Exhibition Highlights of the Week #2 - 

as chosen by Imke Beutmann, Senior Architect, 
Quadrant Design Architects.

Simon NOWICKI, “Mussel Man (Ortigia, Sicily)” (no 8, Digital Type C Print, $380)

Imke’s first choice for the Exhibition Highlight of the Week is “Mussel Man (Ortigia, Sicily)”, by the respected Melbourne-based photographer Simon Nowicki. It depicts a mussel gatherer partially submerged under water, which abstracts his lower torso and legs. “This is a very striking and iconic image,” says Imke of the photograph. “Nowicki’s camera turns the simple fisherman into a mythical-looking sea creature, like a modern-day Poseidon, ruler of the seas.” 

Judy PERFECT, “Innocent as a Lamb”, (no 111, Watercolour, $400)

Judy Perfect’s “Innocent as a Lamb” also caught Imke’s eye as an Exhibition Highlight of the Week. This is one of the four watercolours in the exhibition by the artist featuring birds and animals. “What I admire most about this work is Judy’s technical abilities,” comments Imke. “The work is very minimal, as the artist applied diluted pigments in very thin layers. Yet the image of the baby lamb is immediately recognisable, and she has also caught something of its character.”

Maria BARBARO, “Beach Babes 2”, (no 81, acrylic on linen, $495)

Imke’s third Highlight of the Week is “Beach Babes II”, by the Melbourne-based award-winning artist Maria Barbaro. Maria’s selection of works in the exhibition highlights the diversity of her artistic practice and includes paintings as well as limited edition linocuts. “Beach Babes II” is also one of the numerous paintings, watercolours, and photographs in the exhibition featuring the beach, reflecting Australia’s love affair with ‘surf and sun’. “Barbaro has really caught the atmosphere and the diffused effects of sunlight in this painting,” observes Imke. “I also enjoy her sharp and tongue-in-cheek observation of the women. Some are fully covered up, others are sunburnt, and some had lowered their bathing suit straps as one would do to avoid tan lines.”

View complete exhibition online at  http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/summer-exhibition.html 

All works in the exhibition are available for sale and immediate pick-up - a perfect and unique gift for Christmas!

This is the last week to see Peter MacPhie’s exhibition of exquisite nude studies, ‘Emotional Tone’.

Today we are highlighting perhaps one of the smallest drawings in the exhibition, ‘Model and Her Sock’ (charcoal, chalk and oil pastel on paper, 47 x 24 cm, $450). The drawing displays Peter’s remarkable skills in capturing, with just a few sharp, quick and confident outlines, the pose and the kinetic energy of the model. 

Do not miss the last chance to see Peter’s exhibition before it closes this weekend. 
See http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/peter-macphie.html for more details.

This week’s Work of the Week from Peter MacPhie’s exhibition of drawings is ‘Study # 1’ (no. 12, charcoal on paper, 66 x 45 cm, $880).

The exhibition showcases Peter’s body of work which stems from his assiduous drawing exercises in the life studios of Melbourne and Victoria. The simplicity of the drawing belies the complexity of the pose. ‘Study # 1’ is distinguished by the fluidity and quality of its lines and bold foreshortenings.

The exhibition is on view at the gallery until Saturday, 26 October.