promotes an understanding of the world with a local, national and international perspective.
Current Exhibitions
During 2011 Riddoch Art Gallery will display exhibitions at their Exhibtion DepARTment the ex Fidlers Ladies Wear Department, 60 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier.
conversel(ly): dialogue and highlights among the Artist's Voice
1 July - 23 July 2011
This is an exhibition of Contemporary Art from 'The Artist's Voice' group of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Region.
Kathleen MUNN, Mandala From A Lost Forest II
Forthcoming Exhibitions
Converse(ly) is the final exhibition at Riddoch Art Gallery Exhibition DepARTment, our temporary exhibition space whilst we have been closed. The Gallery expects to reopen in December 2011 in it's revamped facilities as part of the Main Corner. Please watch this site for more details.
Recent Exhibitions
The Lost Tools of Henry Hoke
27 May - 25 June 2011
Henry Hoke is Autralia's very own Thomas Edison, only he's non-existent. The Lost Toold of Henry Hoke pays tribute to this eccentric, fictionalised inventor. Hoke's peculiar creations - such as the barbed wire watering can, rubber scres, smoke hammer and pointless nails are autally a collection of hilarious tradesman tricks.
Barbed Wire Watering Can
Rita Hall Museum Studies 1969-2009
Friday 25 March- Saturday 14 May 2011
Open Wed-Fri 11am-2pm Sat 10am-12pm
Other times by appointment
Image Left: Rita HALL, Red Breasted Bird, 2007
The works of acclaimed Australian artist Rita Hall will feature at the Riddoch Art Gallery’s Exhibition DepARTment as part of Country Arts SA-Visual Arts Touring Program.
Rita Hall-Museum Studies 1969-2009 chronicles her volume of work influenced by the collections at the South Australian Museum over the past 40 years.
Including 22 recent paintings and 11 drawings, the artworks create a unique museological interpretation.
Her current paintings, drawings and monotypes are based on studies of bird skins in the museum’s ornithology department.
Since graduating from the SA School of Art in 1968, Rita has forged an impressive reputation in the Australian arts scene, with her work featuring in state and national collections.
She was a finalist in 2003, 2005 and 2007 Waterhouse Natural History Prize and achieved similar success in other competitions across Australia.
Rita’s ongoing affair with the museum started when she visited the venue as a child, then as a student and as a parent of a daughter who shared her passion.
Over many years, Rita built lasting relationships with staff members of the museum who supported her endeavours and often loaned her non-collection specimens to take home and study.
Rita meticulously explored the museum’s collections of birds, reptiles and mammals through her preferred mediums of printmaking and etching.
“This exhibition represents four decades of constant practice, with many twists and turns,” Ms Hall said. “I am personally thrilled to have been given this opportunity to show a retrospective of this particular strand in my life’s work, and to see the growth over the years.”
In 2004, Rita abandoned printmaking and assumed the challenge of painting – a pleasure that in the past she had tried and given up in frustration.
“Once I got the hang of putting paint on canvas, I again went to the museum to find suitable ‘painterly’ subjects,” Rita said.
“As always I need to be astonished by the subject before I can attempt to make art from it. I do not intend to stop; I hope to continue to visit the SA Museum, to see where else I may find new inspiration for my work.”
Country Arts SA, Visual Arts Manager Rob Johnston said he was delighted to have the celebrated exhibition as part of Country Arts SA-Visual Arts Touring program.
“Rita Hall, long an artist of note and a teacher of distinction provides audiences with drawn and painted images from a museum realm seldom experienced by most,” Mr. Johnston said.
“Rita Hall-Museum Studies 1969-2009 introduces us to an environment which may seem macabre but which in the hands of such a talented artist introduces us to the essence of beauty in death.”
Rita Hall: Museum Studies 1969-2009 is a presentation of Country Arts SA-Visual Arts Touring Program, which provides regional South Australian communities with access to the highest quality visual art, craft and design exhibitions available.
The Maharajah's Garden
4 May- 7 May 2011
Be inspired by the new Australian Textile Arts and Surface Design Association travelling suitcase exhibition. A brilliant array of exotic and vibrant textile art works inspired by the Majarajah's Garden, a place of richness and brillian colour.
Tree Bunting, The Majarajah's Garden
Archers Arcadia
Dave Archer
Friday 18 February- Saturday 19 March 2011
Open Wed-Fri 1pm-4pm Sat 10am-12pm
Other times by appointment
David Archer is a contemporary
automata* artist living in South Australia. Archer's interest in self-operating machines and
passion for arcade style machines began in his childhood. It was
encouraged by his father, an engineer and part-time inventor.
David handcrafts all of his works with many of the components being constructed from scrapped machinery and recycled materials.
His
works are wry vehicles for ideas and narrations in the tradition of
mechanical representations found on Victorian and Edwardian seaside piers. They
provide an escape into fantasy or give humorous insights into the human
condition.
David’s dream is to have his collection of interactive automata,
“Archer’s Arcadia”, travel as a spectacular show around the country and overseas.
Just
like the traditional travelling show, Archer’s art circus is poised to
hit the road with supportive trappings including banners, posters,
appropriate music and a sideshow tent interior. This enables him to set
up an exhibition in any venue be it festival, gallery, town hall or
other public space.
Roll Up! Roll Up!
Above: Dave ARCHER, Pearls before Swine.
Water powered mechanical sculpture that swallows pearls and transforms them into smallgoods, 190x55x130 cm
* Automata is a self-operating machine, sometimes used to describe a robot
Courtney Bignell
'Seeds of Consciousness'
Friday 3 December -Saturday 22 January 2011
Courtney Bignell's photographs are a visual exploration of what can happen when we strip the human condition of everything that our culture and society has engrained within us; this absurd system of endless signs and abstractions. What is left behind is man; an animal; a consciousness; a naturalness that is not at odds with the landscape of the natural world, but in fact part of it. A being existing by the laws of its own intrinsic nature.
This isn’t a utopian idea that Bignell considers to be a feasible working reality, these are simply moments in time; or rather moments when our linear notion of time stops, and we can actually exist within this realm of the unimaginable.
Creatrices Textile Artists
'Memories in Stitch' Friday 5 November -Saturday 27 November 2010
Julie Anne McEwen, 2010
Creatrices was formed at the end of 2007 and is group of six members who share a passion for textiles and fibres. The group comprising Bernadette Clifford, Hilda Henderson, Glenys Hughes, Maureen Klintberg, Julie Ann McEwen and Peggy Schwarz call themselves ‘CREATRICES’ from the plural of creatrix – a woman who creates anything.
The group encourages and provides means for experimentation in textile and fibre media and techniques. Stepping away from traditional constraints, they however, may still use some traditional skills and techniques and materials.
“Memories in Stitch” is the second exhibition for CREATRICES. One of the aims of the group is to take textiles out to the public arena. Working in a variety of media and continually exploring a diverse range of techniques, the six (6) members meet monthly for the exchange of ideas and information. Members attend local and national forums and workshops (some with international tutors) towards developing new skills to express their ideas and thoughts visually.
The art works for this exhibition reflect memories of life and the environment. Each member selected personal memories and individual style and techniques to convey their ideas. All works incorporate stitch in its various forms, whether traditional or contemporary, abstract or realistic.
The opening night for Memories in Stitch will be held on Friday November 5, 5:30pm – 7:30pm at Molten Chocolate Café. Previous openings have been a great success with all of the community welcome. Artwork is for sale and will be on view until 27 November.
Jacinta de Brie-Delaney
'Icebergs, Cumulus Clouds & Humanity'
Friday 1 October -Saturday 30 October 2010
Jacinta de Brie Delaney is a passionate artist with her work being a culmination of her inner thoughts and dreams as well as social and political statements. De brie is influenced by her environment with the concept of her works developing over time. Iceburgs, Cumulus Clouds & Humanity is an exhibition of highly emotive works. The focus is on the changing seasons and the changing seasons of people’s lives. De brie states “That often what appears to be is not. Like what appears on the surface of an iceberg is not”. De brie poses the questions of ‘what lays beneath the surface’ and ‘if uncovered what would we truly see?’
The exhibition has also produced some more decorative pieces with an emphasis on movement and emotion within them. Her application of paint has been a reflection of emotions also.
A mother of four beautiful children and a Secondary art teacher at St Martins Lutheran College, de Brie somehow finds time for her own artistic pursuits. Those whose visit her exhibition will be glad that she does find time as her works are passionate and intense and a great pleasure to view.
Image: Jacinta dE BRIE DELANEY, 2010
Sole Sisters
Friday 3 September - Saturday 25 September 2010
After successful exhibitions in 2008 and 2009 the Sole Sisters are back!
Take five female graphic designers, all of whom run their own businesses, take them out of the confines of their normal working environment and what do you get? It's "Sole Sisters'"
Bianca Gillin, Melissa Horton, Kristyn Jones, Simone Kain and Anna Mitchell all have a passion for creating. As 'soloists' they rarely have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists in day-to-day proceedings. The Sole Sisters Collective enables them to break free from the artistic restrictions imposed on them in their working lives, and allows them to work together to explore themes with total creative freedom.
Artworks featured in the Molten exhibition are a prelude to the Sole Sisters upcoming exhibition 'Of Beauty Rich and Rare', in which they will explore the beautiful surrounds of the Limestone Coast and its five "C's" - Caves, Craters, Coast, Coorong and Coonawarra.
Gallery 54 - Selected Artists
Friday 6 August - Saturday 28 August 2010
Members of Gallery 54 at Penola are the artists that exhibit this month at Molten Chocolate Café. Opening night of the exhibition will be held Friday 6 August at 5:30pm with works on view until Saturday 28 August 2010.
Gallery 54 is an artists’ collective situated in Penola, South Australia, formed in 1997 by artists of the region.
Currently there are 16 members displaying works at the Gallery including pottery, painting, print making, sculpture, jewellery and textiles.
The works on display at Moltens Chocolate Café covers a range of media from a selection of Gallery 54 members. Participating members include Robert Miles, Anne Miles, Lauren Minge, Gail Bradley, Jean McArthur, Julie Ann McEwen, Sue Sullivan and Stephanie Yoannidis. Image Left: Anne MILES
'Exposed - What happens after hours'
Staff from Country Arts SA, Riddoch Art Gallery & Tafe
Friday 2 July - Saturday 31 July 2010
They are often unseen and unheard............. They are the staff that work extremely hard behind the scenes to deliver first class visual arts to our region. Now it is their turn to be in the exhibition spotlight.
Participating staff and artists include Lucia Pichler, Director, Riddoch Art Gallery: Carly Jakutavicius, Community Engagement Officer, Riddoch Art Gallery: Chris Pudney, Administration Officer, Riddoch Art Gallery: Jo Fife, Gallery Assistant, Riddoch Art Gallery: Bronwyn Mitchell, Gallery Assistant, Riddoch Art Gallery: Dagny Strand, Lower South East Arts Officer, Country Arts SA: Deb Rogers, Lecturer, Visual Arts and Craft, Tafe: Anne Carpenter, Lecturer, Visual Arts and Craft, Tafe.
Come and see the 'Exposed' during the month of July at Molten Chocolate Cafe.
Image Left: Dagny STRAND, The Swimmer Wakes?, 2010
JoJo Spook - Iron Maidens
Friday 4 June - Saturday 26 June 2010
JoJo has always enjoyed using a variety of mediums and in particular welded metal and found objects. JoJo’s favourite work is based on the painful etiquette of fashion: shoes, corsets and clinched waists.
The metal in her works are heated and hand formed then welded or riveted. The harsh materials then contorted and transformed into a sensuous lush fashion piece. Resembling cage like appearances the work has elements of the corset, transforming ones shape and the desire to be beautiful at whatever the cost, together with the urge to buy fashion pieces for all occasions. Consumerism has brainwashed many with flashy advertising and the desire to spend money. We as consumers are lured into a false sense of security when we chase the item of purchase and believe that these items will not only make a change but transform our lives for the better. The viewer, through her works can see the link between feminism, domesticity and the changes in society today.
Image: JoJo SPOOK, Winged Angel & Church, 2010
Friday 7 May - Saturday 29 May 2010
Everyday is comprised of things that we have to do, and in amongst our daily tasks can be moments of joy, excitement and relaxation, the challenge is to embrace those moments and...just do.
Susie has always loved the smaller things in life like, collecting eggs, walking in the rain, watching raindrops fall onto a puddle or riding a bike.
Some of Susie’s subject matter has captured people escaping daily routines and is a comment on human nature. Her appreciation of the simple things in life has resulted in the emergence of a new body of work, depicting a very ’human’ and ‘undemanding’ side to our existence.
Susie usually works on several pieces of work concurrently. The process of creating the pieces frees her imagination and provides many opportunities for happy accident and grace to influence the finished product.
Susie’s paintings employ layers of colours and subtly collaged printed matter. Environmental backgrounds and simplistic line work have become a prominent feature of her work. The images provide clues to content and interpretation.
Just do is part of Riddoch Art Gallery’s Beyond The Gallery Doors program of 2010. It is a program which is seeing normal exhibition programming outside of the Gallery walls due to the redevelopment of the main corner.
Image: Susie CLARKE, Take That Holiday, 2010
Sandy Heenan & Maggie Baguley
Discovering the Extraordinary
Thursday 1 April
- Saturday 1 May 2010
Through textile and mixed media the artists describe that they have “tried to express the integrity of nature, the hidden beauty of detail. We stopped, looked and lingered to discover the mystery kept out of sight, viewing the ordinary with fresh eyes to discover the extraordinary”.
Image: Sandy HEENAN
The Friendly ShowCelebrating 25 years of the Friends of Riddoch Art Gallery Saturday 26 September - Sunday 25 October 2009
In celebration of 25 years of the Friends of Riddoch Art Gallery a selection of artwork from the Riddoch collection will be on view. Approximately 30 works have been acquired through funds raised by the Friends which we are pleased to present.
Catastrophe, Courage
and CommitmentThe Story of the Wreck of the Admella 6th August 1859
7th August to 20th September
It was August 5th 1859, The SS Admella a luxury steamer set sail from Port Adelaide to Melbourne. At the time, the ship was praised as one of the safest and most luxurious ships ever built. However, the storm on the next day was ferocious, and forced the Admella onto Carpenter Rocks. The lodge ship split into 3 parts. 100 people were stranded on the rocks and had to wait 8 days before the could be rescued. This exhibition relives this historical event. See a model of the SS Admella, view a collection of artifacts that survived the wreck, read about our local ancestors, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Fidler, and Dr. Wehl and their attempts to rescue the stranded passengers, and read of the stories of other heroic rescuers.
Iris
FrameLand of Fantasy
1st September to 20th September 2009
Iris Frame collection is a recent acquisition for the Riddoch Collection.
Mrs.
Iris Frame (1915-2003) was born in the Murray River and lived her last
years in Tarpeena. Over her lifetime she would have painted
thousands of paintings. Unfortunately, many paintings were
lost,
so the series of works that the Riddoch obtained are from her last
period of life. From the 1950's onwards she created
mythological creatures that inhabitated the southeast landscape of
South Australia. Frame incorporated lyrical poems into her
paintings. One painting, Sharra Sharra Wira Lees she refers
to
them as rascals and they are responsible in her mythological
landscape for turning the
- "...The more you look at her work, the more you see. Naturally, the work speaks for itself visually, and critics no doubt will make their own judgement in good time."
- Rimas Riauba, artist/writer
- For further information on Iris Frame and her work listen to Lucia Pichler, Director, Riddoch Art Gallery on ABC Radio. Click Jewel: Iris Frame