Inspirational new gallery: 08.01.2010
Some of our PGAV galleries are contemplating or already engaged in rebuilding or extending their gallery spaces.
The new Tate Modern might provide inspiration, although I doubt our budgets are comparable!
Loss of The City Museum: 16.12.2009
Members of the PGAV have been shocked to read that the City Museum at the Old Treasury is to close, apparently so that more weddings can take place there!
The City Museum is probably the PGAV's most elegant gallery, with its beautiful 19th century architecture. Its "Built on Gold" exhibition, telling the history of gold in Victoria, makes it particularly important for school visitors (6,000 students just this year).
But we also love it for its high quality, often quirky, exhibitions which explore a range of subjects relating to the history and development of Melbourne and Victoria. Watch out for "The Toy Box", 19 December - 14 March 2010. (Perhaps only if weddings don't get in the way!)
To read the original State Government announcement, go to:
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/9061.html
Leave a comment and we'll pass them on. MH
Your contributions welcome!: 11.12.2009
Welcome to the PGAV's brand new website. I hope you approve!
If member galleries have news for this section, please email me. Images too are most welcome. Note that you can also comment on items here.
My thanks to the designer, Dianna Wells and Virginia and Ally of Inventive Labs.
Merle Hathaway, EO
Congratulations East Gippsland Art Gallery!: 01.12.2009
The Gallery was nominated for the "Champions of the Bush" awards which aim to promote sucess, highlight the positives of living and working in regional Australia and salute those who are leading by example.
The nomination was for the exhibition "Books ...beyond words, the inaugural artists' book awards. First prize was $5,000 and the award will next be held in 2011.
At the dinner on Friday evening the East Gippsland Art Gallery found they were in the final 6 from more than 30 nominations.
And, although they didn't win, they were very happy with the recognition.
PGAV End of Year Dinner: 27.11.2009
This year the venue was the Sculpture Garden of the Duldig Studio, for canapes and champagne, followed by an excellent dinner at the nearby "Our Kitchen Table".
Usually the last event on the calendar, this is unashamedly a social event, providing an opportunity to meet with colleagues, and view in a leisurely way one of our PGAV galleries.
Get into Art! open day, 24 & 25 October 2009: 24.10.2009
Get into Art at Burrinja Gallery
On the weekend of 24 and 25 October 2009, the Public Galleries Association of Victoria held their fourth state wide Get into Art! open day.
Most PGAV galleries participated in Get into Art! with a wide range of free programmes to entice new audiences into our galleries.
There were Children's Markets, special exhibitions, workshops for children and adults, "backstage" tours of the gallery spaces, artists and curators' talks, and concerts.
Eltham Library visit: 18.08.2008
Recently I visited the beautiful Eltham Library to see the Nillumbik Shire collection.
It is a cosy building with warm ochre mud brick walls and exposed wooden beams, and roughly circular structure.
Of course, it’s a Greg Burgess design. In Horsham I loved his 1980’s Catholic Church and the stunning, later, Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Halls Gap.
The paintings are displayed on the circular ramp which leads up to the library and the excellent ceramics collection is shown in glass cases at ground level. Some of Victoria’s key early modern ceramicists are represented in this collection.
Another good reason to visit are the restaurants (two!). I had excellent chilli con carne in the one which advertises its hot chocolate as the world’s best. And it was.
Merle Hathaway, EO
