Gallery celebrates with outdoor music, art launches

Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery will celebrate 2014 with two exhibition launches, music and kids activities this Friday – and the community is invited to join in.

The unique exhibition Frameless will be opened with every piece of local artwork on the walls for sale to the public for less than $80. International artist Ian Westacott will personally open his exhibition Inside/Outside. And there will be music on the Gallery lawn from three local bands – Shuggies, The Drowning Sorrows and The Beaters.

Gallery Director Ian Tully said the two very different exhibitions were a fitting way to end 2014.

“Ian Westacott is an artist of international standing. He grew up in Myrtleford, studied in Wangaratta and at Monash University and has since worked across Australia and Europe,” Mr Tully said.

“This exhibition is a survey of his career to date and includes collaborative works made with friend Raymond Arnold in a studio in Paris; large scale structural images of building construction, factories and workspace interiors sourced from early in his career; and his most recent series capturing the magnificence of ancient trees,” he said.

“We are fortunate to have him here for the launch and to have his works in our Gallery over the Christmas and New Year period.”

Mr Tully said the Frameless exhibition would include photography, prints, drawings, paintings and more, all from local artists.

“There is so much artwork for this exhibition that it might not all fit on the walls! This really is a great chance to support local artists, build your art collection or buy a gift,” he said.

He said Friday night would be a great chance to see the Shuggies and other local bands perform.

“The Shuggies are actually the Swan Hill Ukelele Group and they have called the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery home since their inception,” he said.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Gallery this Friday, 28 November from 6pm for the exhibition launches and end of year celebration. Entry is free.

For more information, contact the Gallery on 5036 2430.