There have been two Art Appreciation activities at the Benalla Gallery since the last Newsletter. In early December Dr Will Twycross gave a most enjoyable lecture on the collection of his great grandfather John Twycross, a Melbourne wool merchant, gifted to Museum Victoria by Dr Will. The exhibition included three authentic 19th century Japanese woodblocks, vases, sculpture, carvings, paintings, porcelain and lacquer boxes and a large wall print of the original Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. Dr Will’s lecture covered many subjects associated with the exhibition and he happily digressed on to peripheral history that was occurring when his great grandfather was alive.
Our February activity was lecture by Bryony Nainby on Aboriginal Art currently on exhibition at the gallery. Bryony was able to bring the exhibition alive with her well-presented lecture and knowledge of aboriginal art and the audience responded enthusiastically. The artwork in the exhibition is from a number of artists from three separate regions of Northern Australia and whilst some of paintings do have images and styles that could be seen to be overlapping or classed as similar, the three regions consider themselves to have separate styles. Some are semi figurative. The Bungle Bungles are obvious in one artist’s work. Others have symbols obviously meant to produce images the viewer will recognise. Some have images of totem animals that are distorted into surreal shapes. Others have symbols that are not meant to convey any meaning at all but have been produced simply for arts sake. Some show figurative images depicting everyday human activities.
On a final note, each month Art Appreciation group members make a donation when attending the sessions arranged with Shanley Cleeland and other Gallery staff. The group's collection for 2015 of $459.00 has now been donated to the Gallery.
Our February activity was lecture by Bryony Nainby on Aboriginal Art currently on exhibition at the gallery. Bryony was able to bring the exhibition alive with her well-presented lecture and knowledge of aboriginal art and the audience responded enthusiastically. The artwork in the exhibition is from a number of artists from three separate regions of Northern Australia and whilst some of paintings do have images and styles that could be seen to be overlapping or classed as similar, the three regions consider themselves to have separate styles. Some are semi figurative. The Bungle Bungles are obvious in one artist’s work. Others have symbols obviously meant to produce images the viewer will recognise. Some have images of totem animals that are distorted into surreal shapes. Others have symbols that are not meant to convey any meaning at all but have been produced simply for arts sake. Some show figurative images depicting everyday human activities.
On a final note, each month Art Appreciation group members make a donation when attending the sessions arranged with Shanley Cleeland and other Gallery staff. The group's collection for 2015 of $459.00 has now been donated to the Gallery.
Acknowledgement: Photograph of U3A Benalla Art Appreciation Group at session presented by Dr Will Twycross, Benalla Art Gallery Website.
