Maz November 12th, 2011
'Far North Queensland -- Port Douglas 1992' by Brett Whiteley
On a recent trip to Sydney, I spent some time in gentrified Surry Hills, a previously rundown suburb on the southern edge of the city. It now boasts some of the grooviest new restaurants, cafes, furnishing & homewares and edgy shops in Sydney. Art Galleries also seem to be multiplying (7 are listed in the very useful Surry Hills Walkabout guides found in every shop www.urbanwalkabout.com).
I can particularly recommend the Brett Whiteley Studio. This is where one of Australia’s most celebrated artists lived and worked from 1988 to 1992 – and it’s one of Sydney’s best kept secrets. The Studio exhibits a changing selection of Whiteley’s work. Go upstairs and you get glimpses into his private world, with his sketchbooks, photographs, music and personal memorabilia. It’s free and open on Saturdays & Sundays 10am-4pm at 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills. (Don’t be put off if the heavy wooden door is closed with a note saying: “Warning, don’t enter if nudity offends”. Often life drawing classes are in progress.
Marilyn March 3rd, 2007
Gourmet Traveller Magazine’s March 2007 issue has a really interesting article about Aboriginal and Tiwi Island art. It is accompanied by a marvellous photo of paintings exhibited on the white-painted trunks of palm trees in Darwin’s Botanical Gardens.
“It’s a world where politics is rife, where racial friction is a near-constant concern, a world that money and the market has warped, yet at its core there is work of great beauty and intrigue, a culture of great richness and depth, the longest continuing art tradition in history, that, though complex and in some ways closed to the understanding of outsiders …”
One Brisbane gallery that I can recommend, if you are interested in Aboriginal art, is the Susanne O’Connell Gallery in trendy James Street New Farm. Susanne goes directly to the source, visiting the artists so that she knows the provenance of each work. See what Susanne is exhibiting at the moment on www.suzanneoconnell.com
Marilyn November 1st, 2006
I have had a commercial art gallery (that shares the space with Baguette Restaurant) for the past 28 years. I’ve met many artists in that time and I think I can pick a winner at 40 paces.
I predict that Emma Sheldrake is an artist you will hear a lot more of … and very soon. She has the talent, the drive and the intelligence to go a long way. With 10 yrs experience behind her in graphic design, fashion and as an art director she is multi-skilled.
Her other persona as Dj Hoola (she DJs and hoola hoops!) gives her another outlet for her energy, sense of fun and creativity. She has DJd at the Lychee Lounge, Versace Hotel and events. Her love of old jazz fuses into a blend of house and electronica.
Her current exhibition at Baguette focuses on women — the images question, provoke or seduce the viewer. These women look you straight in the eye! To see more, go to www.baguette.com/gallery.
Marilyn March 16th, 2006
AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY JIM OLSSON
APRIL 1ST TO MAY 31, 2006
Baguette Gallery shares the space with the restaurant, so you can enjoy some top art as well as good food.
Jim Olsson: “One of the great and enduring fantasies of late twentieth century European thought, is the idea of the noble savage living on a remote island. It seems everybody wants to escape to Utopia on the good ship ‘Lollipop’ with Britney (or Brad) for company.”
Brisbane artist Jim Olsson taps into this need with his stunning new series of paintings, inspired by the Whitsunday Islands .. but it could easily be Moreton or the South Pacific. The ultimate SeaChange.
For more images please visit Jim Olsson’s website http://www.jimolsson-artist.com.au/
Baguette Restaurant & Gallery, 150 Racecourse Road, Ascot, Brisbane, phone: 32572884
