel shaft. Children are fascinated by it and are amazingly creative in thinking up names for it.
Orchard is a prominent Australian ceramic artist. She was born in Turkey, grew up in Zimbabwe and now lives in Sydney. She has had a career in ceramics, sculpture and art making since 1980, with a continuous exhibiting timeline from the post modern to the present day post natural.
Her first influence was from the Memphis group, which was started by Ettore Sottsass, a highly regarded Italian designer and architect, who in 1980, decided he wanted to break the rules and “turn the design world upside down”. To discuss his radical idea he organised a meeting with a group of fellow designers at his home in Milan. That meeting was the foundation of a new design collaboration, which had international influence. They called themselves the Memphis group, a name based on a Bob Dylan song, “Stuck inside of Mobile in the Memphis blues again”, which had played repeatedly throughout the evening.
Memphis design drew its inspiration from art deco and pop art. In contrast to the dark browns and blacks of modernist design in vogue at the time, the Memphis designers highlighted bright colours, patterned surfaces and unconventional geometric shapes, often with a sense of humour.
With her early, Memphis inspired work, Jenny began making a name for herself. In the early 1980s the National Gallery of Australia bought three works for its collection and singer Elton John bought almost an entire exhibition. Jenny is now represented in state and regional galleries all over the country, and in Japanese, American and UK collections.
Now in the 21st century Orchard’s ceramics fit well into the post natural world we find ourselves in.
I spy with my little eye… was officially opened by Mullion Creek art teacher, Sharon Cloete who talked about the importance of art education.
I spy with my little eye… is on display until September 6.
For more information about the primary student workshops or the weekly picture-time for preschool children please check our website (www.org.nsw.gov.au) or telephone the Gallery on 6393 8136.
An art tour to Tim Miller’s studio in the idyllic village of Rockley has been organised for Wednesday, August 12. If you have not been to Rockley - don’t miss this opportunity.
This tour promises to be a very pleasant day with art, history, lunch and a glass of wine in a charming Georgian house and garden. Everyone is welcome to join us. Bookings at Orange Regional Gallery or call 63938136.