Thursday 25 October 2007
Stylish Exhibition with Austrade Milano
Tim Gauci welcomed invited guests to an exclusive presentation of fine art works from the Lockhart River Artgang and emerging artists from the
Thursday 18 October 2007
Next Steps
Works are ready to be shipped by road to
The Private Gallery Exhibition in Spoleto commenced on 12th October with the official opening being on 27th October. The Exhibition includes works from
See the photos of the works splendidly displayed in the Gallery.
I have had an invitation to speak as a guest Lecturer at
There has been an invitation for an artist to create an artwork at the leading four star hotel in Spoleto.
Lockhart River Art Centre has donated a painting to the Comune di Spoleto as the beginning of an indigenous contemporary art collection here in Spoleto.
While we are introducing Australian Indigenous Art to
Monday 8 October 2007
Closure
2nd September the Exhibition opened. 2nd October the Exhibition closed. Finito. Posters were removed at the entrance as another final step in closing the show.
Off up the hills to Mercato and the Café of Artists for a celebratory drink of prosecco, the Italian champagne.
Highlights of the final day were the company of friends from
In the afternoon Rosella, a friend from Poreta came and particularly enjoyed the textiles. An architect from
The works are to come off the walls over the next two days and move to two new Exhibitions:
In Spoleto, at Poli d’Arte from 12th October to 11th November there is an Exhibition of works from
In Milan, a private event on 24th October for collectors, curators and invited guests of the Australian Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Tim Gauci.
Stefano asked if my expectations had been met. Yes! Yes! Yes! In the words of Rachel from Austrade “Andrea, this is a ground breaking Exhibition and its impact will be measured in the years to come.”
As we sit here in the Mercato in Spoleto we have reflected on working on this project and how good it feels to have offered this gift of an Exhibition of the world’s oldest continuous living culture – the Aboriginal peoples and communities of Australia – to our visitors here in Spoleto.
Our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past two years and particularly over the past two months. The acknowledgement list is very long – you know who you are -gratia mille, gratia infinite.
Andrea
It is over
As we sit in Mercato Piazza to have some bubbly to celebrate the closure of the successful Exhibition, we are in a reflective mood. It is late dusk, the lights are on, people are relaxing at the end of the day. Surprisingly the music is South American so there is a carnival atmosphere.
It was 2nd September that there was so much excitement. The Exhibition was officially opened. The Ambassador, Amanda Vanstone, came from
No day of the Exhibition was the same. Andrea conducted tours of the Exhibition several times a day, sharing her background knowledge of the artists and the stories portrayed in the paintings to enraptured audiences.
I stepped into my role of administration which involved a lot of spreadsheeting, communication which involved daily trips to the internet café to send and receive emails and update the blog sites with happenings and thirdly processing the sales. There were the enforced 2.5 hour lunch hours when the Gallery was closed in keeping with Italian timetables. Mostly we railed against them and worked on in the internet café, at home or sometimes in the restaurant. Imagine sitting there over the strangozzi (pasta) with the laptop open.
With hindsight, a perfect combination of talents to keep the momentum of this great Exhibition going for four weeks and two days.
And now it is over.
Thank you to the Italian people who came and were delighted and entranced by artworks from another age, another part of the world; to the Australians who came, some of whom who knew the work and gave encouragement; and the tourists from all over who had only compliments for the works. Thank you to all who made it possible.
Tuesday 2 October 2007
FW: Sale of Denise Fruit painting
It was busy day at the Gallery with more than 60 visitors including people from the
The painting of Denise Fruit from Lockhart River Catalogue Number 26 – Red Bush Anthills was collected by Lorenzo and Bianca from Roma.
Didjeridoo Concert in the Gallery
Last Sunday 23rd September we arranged a Didjeridoo Concert in the gallery. Can you imagine that we could find a didjeridoo player in
Boys fascinated with the Didjeridoo
These boys were fascinated and tried for only a little while under Cosimo’s tutelage before they achieved a good sound and appreciation from the audience.
Friends arrive from Milano
On Sunday Stefano and Raffaella and their son Simeone arrived from Milano. We met them in the street on the way to the Gallery.
Here they are in deep discussion about the Exhibition.
Distinguished Visitor
Today we had a very distinguished visitor to the Gallery – Professor Gaetano Prampolini. Gaetano is Professor di Litterature dei Paesi di Lingua Inglese in the Faculta di Lettere e Filo Sofia at the Universite di Firenze. In summary Gaetano teaches language and culture of the English speaking countries excluding
In the picture Gaetano and Andrea check the textiles from Better World Arts.
Saturday 29 September 2007
Purchase of a painting
Friends of Wallace from Wallace’s Art House here in Spoleto were visiting for just two days. They came into the Gallery twice and purchased paintings.
Friedrich purchased a Silas Hobson – Salmon Season 2006.
Sunday 23 September 2007
Update in Spoleto
With the
Then there was a young art restorer who had spent a year in
People are asking am I pleased with the Exhibition and with the choice of Spoleto as the place for the Exhibition and the answer is a resounding “ yes”. The choice of Spoleto as the only city in Italy to see the total works was made on the grounds of the historical relationship with Australia during the 1980’s and the Festival of the Three Worlds. In curating this exhibition for Spoleto in the fiftieth anniversary year at the invitation of the Mayor of Spoleto, Massimo Brunini, we are creating an experience of offering an insight into the oldest continous living culture in the world - that of the Australian Aboriginal culture - to the city where all the cultures of the world are welcomed to present and contribute their stories and culture in this gem of a present day hill town – Spoleto in Umbria - a One World City.
The next step is to take selected works to
Spoleto:
Poli d ‘Arte
Piazza della Signoria,5
Via Duomo,27
Spoleto Tel 0743/222111
An exhibition of 10 works by Rosella Namok, Fiona Omeenyo, Samantha Hobson, Silas Hobson and introducing Joanne Butcher, emerging artist from
Maria Teresa D'Ecclesiis
"NOMADES interiors"
Via di Ripetta, 224
00186 Roma
tel.
www.nomades.it
I can be contacted on +393314489791 for private showings.
Andrea Larkin
Exhibition Director
Tuesday 18 September 2007
Evening at Virginia Ryan's
Monday 17 September 2007
Thursday 13 September 2007
Monday 10 September 2007
What is happening at the Gallery
Whew after the excitement of the opening etc we are able to give you some sense of what is happening here on the ground.
Today, Sunday was a busy and another rewarding day. There were the residents of Spoleto, surrounding areas and further afield, all out and about with their families in the beautiful warm sun perambulating up and down the medieval hill town and many of them visited our Exhibition (Art from Australia).
One young couple who came in saw details of our Exhibition on regional television and made the journey from Lake Trasimeno which is north of
They engaged with Andrea for nearly an hour while they viewed all their favourite pieces and were entranced with the stories. Another appreciative visitor from
Another couple who visited were coming home from their summer holidays to Rimini a coastal town in the far
Today our friend Wallace who is currently running a B&B in Spoleto arrived with his guest of six embroiderers from the
Also, we had a number of visitors who made a special visit to the service desk and said “complimenti on the exhibition” It is so rewarding to know that we have touched the hearts of Italians with our uniquely Australian story.
And last but not least, today the sister city to Spoleto delegation from