News
02/02/2016Call for Applications: Fryer Library Fellowship, University of Queensland
Call for Applications: Fryer Library Fellowship, University of Queensland Deadline: Monday 29 February The annual Fryer Library Fellowship (formerly the Fryer Library Award) aims to: Support research into Australian historical and literary studies utilising the collections of the University of Queensland’s Fryer Library. Promote The University of Queensland’s Fryer Library as a centre of scholarly activity. Integrate a digital component (e.g. online exhibition) that will expand access and encourage engagement with the Fryer collections used in the research project. Applications are invited in the following areas: Australian literature Australian theatre Indigenous studies History of architecture Art and design Australian history and political culture Women’s studies Successful applicants receive $20,000 as well as full UQ Library access and copying services. It is anticipated that the successful applicant will be based at the St Lucia campus of The University of Queensland for a negotiated period, with a maximum of six months. The appointment is…
Read More
25/01/2016Prints & Pots – Call for Entries
Exchange 2016 Bribie Island Community Arts Centre heartily invites Australian printmakers and potters to participate in our Inaugural exchange and exhibition (2016)! All accepted entries will be exhibited in the Matthew Flinders Gallery in a 3 week long exhibition. You will receive another artist’s work as part of the exchange (3 prints OR 1 pot). Please register your interest by emailing BCIACprintsandpots@outlook.com to let us know you would like to take part in this exchange or check out our website http://bicacprintsandpots.wix.com/bicacexchange for more information about the event. Basic Guidelines for Printmakers Paper Size: A3 (29.7 x 42.0 cm, 11.69 x 16.53 inches) Maximum Print Size: A3 (Bleed print) Edition Size: 5 (make 5 that look as similar as possible) Submission Deadline: March 1st (posted to centre) Cost: $30 (you receive 3 prints in the exchange) Basic Guidelines for Potters Pot Size: 450g Pot Type: mug Edition Size: 3 (make 3…
Read More
15/01/2016Job Opp: Lighthouse Stencil on Wood
Hi members, Suzie Hogue has a request for a piece of art similar to this one: This is for a large wall space so would need to be scaled up, and is for a business office: Lighthouse Financial Planning. For further details including sizing and payment, please contact Suzie on 0400 892 125.
05/12/2015Update on Arts Funding
Most of you know about $120 million unexpectedly ripped from the Australia Arts Council (by George Brandis former Minister for the arts), for a discretionary Excellence in the Arts Fund. This huge reduction in arts funding was going to impact individual artists and small to medium arts organisations, like Umbrella. In response I submitted one of the 2,719 submissions and was one of 218 representations from artists and organisations in 10 public hearings across the nation. (I want to thank Tony and Alan for their support during my stomach churning conference call to the Senate hearing being held in Cairns.) The Townsville based organisations who also gave evidence, are AFCM, Dance North, Full Throttle and Lorna Hempstead on behalf of Theatre NQ. I am very proud of what we achieved as an organisation and as a sector. Our participation highlights the important role Umbrella plays as an advocate on behalf…
Read More
03/12/2015Farewell from Vicki Salisbury
It is with mixed emotions that I have to let you know that I have resigned as Director of Umbrella Studio. I honestly cannot believe I’ve been in the role since 2006. Umbrella has been one of the most satisfying experiences in my 30 + year career as an arts administrator. While I am excited about the new opportunities that I will be pursing, I will always remember my time as Director at Umbrella Studio with great fondness. On a more personal note, let me express my gratitude for the wonderful opportunities for professional growth and development provided through Umbrella over my time here. I have learned so much and have greatly enjoyed working with such a dynamic team of staff, board members, artists, and creative collaborators. I remain at the helm through January to ensure a smooth handover. I am looking forward to writing and performing music and spending…
Read More
12/11/2015QAGOMA Backstage Pass Regional Internship
I was very excited to receive the opportunity to be part of the Backstage Pass Regional Internship program offered by QAGOMA. Being based in a small-medium contemporary art space in Townsville, the program allowed me to expand my knowledge in several areas and be exposed to top level Gallery standards, practices and procedures. Most importantly, it inspired and reinvigorated me to deliver high quality experiences at Umbrella Studio. In the two weeks at QAGOMA, I spent time working with several different areas such as Exhibitions Management, Education, Touring, Exhibition Design, Gallery Members, the Gallery Shop and Public Programs. All the staff were very inclusive and very generous with their time, knowledge and enthusiasm. I particularly learnt lots about touring exhibitions and management of exhibition scheduling and the process of writing educational resource material for touring exhibitions. One of my key objectives from this internship was to gain more experience in…
Read More
29/10/2015International residency to Aber continues into 2016
The previous Umbrella Studio exhibition, Godre’r Glais illuminated for many of us the value of the Aberystwyth International Artist in Residence. The value of spending three months, working in the studio and interacting with the locals extends far beyond each individual artist who participated. What became evident from the exhibition and artist talk is the positive and expansive impact Townsville artists make on the International program at Aberystwyth. Michelle Hall is a highly respected arts practitioner and former Umbrella Studio Board Member, she is the next artist to embark on this creative Aber adventure. Vicki Salisbury, Umbrella Director asked Michelle to give us some insight on why she applied: Why did you apply for the residency and what do you hope to gain from the experience? Michelle: Residencies always give practising artists space to explore new techniques and time to refine old ones. I wanted to dedicate time and space…
Read More
27/10/2015Castles in the Air
Saturday 7 November – Friday 4 December 2015 at the Townsville Art Society Gallery, Art at Jezzine All are welcome to attend the opening at 2.30pm Sunday 8 November 2015 When you hear a phrase like ‘Castles in the Air’ does an image of Castle Hill shrouded in cloud come to mind?- perhaps you see a relic of a stone pile on a hill somewhere in Europe, or maybe a long held wish or childhood memory. See how artists from the Townsville Watercolour Group interpreted this phrase in this intriguing exhibition of watercolours. Exhibitors include Debbie Belcastro, Julie Boyd, Helen Caldwell, Val Claussen, Marjory Cook, Gai Copeman, Sally Grattidge, Jenny Hyatt, Annette Ireland, Geoff Maidens, Donna Maloney, Marion O’shea.
12/10/2015+One Exhibition Review by Michelle Hall
Plus One is a courageous exhibition of works by nine artists who completed their training at James Cook University. Artists include Neil Binnie, Jade Browning, Ben Green, Caitie Nettlefield, Douglas Prescot, Dianne Purnell, Kathrine Olive, Justine Reid and Katya Venter. Showcasing works from a wide variety of creative genre, as a group and individually, Plus One affirms the emergence of the nine. What binds the works together, for me, is their firm grasp on what is possible in regional contemporary art. As Bourdieu notes in The Logic of Practice, “Only in imaginary experience, which neutralises the sense of social realities, does the social world take the form of a universe of possibles equally possible for any possible subject.” From the intimate illustrations of Neil Binnie and Jade Browning to the fine prints of Caitie Nettelfield we travel through the realistic to the hyper real. Exploring the relationship between self and…
Read More
15/09/2015Sydney Contemporary wrap-up
We return to Townsville after our first foray into a major art fair successful. We were very proud to represent our North Queensland printmakers and I have to say: they punch well above their weight with original works as beautiful as any at the fair. Not only did we manage to sell some of the works, but we also got to meet with our partners like Arts Queensland and Australia Council, NAVA and Imprint Magazine, and other exhibitors. We learned how other galleries innovate to create a captivating display, and how different the art market is in Sydney as compared to Townsville. Roger Butler (NGA) paid our stand a visit and we showed him the recent works on paper from Jo Lankester, Rhonda Stevens, Laura Castell and the Murris in Ink. I managed to escape early one afternoon and visit “The other art fair” at Central Park. This was a…
Read More
