Closure

2^nd September the  Exhibition opened.  2^nd 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 Milan, Spoleto and Sydney.  Stefano, Raffaella and Simeone bought Samantha Hobson’s Firey Family and we all enjoyed lunch in the Gallery’s closing period from 13:00 to 15:30.

 

In the afternoon Rosella, a friend from Poreta came and particularly enjoyed the textiles.  An architect from Rome drifted in offering “complimenti” on departure and leaving contact details for follow up.  Then Norma and Laurie arrived with our mutual artist friend, Desiree, from Sydney.  Carolina made a video of this final guided tour of the Art Gang and Red Desert Country show.  Desiree was amazed at the scale of the show and the diversity of the works presented.  And as always encouraging communications from Rachel at the Austrade office in Milano.  I formally presented the gifts of appreciation to the Mayor Massimo Brunini on behalf of the collaborating partners. The gifts of paintings and a textile to the people of Spoleto will ensure there is an enduring memory of this Exhibition of Indigenous Contemporary Art from Australia.

 

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 12^th October to 11^th November there is an Exhibition of works from Lockhart River and Better World Arts textiles.

In Milan, a private event on 24^th 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