Degas - An impression of a revolution

Impressionism is Australia’s favourite art form, exhibitions featuring works by leading exponents Monet, Renoir, Pissaro are some of the most well attended exhibitions across the nation. Currently at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), Degas: Master of French Art is looking to become a blockbuster. Since it opened on December 12, ticket sales have averaged 1200 a day, more than twice the target set by the NGA.

Why is Impressionism so popular? What is it about this art form that it can garner such dedication and commitment from the public? Partly it has to do with access, with very few Impressionist works in the collection of our great institutions, the opportunity to see these works means we flock to see these exhibitions, but mostly it is that Impressionism is an art form that more than any other, is enjoyed for its aesthetic qualities over its subject matter. Edgar Degas' beautiful depictions of 19th-century Parisian ballerinas are the kind of pictures that people just love to love. Pretty, inoffensive and positive, his works typify the perception of Impressionist Art.

So in the end what have we really lost, what damage has been done if all we see when we look at Degas or Monet are pretty girls and flowers?

Behind the conscious "prettiness" of Degas' ballerinas there is a latent sexuality that many galleries found confronting in 19th-century Paris, leading to some refusing to show his work. All the Impressionists had some trouble exhibiting, their work scorned by critics as unfinished and vulgar. Over the years and after the shocks of postmodernism, the radical nature of Impressionist art had been lost.

If we fail to recognise this radical aspect of Impressionism and the path that it forged, then we miss out on the opportunity to ever really understand Modern Art. The achievement of Degas and his colleagues was that they broke a tradition of western composition, with its careful, predictable, flawless presentation of reality; they created a new vision of reality that was shifting, disorderly, and often frantic but ultimately truthful.

For your opportunity to experience Degas, in the first exhibition of his work to be shown in Australia, be sure to join the Friends of Western Plains Cultural Centre Inc who are hosting a once in a life time bus tour to visit the exhibition in Canberra on the 20 to 22 February 2009. Combined with tours of the brand new National Portrait Gallery and the renowned Canberra Glassworks studio, the tour also includes an exclusive afterhour’s dinner at Old Parliament House.

Included in the $345.00 price ($330.00 for Friends of WPCC) is accommodation, transport and entry to all exhibitions and dinner at Old Parliament House. To book your seat or for more information please contact Chris Smyth on 02 6884 1179.

This post originally appeared in the Daily Liberal on 24th January 2009.

A Guiding Light

One of the most satisfying things you can do is guide at the WPCC. You learn new things, work with a great group of people, and get the unique opportunity to share your passion and enthusiasm with a whole range of visitors.
The WPCC is having an information session for new guides this Wednesday (28th Jan) at 2.30pm. You'll learn what it takes to be a WPCC guide, find out about the training sessions, and get to meet people that are already guides who'll share with you the enjoyment they get from what they do.
So if you are thinking of taking your interest in art or heritage one step further, come down to the WPCC this Wednesday. It could be the best thing you do all year.

Things for the Kids

Where can kids learn to make art in a creative atmosphere, with fully equipped and air-conditioned studios, expert tuition by practising artists and art professionals and have an exclusive tour of the Gallery thrown in? At the Western Plains Cultural Centre, that’s where! We specialise in providing entertainment, fun and learning opportunities for kids (just don’t mention the word ‘education’ and they will be eager to enrol!).

School holiday workshops start on Tuesday 20 through until Friday 23 January and cater for kids from five – 15 years old, with two hour workshops for beginners and five hour Master Workshops (including a lunch break) for the older or more experienced artists. There are clay, photography and painting workshops to choose from.

Lara Scolari, who holds a Diploma in Fine Arts and is currently undertaking a Post Graduate residency in Fine Arts at Dubbo Western Institute of TAFE will introduce kids to a unique way to apply paint. Lara enjoys working with children and with her enthusiasm and vibrant personality brings out the creative flare in all children.

Kent Buchanan, Assistant Curator at the WPCC, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Media and a Diploma of Education. Kent has extensive experience in exhibitions, education and is a practising artist in his free time – his specialty is photography. His laid back demeanour and quirky sense of humour makes him a hit with the kids.

Milena Sallustio studied Fine Arts and Ceramics at Curtin University, ANU, Canberra School of Art and Dubbo Western Institute of TAFE. She has studied oversees and is a part-time teacher and technical assistant at TAFE. Milena enjoys working with kids and taking them on a spiritual discovery exploring symbols and their interpretations whilst wrist-deep in clay.

These programs are a great way to finish the school holidays on a high and allow mums and dads the time to do that last minute school shopping whilst keeping the kids entertained.

Once the school term starts up again - how about encouraging your child to join a gang? Art Gang! that is. The group meets once a week on a Monday from 4 to 5.30 pm during Term 1 and 3 and caters for nine – 15 year olds. The young artists will receive expert tutelage from two well-known local practising artists; Lara Scolari and Leanne Watt. Leanne has worked with children for many years and is widely recognised in the field of creative water-colours. Her work is currently displayed in regional galleries and in private collections both here and overseas.

The program series covers themes explored in current exhibitions on show at the Dubbo Regional Gallery – Armati Bequest and the budding artists will learn all about the exuberance and texture of colour and paint balanced with the beauty and delicacy of watercolours as well as all the technical stuff in between. The course starts on 9 February and runs until 6 April with a minimal investment of $250 (or $200 for Friends of WPCC). Don’t leave it too late as bookings are filling fast!

For further details, check out our flier or phone reception on 6801 4444. Bookings are confirmed on payment. Don’t forget, the WPCC has free entry, is air-conditioned with icy cold refreshments available from The Outlook Café – a great place to hang out during the blistering hot summer months.

Entertaining the relatives

And so, in this time of the Global Financial Crisis, Australians have flocked, in fact more rightly swarmed, to typical holiday destinations of our country’s past. Up and down the coast caravan parks and camping grounds are groaning under the weight of visitor numbers. Newspapers are full of happy snaps of kids in ‘rashies’ frolicking in the sun whilst adults watch on benignly from the shade of the awnings. (Of course what they don’t take photos of is the effect on some visitors toes from one too many thongless visits to the communal showers.) Australia is suddenly cool (and cheap).

Dubbo may or may not also be under this financial spell. Things seem busier, Macquarie Street comes to a complete halt more frequently, and there is a longer wait for coffee at the bakery. This might just be the people of Dubbo trying to fill in time during these seemingly endless summer holidays – I have no idea – but I’m going to assume that many people are hosting relatives, friends, and slight acquaintances met at a dinner party whom you drunkenly declared ‘must come to Dubbo’.

And so, I’ve decided to provide you with some interesting facts about the WPCC’s collection that you can use to impress your visitors. Simply memorise these tasty morsels and you’ll soon be on your way to cultural and historical stardom.

Beast by Ben Quilty: This large painting currently on show as part of In-Captivity exhibition appears to be of a large Budgie. What it really is, is a young tattooed man called Beast. Now if you think of young tattooed men as hoons in utes who scream up and down your quiet street, you might consider them a nuisance, but if you think of them as colourful natives birds who add vibrancy to our harsh landscape, then you might tend to be a bit more sympathetic. Of course real budgies don’t park outside your house playing “Soulja Boy” at two in the morning, so there’s only so far you can go with that analogy. Another interesting fact is that the thickly layered paint took over two years to dry – it spent most of that time lazily propped up in the artist’s garage – probably much like the original Beast himself.

The Australian Hero: Speaking of hoons, the love of a fast colourful car goes well back in Australian history. The Australian Hero is a wagon capable of carrying 407 bags of wheat in the early 1900s, though it is now the sturdy colour of sun-bleached wood, it was once a rather fetching bright red and blue - and although not fast, having the top speed of a somewhat disinterested bullock, it was powerful, later on boasting (get ready for this one) 12 horse power! A cheap joke true, but one that guests are obliged, under international treaty, to laugh at.

The Steadman Cloth: Ethel Steadman owned a combined fruit-shop and milk bar in Talbragar Street. Those souls brave enough to venture into the back room, would find Ethel sitting at a table covered by an embroidered cloth. It was here that she would tell your fortune. It was also said that you only had to enter the store and she would have your box of fruit already at the counter, ready to be picked up (although it is possible only locals got this special treatment). In 1936 Ruby Green was murdered in Dubbo and Ethel directed the police to look in the river for her body. Noted tracker Alex Riley was despatched and promptly found the unfortunate lass. So there you are - armed with these few facts, you can amaze friends and relatives, and, if you wish, those slight acquaintances.

This post first appeared in the Daily Liberal on January 10, 2009.

Missing Updates

Sorry all. We were having trouble posting to our blog, and this may have affected others trying to comment. It seems to be cleared up now so it should be business as usual for th erest of the year!