Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1994-95

PUBLIC PROGRAMS Exhibitions The exhibition program was selected mainly to reflect the celebration of the Gallery's centenary year. Highlights included major Australian and international exhibitions, notably 'Renoir .. .', 'Fairweather' and 'Matisse', all initiated by the Gallery for tour to art museums in several states. The Section was responsible for the development of State and Commonwealth indemnity applications, together with the preparation of contracts associated with these exhibitions, and liaised with interstate colleagues to assist in preparations for the interstate presentations. 'Fairweather' focused on the work of major Queensland artist, Ian Fairweather, whose most important works were executed during his stay on Bribie Island. Through the exhibition the Gallery succeeded in bringing to national and international prominence the importance of this artist, as evidenced by critical reviews in major international press. The exhibition was also shown at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Gallery also presented exhibitions of art works predominantly from its own Collection - 'Out of the Void .. .', 'Carved and Transformed: Artists' Furniture from the Collection', 'ContemporaryJapanese Prints from the Collection of the Queensland Art Gallery', 'Articulate Surfaces: Three Print Cycles from the Collection' and 'Small Monuments'. part of the Gallery's Collection, and to execute a complementary mud painting, Brisbane River mud circle. The Gallery continued its tradition of providing space in Gallery 14 for site-specific installation works by Australian artists, including Geoffrey Weary's Objects for the Blind, and provided considerable exhibition support to Luke Roberts's Wunderkammer/Kunstkamera. The latter incorporated many rarely exhibited works from the Collection within this 'museum of curiosities' which attracted much public interest. Through the Gallery 14 program, Mona Ryder was assisted with the installation of her Mother Other Lover in the Gallery's watermall. This took place following the transfer of David Wilson's sculpture, Hope sleeping - grand disguise, to the lower pond of the Gallery's external sculpture courtyard. Newly acquired contemporary Asian art from the Gallery's Collection formed the basis of several exhibitions. These included 'ContemporaryJapanese Prints .. .' and 'Calligraphic Expressions: Calligraphy from the Collection', showing the substance now achieved through the Gallery's focus on acquiring works from the Asia-Pacific region. The Gallery continued to rotate works on paper in its permanent display of Asian art in the ARCO Gallery of Asian Art. The Gallery is grateful to the Brisbane and Gold Coast Chapter of the Sogetsu School of lkebana for continuing to create weekly floral arrangements for the ARCO Gallery. The Gallery also presented an exhibition of works The Gallery reaffirmed its commitment to a fully donated by Grace Davies and Nell Davies, in representative presentation of its Collection by recognition of their consistent patronage over four specific works-on-paper rotations, frequent many years. changes of displays designed to illuminate the diversity and breadth of its Collection, as well as Workshop specific rotations and changes to celebrate the Gallery's centenary year. The Workshop undertook intensive preparation programs for several major exhibitions: 'Renoir .. .' The Gallery continued to support local and required preparation of the demountable wall system international contemporary installation artists and refurbishment of all plinths and shop fittings; through the provision of exhibition space. In 'Matisse' required preparation of the demountable particular, the Gallery was privileged to have the wall system, shop counters and fittings; 'Fairweather' respected international British artist Richard Long required preparation of the demountable wall install his work Ring of stones 1982, which now forms system and manufacture of forty frames with