Exhibition Highlights of the Week #6: Focus on Photography

This is the last week of our truly sensational SUMMER exhibition, and today we would like to highlight a striking selection of photography in the show. Works by the photographers Simon Nowicki and Jerry Galea were highlighted in our previous posts. Today, we are looking at works by Tony Jackson, Peter Andrewartha, and Tony Pepper. Each of their photographs examines an aspect of Australian beach life, and, collectively, their works capture the spirit of Australian summer.

Tony Jackson, Summer 2 (no 167, photograph, $250)

Tony Jackson’s photograph takes us to the Eastern Beach Bathing Complex in Corio Bay, Geelong. The inventive camera angle and the image cropping of the diving board, the board walk, and its blue and red markings create crisp geometric patterns. The juxtaposition of the sea and wooden planks produces a textural contrast within the picture. The inclusion of the commemorative plaque in the lower left hand corner of the photograph informs the viewer of Jackson’s interest in conservation and preservation of Australian heritage sites. The photograph is a representative example of the artist’s ability to create a compositionally striking image imbued with a biographical narrative.

Peter Andrewartha, Shutting Down (no 174, photograph, $250)

Peter Andrewarta’s Shutting Down transports us to Philip Island, the source of inspiration for an important series of works, a number of which are included in our current exhibition. Similarly to Jackson’s work, the image showcases Andrewartha’s masterful handling of the medium. The increased shutter speed instantaneously captures the living, breathing ocean in all its turbulent glory. Within a single shot, Peter relates four different states of the wave – foreground stillness in the foreshore shallows, the turbulent dance of the cascading crest, menacing approach of the rolling surge, and the vaporous mists produced by the off-shore breeze. The expert positioning of the camera angle produces a complex layering of the picture plane within the image.

Tony Pepper, Zipper (no 182, photography, $250)


Tony Pepper’s Zipper was taken at Anglesea, a popular resort on the Great Ocean Road, and captures a local fairground, a traditional and quintessential part of an Australian sea-side town. The gradient blues of the twilight sky increase the saturation intensity of the garishly-coloured decorations. The crisp clarity of the static viewers in the foreground and the brightly-lit Zipper sign in the middle of the composition increase the perception of speed and energy of the spinning wheel. The precarious angle of the ride imbues the image with the sensation of movement.

The exhibition is current until Saturday, 1 February.

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

Exhibition Highlights of the Week #4 – as selected by Tony Jackson, Director, Quadrant Design Architects.

Jerry GALEA, “Untitled” (no 1, photography and mixed media on paper, $500)

Tony Jackson’s first choice for the Exhibition Highlight of the Week is “Untitled”, by Jerry Galea, professional photographer and freelance photojournalist for leading national and international periodicals. “I am drawn to this image because it conjures up the feeling of a hot summer night, when the last light of the dusk creates its own shapes and shadows, and immerses the landscape in meditative and contemplative mood. It is an image that is at once laconically simple and compositionally complex; tonally subtle yet texturally rich.” 

Ross MILLER, “The Boat – La Barca” (no 121, bronze sculpture, $1,000)

Tony has also singled out “The Boat – La Barca”, by the sculptor Ross Miller. “This is a delightful scene embodied in a minimalist and compressed way. It really captures in my opinion the romance of Venice and the summery feel of lazy afternoons by the canal. The verdigris patination of the bronze sculpture conveys something of that all-pervading aroma of the famous canals, lagoons, and innumerable waterways. The elevated platform of the sculpture suggests a setting for a drama; its descending steps create an illusion, a nexus to the underworld.”

Jane WILSON, “From the Verandah” (no 88, water-soluble oils, $550)

Tony Jackson’s third Exhibition Highlight of the Week is “From the Veranda”, by Jane Wilson. “The simplicity and originality of the composition, its unusual cropping, the artist’s skills, and surface textures are delightful in this picture. It truly captures how the crows – or in this case butcher birds – love hanging out in the field with that inimitable attitude. I readily respond to the way in which Wilson depicts the birds. There is always that mixture of humour and menace that makes you wonder just what are they thinking about when they stare at you. I feel that that clump of trees in the background is a haven that the birds might need, for they are not as tough as they would like to appear, and will retreat into the trees then time comes.”

 The exhibition is current until Saturday, 1 February.

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

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!

SUMMER exhibition features 182 works by more than fifty artists, and this week we have asked Pam Jackson, Director of Quadrant Gallery, to select three works as 'Exhibition Highlights of the Week'.

Pam selected the following works: 


Judy PERFECT, Fine Feathers (no 110, watercolour, $400): 

"This delightful work shows the skill of the artist very well – the expert blending of the pigment and the light touch of the artist has created an image of a bird that has both dignity and personality. It is the simplicity of this image that makes it work. It needs nothing else."

Sonja ROBAR, The Surfers (no 75, mixed media, $295):

"The Surfers epitomises Summer – the theme of this exhibition. The artist has created an iconic Australian image using photography and digital imaging. Mounted on an aluminium backing, this work has a very contemporary look that verges upon abstract. Robar has chosen a classic summer scene of surfers at the beach, but has cleverly avoided cliché in the use of her unique view and presentation of the work."

Darren GILBERT, Seed Head (no 6, metal & wood sculpture, $795):

"This work has an elegance of shape despite the medium of rusted metal and rough wood. It symbolises the balance of life in the Australian countryside: the necessity of making do with what you have yet creating something beautiful from it. The delicacy of shape belies the tough core of metal – something that seeds need to survive and flourish."



All works in the exhibition are available for sale and immediate collection. 

The exhibition is open until Saturday, 1 February 2014 (by appointment only between 23 December 2013 and 13 January 2014).

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

This week’s Work of the Week from Tony Jackson’s exhibition ‘Forest Kaleidoscope’ is ‘Forest Flight’ (no. 23, digital print on portfolio photorag paper, ed of 9, 55 x 82 cm, $550 (unframed) / $750 (framed)).

The photograph expresses Jackson’s love of nature, which provides a continuous source of inspiration for his photographs. The diffused focus allows the viewer to dwell on the essence of the background landscape. The accidental detail of the bird flying through the dense forest injects the image with a sense of movement and vitality.

The exhibition is on view at until Saturday, 23 November 2013. See the complete exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/tony-jackson.html

This week’s Work of the Week from Norm Borg’s exhibition ‘Zooids’ is ‘Dragon Eye Zoanthid’ (no. 12, glass, 19.5 x 17.0 cm, $470).

As the title of the glass sculpture suggests, Borg’s ‘Dragon Eye Zoanthid’ was inspired by the exquisite deep sea creatures, which populate coral reefs and other marine environments around the world. Their uniquely bright and vibrant colouring is masterfully conveyed by the artist. Zoanthids frequently form colonies, and just like in nature, this ‘Zoanthid’ also comes from a series of three works in the exhibition, which are available for sale individually or as a group at $1,380 (nos 11, 12 and 13).

The exhibition is on view at until Saturday, 23 November 2013. See the complete exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/norm-borg.html

This week’s Work of the Week from Janette Thompson’s exhibition ‘Birds and Mammals’ is ‘Cat Bird’ (Etching and Aquatint, ed 10/10, $ 150 (unframed) $ 290 (framed)).

This week we are profiling Thompson’s abilities as a graphic artist and printmaker. ‘Cat Bird’ is just one of a number of exquisite etchings and aquatints on view at the gallery. It showcases Thompson’s creative processes as the artist carefully traces precise lines in the plate, and the delicate tonal effects of the aquatint enliven the printed impression.


The exhibition is on view at until Saturday, 23 November 2013. See selected works from the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/janette-thompson.html

TONY JACKSON

This week’s Work of the Week from Tony Jackson’s exhibition ‘Forest Kaleidoscope’ is ‘Forest Red’ (no. 24, digital print on portfolio photorag paper, ed of 9, 55 x 82 cm, $550 (unframed) / $750 (framed)).

This photograph is distinguished for the vibrancy of its colours, as Jackson captures the clearing in the forest ablaze in the red of the setting sun. The bold contrast between the dark foreground and luminous background evoke the colour palettes of the distinguished Australian artist, Albert Tucker.

View the complete exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/tony-jackson.html

JANETTE THOMPSON

This week’s Work of the Week from Janette Thompson’s exhibition ‘Birds and Mammals’ is ‘Numbat Rising’ (no 6, pencil on arches aquarelle, 117 x 79 cm $ 950).

Thompson has perfectly caught in this drawing the marsupial’s kinetic energy as it rises on its hind paws to survey its surrounding with cautious curiosity. Like so many other drawings in the exhibition, ‘Numbat Rising’ also showcases the artist’s most meticulous execution, attention to detail, and an uncanny ability to convey the varied textures, sensations, and natural subtle colour gradations within the animal’s fur.

View selected works from the exhibition online 
at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/janette-thompson.html

NORM BORG

This week’s Work of the Week from Norm Borg’s exhibition ‘Zooids’ is ‘Mr Curly - Tea’ (no. 17, glass, 35.5 x 12 cm, $ 475).

Together with other works in the exhibition, ‘Mr Curly’ showcases Borg’s ingenuity and dexterity in handling and manipulating the malleable and yet at the same time extremely fragile medium of glass. The subtle tonal gradations within this and other glass sculptures further imbues the pieces in the exhibition with a sensation of weightlessness, elegance, and whimsicality.

View the complete exhibition online at
  http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/norm-borg.html

This week we are bringing you a selection of works from each of the three exhibitions which are currently on view at our gallery. 

Janette Thompson’s ‘Paradise Bird’ (no 13, pencil, acrylic and oil stick on arches aquarelle, $ 1,100) showcases most advantageously her artistic talents. 

The meticulous execution utilises a variety of media to create vibrantly coloured and richly textured surfaces. It is also reflective of the artist’s close observation of – and ongoing fascination with – the Australian flora and fauna, which is amply represented in her current exhibition.

View selected works from the exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/janette-thompson.html

Tony Jackson’s ‘Forest Attitude’ (no. 17, digital print on portfolio photorag paper, ed of 9, 55 x 82 cm, $550 (unframed) / $750 (framed)) expresses his love of nature, which provides a continuous source of inspiration for Tony's photographs. 


The diffused focus allows the viewer to dwell on the essence of the background landscape. The accidental bird popping up within the picture frame is reflective of Australian forests as a lived environment as well as of the photographer’s own impish sense of humour.

View the complete exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/tony-jackson.html

This week’s Work of the Week from Norm Borg’s exhibition ‘Zooids’ is 

Norm Borg’s glass creations, such as ‘Large Polyp - Orange Blue Murrine’ (no. 20, glass, 49 x 16 cm, $ 680), complement and complete the symbiosis between our three current exhibitions inasmuch as all three artists turn for inspiration to nature. 

The rich colours and inimitable shapes reverberate throughout the gallery and create artistic and aesthetic dialogues between the artists.

View the complete exhibition online at http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/norm-borg.html


All three exhibitions are current until Saturday, 23 November 2013.

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our three new exhibitions - recent paintings and drawings by Janette Thompson; photography by Tony Jackson; and contemporary glass sculpture by Norm Borg.

Janette Thompson is a Melbourne-based artist specialising in painting, drawing, and printmaking. Her current exhibition reflects the artist’s fascination with the local fauna. Most of the drawings are meticulously created with coloured pencils. Complex layering of pigments conveys differing textures of marsupials’ fur, and the colourful plumage of different bird species.  

Tony Jackson is a Melbourne-based painter, photographer, and architect. The current body of work is inspired by his continuous fascination with nature and the environment.Jackson says about this works: “In this series of images I explore the colours, vibrancy and moods. My experience of life informs me that clarity is an elusive state. These images celebrate this aspect and allow the viewer’s own emotions to permeate these forests.”

Norm Borg is an East-Gippsland based glass artist and sculptor, founder and director of Tallon Glass studios in Nungurner. Borg describes his distinct glass art style as “focussing on organic shapes and surface manipulation, using colours and shapes found in natural and manmade environments.” His recent works of bold contemporary shapes and organic forms draw on the patterns and colours abstracted from a fusion of eucalyptus bark and modern architecture.



The exhibitions will be on view until Saturday, 23 November 2013.