Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1994-95

PUBLIC PROGRAMS Emerald, Gladstone, Longreach, Mackay, Mt Isa, Council for the opening of the newly refurbished Rockhampton, Townsville and Toowoomba, and Logan City Art Gallery. This recent acquisition was Lismore in northern NSW. Curators, Education accompanied by didactics and a room brochure. Officers and Exhibitions Officers implemented the Regional Services program, represented the Gallery and judged exhibitions at centres in Queensland and New South Wales including Blackall, Caboolture, Caloundra, Childers, Dalby, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Longreach, Mt Isa, Grafton, Gympie, Logan, Noosa Heads, Lismore, Rockhampton, Roma, Springsure, Warwick, Woorabinda, Toowoomba and Townsville. Total mileage travelled by Gallery personnel during the year exceeded 50 000 kilometres. 'Out of the Void .. .' was curated by the Gallery as part of the 'National Women's Art Exhibition' to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of International Women's Year. The exhibition began its regional tour in May and includes Queensland women artists Davida Allen, Marian Drew, Barbara Heath, Pat Hoffie and Anne Wallace. The tour is transported with the support of DAS Distribution and the six receiving venues - Noosa Regional Gallery, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Mackay City Library, Cairns Regional Gallery, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery and Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. An exhibition titled 'Masterworks from the Collection of the Queensland Art Gallery 1878-1962', comprising fifteen major works from the Collection, includingWilliam Dobell's The Cypriot 1940 and Ian Fairweather's Epiphany 1962 will travel to Cairns in July 1995 for the opening of the newly refurbished Cairns Regional Gallery. An exhibition from the Collection, titled 'Ancient Land, Modern Art: An Exhibition of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art', is being prepared to tour to nine regional venues throughout Queensland from October 1995. It includes paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, such as Vincent Serico's Lightning man 1994 and Thancoupie's Spherical pot 1986. This exhibition is supported by the Queensland Government with a special allocation in recognition of the Gallery's centenary. A workshop covering the areas of exhibition display, lighting and environment, and the handling and care of works of art, will be conducted by Exhibitions and Conservation staff at the Toowoomba Regional Gallery in October 1995. Requests were received for advice and assistance from local government authorities, regional galleries, committee-run galleries and art organisations. Responses included assessment of environmental conditions, advice regarding new facilities and staffing, collection management, hanging, handling, lighting, storage and packing of art works, interpreting exhibitions, reference books, implementing volunteer programs and assessment of venues for receiving touring exhibitions. Opportunities have also been created for personnel from regional areas to gain valuable experience in the packing, handling and hanging of valuable art works from the State Collection. Conservation staff condition-reported exhibitions and loans at installation and demount, extending the oppor– tunities in museological practice for volunteers and professional staff from professionally staffed regional galleries and committee-run regional galleries. Two major surveys were conducted throughout regional Queensland to provide up-to-date information and feedback on touring exhibitions and ancillary services: the feasibility of a data network in conjunction with the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland and an exhibition survey into the services offered by Regional Services and future exhibition requirements. The surveys have shown that the data network is both feasible and desirable and the exhibition survey has enabled regional communities to have direct input into exhibition development. The collated results of both surveys will enable more effective long-term planning. The Section continued to liaise with the Regional Roland Wakelin's The Bridge under construction 1928 Galleries Association of Queensland and the was on loan during February to the Logan City Queensland Arts Council to provide a range of