Exhibitions

From ornate 19th century frames which separated works from the hurly-burly of a packed salon wall to simple wooden enclosures, frames profoundly affect the way we see a work of art. A frame draws the eye in, focusing attention on the image, or sets up a dialogue between the interior and exterior of the work. The choice of a frame is often very important to artists. A frame's relationship with the work can be theatrical or restrained, harmonious or combative. It is always significant. CAM has worked closely with renowned local frame-makers Rob Murdoch and Jill Barclay (Murdoch and Barclay) to provide insights into the manufacture and ornamentation of frames in the Castlemaine collection. The exhibition also includes a selection of contemporary works by artists passionate about the frame as a prominent aspect of their work.

This exhibition has been generously supported by the Friends of Castlemaine Art Museum (FOCAM).

Artists include: A M E Bale, Clarice Beckett, Charles Blackman, Penleigh Boyd, Louis Buvelot, Tjikalyi Colin, Peggy Crombie, Lawence Daws, Ian Fairweather, First Nations Makers, John Ford Paterson, Lenard French, Diena Georgetti, Ina Gregory, Harley Griffiths, Bernard Hall, Polly Hurry, Roger Kemp, Sidney Long, Frederick McCubbin, Max Meldrum, Mortimer Menpes, Godfrey Miller, Girolamo Nerli, Tomislav Nikolic, E Phillips Fox, Margaret Preston, Lloyd Rees, Tom Roberts, Dawn Sime, Jeffrey Smart, May Vale, Roland Wakelin, Jake Walker, Doug Watson, Percy Watson, Fred Williams, Walt Withers.

Image AME Bale, Woman in the kitchen, 1900, oil on canvas on board. Gift of Rex Stokes in memory of John Stokes, 1996. (detail)