Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 10 : Record of press coverage, March 1982 - May 1984

The Co uri e r-Mail 6 Octobe r 1982 Gallery kites take wing THERE Is so much to see at the Queensland Art Gallery that no-one could attempt to·take ii all in a single VISII. . Furthermore, it is now great to sec installed Pclcr Travis' constclla1ion or nine colorfol kites - suspended over the water-mall - and gaze up at them, and down to 1heir rcncclions in 1he wa– ter. It was h~rd lo imagine what they would contribute before the rather dis– turbing big boxes with the rubber trees had been removed. Arter the reception for the Queen, the vertical tails (which would obstruct the view), will be inslallcd and the magic effect will be complete. The kites, each or them an elongated hexagon, will be lilted forward to offer a fuller view. The lowesl or 1hc I ails was an inverted rainbow, Peter Travis ex– plained to me. As one could expect rrom Peter i:ravis, he fulfilled his exciting commis– sion for a special localion wilh "nying colors". One or 1he cxhibilions offering at 1hc Queensland Art Gallery is "A Survey or Contemporary Australian Crarts" organised by the Queensland Art Gal~ lcry for our festive weeks and for tour– ing in other states. However, the bcsl thing about it is that the collection is now embodied into the gallery's own possessions. . It is a fairly large survey, represent– ing what was though! best in all states and focussing on clay, fibre and fabric' and metal and jewellery. ' In the pottery section, the emphasis has been ralhcr on spectacular large exhibition pieces. It includes decorative pols by most of our best ceramic artists, as well as cc– r~mic sculpture, ranging from the se– rious, monumental works by Joan Campbell and Marcea Gazzard to the funny , satirical "Bella Casa" by San– dra Taylor, where pigs inhabil lounge and swimming pool. In the jewellery and mclalworks sec– tion, some fine pieces by Queensland metalsmiths. such as Don Ross Francis Wildt, Lyal Twcedalc and Da;id Clay– ton arc included alongside works by some well -known figurcs,in other · states. · The fabric section cannot stand the competition of lhc exlra11rdinary Brit– ish cxhibi1ion, "Fabric and Form", dis– played in the adjoiningspa ces. Juli a Fcddcrscn 's '' Flore Sculplurc/ Review but also the particular taste of the sole selector. And a fine one it is. Mumcn" is the outslanding exception in the Australian fibre works. Above all, Brennan-Wood was inter– es1cd in individual, creative ideas. He looked out, not just for textile pro·rcs– sionals, but for artists who happen to use all sorts of materials and combina– tions to explore their potentials, to ex– press ideas about form, color, light space and tcxlurc, and to reveal content ~i1hout use of figurative reprcsenta– llon. Of course, other works give pleasure, for example, Peter Tully's amazing "Body Sculpture" and Wilma Hollist's lovely "Coat". · The British Council/Cnft Council Exhibition "Fabric and Form" makes nonsense of any attempt to separate arts and crafts, or painting and sculp– ture. The works by the 12 artists have been selected by Michael Brennan– Wood, himself a fine arlist and includ– ed. The result has been a collection which is varied, stimulating, exciling and beautiful. The selection rcncc1s not only the talent there is in that area in Britain, The exhibition, u well u the semi• nan held by Brennan-Wood, arc bound to have a luting effect. ' - Dr GERTRUDE LANGER Festival '82 bursts Into the Queensland Art Gal– lery with elrht spectacu– lar new exhibitions. Costumes, masks and jewellery of the Com– monwealth ls a stunning colledlon of priceless pieces from 62 countries. Some are ancient (the jewelled weddlnr saris of lndh& and Sri Lanlu.l, others futuristic (the slinky deslrns of Jean Muir and Zandn Rhodtsl, Jewellery and masks nnce from Far Eastern devll masks to a rold wire pari)' mask created for Blanca Janer. Hlchllcht of the show Is the Princess of Wales' weddlnc dress. Continuing anUI De• cembtr5. * * * The Cnfts Councll Gallery at the Commu– nlt)' Arts Centre has an esoUc show coverlnr Australia, New Zealand, the Soloman lslanm, Pitcairn Island and Papua New Guinea with crafts from woodcarvlnr to silk batik. Upst.alr.i, the Aborlrl• nal potter Thankouple and the Papuan artist Jakupa show their unique developments of traditional themes and lerends. Both shows conUnulnr until October 10. * * * The show at the Sher– ld11n Gallery, Blocksldre and Ferpson Balldlnr, Adelaide St has a his• tortcal noartsh. Called "9 • 5" (the UUe of the ort(inal 1889 tll· hlbltlon b)' the lmpres• slonlsta Robena, Stree– ton and Conder), It ln– clades woru b)' Patrick Kllvlnc&on, Pro-Hart and Ed Devenport. Contlnalnr until Oc– tober 10.