Barbara Kenny in Artist's Palette

Barbara Kenny, who graduated from the Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts at NADC in 2011, has been featured in the popular Artist's Palette magazine.

Congratulations to Barbara in successfully pursuing her visual arts career. Her article is in the current edition, no 116, widely available available in newsagents.

You're invited to the Visual Arts Bus Unveiling!

All welcome to the Great Unveiling on December 13!

We are getting pretty excited as the day of the Visual Arts Bus unveiling draws closer !

Here is a recap on the bus, and an updated timeline. We do hope you can join us for the festivities.....

More than seventy self portraits from the Me Myself and I project will adorn the side of a local bus that will travel the local region around Penrith and St Mary's. Me Myself and I is an annual project we host in the Trapezium Gallery at NADC, and features self-portrait images from NADC students and staff.

The bus will be officially unveiled  on Thursday December 13, at the Bus Stop outside of Gate 1 in
 O' Connell St, Kingswood. All friends and supporters of Visual Arts at NADC are warmly invited to join us for this celebration. We will gather at 10am, for a 10.30 unveiling.  There will be lots of photo opportunities, and the artists will be invited to sign their work on the side of the bus. We do hope you can join us.

At approximately 11.30am, the bus will then go on a tour of Penrith, and take us to the Penrith Regional Gallery, for a welcome to the latest exhibition from one of the Gallery's curatorial staff. (or if you prefer, the cafe does one of the best coffees in Penrith..)

Artists who are exhibited on the side of the bus get first dibbs on a seat, however if there are any spare seats, anyone can jump on board. If you don't get a seat, we would love to meet you at the Gallery if you can get there under your own steam. We expect to be back at the College around 1pm, with one stop off point in Penrith on the way back.

We don't have many seats left, but you can book yours by calling Regina Cooper on ph 9208 9484 :

If you can't come for the ride, we would still love it if you could join us for the official unveiling at 10 for 10.30am, Gate 1, O'Connell Street.

Featured artists are:
Aaron Berndt, Adele Bruens, Alex Curtis, AmorV, the late Arnold Freen, Blake Hicks, Carol Donovan, Chris Legaspi, Claire Lang, Constance Taylor, C Spillane, Danielle Pearse, David Raynor, Di Holdsworth, Elise Pike, Emma Smith, Eva Mahfoud, Georgina Taylor, Grace Edmonds, Jack Gibson, Jacqui Graves, Jade Martin, Jaimie Gall, Janet Reinhardt, Jason Dewhurst, Jeliza Vega, Jennifer Chapman-Paton, Jo Newton, Jodi McConaghy, Judy Frazer, Julia Samuel, Julieanne Bartolo, Julie Willis, Karen Normoyle, Karl Hellman, Karl Doyle, Katherine Kennedy, Kathryn Trippett, Katriona Asiata, Kerry Donnelley, Kimberley Miles, Lisa McKay, Lorraine Bateman, Lyndon Matts, Lynn Williams, Malcolm Nash, Maria Okon, Marion Brooking, Micheal Sharpe, Narwal Khatiwada, Naomi Murdolo, Natalie Horvat, Nelson Nyangole, Nerida Gibbs, Nicola Mason, Reena Mitra, Ricardo Della-Ricca, Robert Musgrave, Robyn Lewis, Rum Hort, Sally Evans, Samara Kendall, Sandra Hussey, Shannon Ring, Sharon Zou, Stephen Hall, Suzie Harris, Sue McDonald, Sue Evans, Susan Jorgensen, Tatiana Campos, Terrence Combos, the late Tim Dean, Tim Newman, Tom Brady, Tom Groves, Tracey Leigh Smith, Vaughan England.

Congratulations to all represented artists, we would have loved to include many more, but we would need another bus!

You can register and enrol for Fine Arts courses at NADC for 2013, by visiting our course information page:
http://nadc.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/art/course.aspx
or calling 131 870.

Previews of the Me Myself and I books can be found here:
http://www.blurb.com/books/2023001
http://www.blurb.com/books/3120682

Tim Allen a finalist in the Dobell Prize, AGNSW

Fine Arts teacher Tim Allen has been selected as a finalist in this years' Dobell Prize for Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW. The Dobell Prize is the most respected award for drawing in Australia. This is the third time Tim has been selected as a finalist. This year the judge Aida Tomescu selected 47 finalists from 639 entrants. The Prize is on display at the Art Gallery of NSW until 10th February 2013.

'Folded and faulted sediment III' 110 x 140cm mixed media on paper 2012

Fine Arts Courses in 2013 Bus Launch!

 A sneak preview of our bus ad: to see the whole thing, come to our bus launch on December 13!

We are looking forward to a vibrant 2013 at NADC, and to celebrate and promote our 2013 Fine Art courses we are taking out an ad on the side of a bus, to showcase the great work of our students and staff, and let our community know about our wonderful student outcomes.

More than seventy self portraits from the Me Myself and I project will adorn the side of a local bus that will travel the local region around Penrith and St Mary's. Me Myself and I is an annual project we host in the Trapezium Gallery at NADC, and features self-portrait images from NADC students and staff.

The bus will be officially launched at on December 13, at the Bus Stop outside of Gate 1 in O' Connell St, Kingswood. All friends and supporters of Fine Arts at NADC are warmly invited to join us for this celebration.  We will gather at 10am, for a 10.30 launch.

The bus will then go on a tour of Penrith, and then take us to the Penrith Regional Gallery, for a welcome to the latest exhibition from one of the Gallery's curatorial staff. (- or if you prefer, the cafe does one of the best coffees in Penrith.....)

Artists who are exhibited on the side of the bus get first dibbs on a seat, however if there are any spare seats, anyone can jump on board.  If you don't get a seat, we would love to meet you at the Gallery if you can get there under your own steam. We expect to be back at the College around 12 noon, with one stop off point in Penrith on the way back.

Artists whose names appear  below have an image on the bus, and can book their seat by calling Regina Cooper on ph 9208 9484. Hurry though, we have more artists than seats, and places are filling fast!

And the artists are (drumroll):

Aaron Berndt, Adele Bruens, Alex Curtis, AmorV, the late Arnold Freen, Blake Hicks, Carol Donovan, Chris Legaspi, Claire Lang, Constance Taylor, C Spillane, Danielle Pearse, David Raynor, Di Holdsworth, Elise Pike, Emma Smith, Eva Mahfoud, Georgina Taylor, Grace Edmonds, Jack Gibson, Jacqui Graves, Jade Martin, Jaimie Gall, Janet Reinhardt, Jason Dewhurst, Jeliza Vega, Jennifer Chapman-Paton, Jo Newton, Jodi McConaghy, Judy Frazer, Julia Samuel, Julieanne Bartolo, Julie Willis, Karen Normoyle, Karl Hellman, Karl Doyle, Katherine Kennedy, Kathryn Trippett, Katriona Asiata, Kerry Donnelley, Kimberley Miles, Lisa McKay, Lorraine Bateman, Lyndon Matts, Lynn Williams, Malcolm Nash, Maria Okon, Marion Brooking, Micheal Sharpe, Narwal Khatiwada, Naomi Murdolo, Natalie Horvat, Nelson Nyangole, Nerida Gibbs, Nicola Mason, Reena Mitra, Ricardo Della-Ricca, Robert Musgrave, Robyn Lewis, Rum Hort, Sally Evans, Samara Kendall, Sandra Hussey, Shannon Ring, Sharon Zou, Stephen Hall, Suzie Harris, Sue McDonald, Sue Evans, Susan Jorgensen, Tatiana Campos, Terrence Combos, the late Tim Dean, Tim Newman, Tom Brady, Tom Groves, Tracey Leigh Smith, Vaughan England.

Congratulations to all represented artists, we would have loved to include many more, but we would need another bus!

You can register and enrol for Fine Arts courses at NADC for 2013, by visiting our course information page:
http://nadc.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/art/course.aspx
or calling 131 870.

Previews of the Me Myself and I books can be found here:
http://www.blurb.com/books/2023001
http://www.blurb.com/books/3120682

NADC Fine Arts teacher Tim Allen; recent prizes and exhibitions

Tim Allen 'Folded sediment and granite' Oil on canvas 148 x 198cm

Finalist: Paddington Art Prize 2012

NADC Fine Arts teacher Tim Allen has recently been selected as a finalist in a number of prizes. He was a finalist in the Norvill Art Prize (a $15000 prize for landscape painting) and was awarded a 'Highly Commended' by the Judge Kathleen Von Witt. He has also been selected as a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize (a $20000 prize for landscape painting) by a panel including John MacDonald and Margaret Woodword. The Paddington Art Prize opens on Wednesday 28th November. See http://www.paddingtonartprize.com.au/index.php for more details.

Tim has also participated in a number of exhibitions in the last month. He was part of a two person show at the Leura Everglades Gallery that recieved a favourable write up by the Daily Telegraph arts writer Elizabeth Fortescue, and has just returned from Mackay QLD where he was involved in a three person show in a commercial gallery. In December Tim will be a part of a group show at the Nowra Regional Gallery based on an artist trip to the West MacDonnell Ranges in 2011 (see http://shoalhavenartscentre.com.au/exhibitions.asp for more detail)

Queen Street: Riches and Textures 2012: Art. Mentorship. Community Engagement.

Julieanne Bartolo, 'Styling', digital photograph, 2012
 

"The image was made in my favourite shop as it was funky, different and insightful. I have never seen so many brands of spray paint nor have I met such awesome hair dressers before with great artistic talent. I was lucky enough to walk in the shop when a young boy was getting his hair cut and styled. I was making sure to capture the spray of mist that floated in the air from the water bottle, while capturing all the needed equipment on the bench and in the barber's hand. This photograph tells a story of the fact that people of all ages care about their hair and what it looks like." -Julieanne Bartolo

 

Two fine art students from  Nepean Arts and Design Centre have participated in a community project auspiced by St Mary's Corner. The project was a creative interaction between John Slaytor, photographer and mentor,  and  students from Nepean Arts and Design Centre at WSI TAFE, and Caroline Chisholm College.

The participants, including the photographer John Slaytor, documented the shops, shoppers, and shopkeepers on St Mary's lively Queen St, and the results are documented in an upcoming exhibition and catalogue.

 With the skilled and passionate guidance of photographer John Slaytor, the students had a valuable opportunity to try out the roles of working artist, street photographer, commercial photographer and social documenter. They learned the art of liaising with a client, the skills associated with building client relationships and trust, how to answer to a brief, and the realities of working to a deadline. They have learned to respond to a range of situations, and think on their feet to solve predictable and unpredictable technical issues.

Congratulations to Diploma of Fine Arts students Guy Hickey and Julieanne Bartolo for being selected to participate in this project. Their work goes on display on Wednesday the 28th of November at the Memorial Hall in St Mary's Corner- watch this space for further details!

 

 Guy Hickey, 'Wall O’ Hair - Giggles Fancy Dress', digital photograph, 2012 

"A novelty costume store FULL of fun! Wall-to-wall, floor to roof – you’ll find what you need for a costume, here. Thank you to the ladies at Giggles Fancy Dress!" - Guy Hickey

                                                                                                                                     

This project is another great example of the opportunities available for students of Visual Arts at NADC. For all 2013 course inquiries, call the Head Teacher on ph 9208 9513.

NADC Fine Arts at the Hawkesbury Art Prize

Inanimate, by Robert Musgrave, black and white photographs, 2012

Recent Fine Arts graduate Robert Musgrave has been selected as a finalist in the 2012 Hawkesbury Art Prize. The non-acquisitive award has a $10, 000 first prize, and opens on Saturday the 17th of November at 6pm, at Purple Noon Gallery.

 Other finalists include our past graduate Louisa Antico, and Jody Graham from the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts. Good luck to all!

http://purplenoongallery.com.au/art-prize-2/

Testimonial: Robert Musgrave

Recent Fine Arts graduate, Robert Musgrave, gives us his thoughts on studying at TAFE.

What did you like most about studying fine arts at NADC?
Studying at TAFE gave me an opportunity to try my hand at a number of artistic disciplines, all within an extremely positive environment. This created a fertile ground for learning, in which I was free to explore and discover my own artistic direction. The teaching staff always managed to guide me in a personal and approachable way.

What are you doing now and how did TAFE help you get there?
I am currently studying at COFA (UNSW) majoring in Photo-Media. As I entered university I discovered my previous experience gained through TAFE, gave me an obvious advantage. It has also enhanced my learning abilities, making me more confident to take on the challenges of University level studies.

What are your plans and goals for the future?
In the future I want to continue my art practice as well seek employment in art education.

Anything else?
The relationships gained through my time at TAFE have proved invaluable and I still keep in contact with fellow students and teachers today.

NADC Fine Arts Teacher Di Holdsworth is included in an upcoming exhibition at Defiance Gallery.

Briteway Soldier, music-box assemblage, 15x11x11cm, 2012

 

Defiance Gallery's 17th Annual 6x6x6 Inch Miniature Sculpture Show is an exhibition featuring 80 Australian and international artists with over 100 artworks, and $10 000 in prizes.
To see a video of Di's work, Briteway Soldier, in motion go to:
http://www.youtube.com/user/di1000000
The opening of the exhibition is from 6-8pm, Wednesday 14th November, 2012, at the Defiance Gallery, 47 Enmore Road Newtown, NSW.
The exhibition will be opened by Patricia Anderson, editor of Australian Art Review & author, at 7pm.
All works in the exhibition can be viewed at:
http://www.defiancegallery.com/artists/tiny-titans-miniliths.htm
The exhibition runs until 15th December 2012

Two shows on the one night!

Welcome  everyone to two openings on the same night! 
 'Kiln me softly'  is the showcase for graduating students of the Certificate3 in Ceramics  and  'Arrivals/ Departures'  showcases selected works of our graduants  in Advanced Diploma.  Please  join us  this Wednesday  night at 6 pm  at P and T Block  as we celebrate the culmination of  the years hard work  with the artists.  All welcome!

NADC at the Fisher's Ghost Art Award

Cath Barcan, Untitled image from the series 'Film', inkjet pigment print,
 35cm x 50cm, 2012 
This work won the Photographic Award, Fisher's Ghost Art Award, 2012.

A huge crowd filled the Campbelltown Arts Centre for the 50th Fisher's Ghost Art Award on Friday night. Amongst the artists included in the exhibition were NADC staff Nerine Martini and Cath Barcan. Also selected as finalists were current students Nawal Khatiwada, Julieanne Bartolo, Ruma Hort, Barbara Hellman and Katherine Kennedy. In addition, numerous graduates of fine arts at NADC were amongst the selected artists. And if that isn't enough, did we mention that fine arts T.O. Ricardo Della-Ricca helped install the show in his other role as freelance preparator?

The Fisher's Ghost Art Award offers a  first prize of $40,000  which was taken out by Raquel Ormella. Raquel is now a very successful Australian visual artist who started her art training with us at Penrith TAFE some twenty years ago.

The Fisher's Ghost Art Award has numerous category prizes, and Fine Arts Head Teacher Cath Barcan won the Photographic Award. Her winning image is pictured above.

The Judges for the prizes were Natasha Bullock, Curator Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW, Lisa Havilah, Director  of Carriageworks, and Keith Munro, Curator Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Programs, Museum of Contemporary Art.

Congratulations to all NADC participants on your involvement in this show.

Fine Arts Graduate Timothy Dale carves out his career

 

Artist Pat Brassington with Timothy Dale, who installed her exhibition at Stills Gallery.

Certificate IV in Fine Arts graduate Timothy Dale has been in continuous employment in the arts industry since finishing his study at Nepean Arts and Design Centre, TAFE Western Sydney Institute in 2006.

Timothy works as a exhibition installer, a job which is also known by the name of 'preparator'.

As a freelance installer in the museums and art industry, Timothy has worked for such clients as the Art Gallery of NSW, The Biennale of Sydney,  and a whole host of Regional Galleries,  commercial galleries and other clients such as local councils and the Australia Council for the Arts. In addition, Timothy handles and installs work by many great artists past and present in private homes throughout Sydney.

Timothy has been in continuous demand as a preparator since completing his course at NADC. The exhibition practice skills and  thorough and practical knowledge of art practices Timothy learnt at Nepean TAFE have stood him in great stead in his professional life. Recent career highlights have included installing work for the Biennale of Sydney, and for John Kaldor projects at the Art Gallery of NSW.

"My time spent at Nepean TAFE was a great lasting experience where hands-on practical skills in the arts industry were gained", says Timothy.

Timothy's long term goal is to obtain a senior installation position in a museum or gallery in Australia or overseas, and with his impressive track record so far, we have no doubt he will achieve his dream.

Diploma of Fine Art Grad Show!

 

All welcome to the opening of "Graduart', works by Diploma of Fine Art graduating students. The Trapezium Gallery and surrounding walls look fantastic, and we hope you an join us on Thursday the 25th of October  at 6pm for the opening event. With so many affordable, quality artworks in the one place, it is the perfect chance to start your Christmas shopping!

International Exhibition

Congratulations to our fabulous painting and drawing teacher - David White, who has been accepted into the international drawing exhibition: ‘Contemporary Drawing 2012’ at the Schweizer Kunstraum (Swiss Art Space) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The exhibition runs between the 1st of November – 30th November, 2012.

David has had three works selected for this exhibition. Below is one of them – ‘The Patriarch’

Testimonial: Anne-Marie Hawley

NADC  Fine arts graduate Anne-Marie Hawley

NADC Fine Arts graduate, Anne-Marie Hawley, who now teaches art full-time at a local high school, tells us how her training at NADC set her on the road to her career.

What did you like most about studying fine arts at NADC?
NADC offers an amazingly rich course that covers all the art disciplines thoroughly. The teachers bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the studio which creates an electric environment in which to learn. After studying at NADC for three years, I had established strong friendships with an incredibly diverse range of students from different stages of the course. Not only did my peers offer support and encouragement, there were some incredibly inspiring emerging artists who motivated you to excel.

What are you doing now and how did TAFE help you get there? 

I owe my passion for learning and the breadth and depth of my artistic skills to my studies at NADC.  I am a vocal promoter of TAFE to the next generation of budding artists who I teach at a Western Sydney high school. I have recently been employed on a full time basis and teach Visual Arts, Ceramics and Photography. Before that, I was building up my teaching experience as an educator at Penrith Regional Gallery and Cockatoo Island. After speaking to many arts trained teaching graduates, I know that I was walking into the arts education field with an advantage. NADC’s Fine Arts course gives you comprehensive experience across all the discipline in a way not offered by many tertiary institutions. Being able to teach so many disciplines with confidences has really enriched my programming and teaching in the classroom.

What are your plans and goals for the future?
I love art and I really enjoy teaching so I am intent on staying in the arts education industry. The high school at which I teach is currently enjoying great success across a range of local art and photography competitions. This is inspiring me to develop more learning experiences that enable my students to promote their work around the community and build the profile of Visual Arts at the school. Ultimately, I hope I am able to inspire my students to further their arts education in the same way NADC did for me.

Eclectica

Coming up in the first week back in the Trapezium Gallery is Eclectica - an exhibition of works by part-time students from Certificate IV in Visual Arts, Diploma Fine Arts, Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, and Programs of Selected Study.

The official opening is scheduled for 12noon Wednesday October 10th - all welcome. If you can't make the show during the weekday opening hours this exhibition will also be open Saturday 13th October from 10am to 2pm. Click the invite below to view larger.

A Big Weekend Celebrating Art

This weekend is a weekend of fab achievements for Fine Art students at Nepean Arts and Design Centre.

Friday night is the first event for the 'no boundaries ' project, the exciting free public art and multimedia event that has involved so many of our students. Come along to 'The Mondo', between the Joan and Westfield at Penrith to see the fabulous work our students have been involved with. You can find all the details on the 'no boundaries' website. 
There are more performances on Saturday night too.

image from the 'no boundaries' website

Don't forget the opening of 'Framed' at the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest this Saturday from 5pm. 'Framed' is the end result of a professional practice and site-specific art project undertaken by our Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts students at the Gallery. More than twenty large scale photographs will fill Lewers House, the result of a project that gives our students professional exhibition experience, and the opportunity to work with a site specific brief. This year the students were also given the extended responsibility of curating 'The Pick', the changing exhibition drawn form the Gallery's permanent collection.

Shannon Ring from the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, works on her image for 'Framed'.

You can see images of the students working on the project here.

Latest Exhibition news

 Hot on the heels of the  Diploma One students show  will be 'Trihibition' an exhibition of works  by students of Certificate IV in Visual Arts.  The exhibition will open  on  September the 12th at noon in the Trapezium gallery. Feel free to come and have a look and  perhaps  purchase  some fabulous  works  - all welcome.

 

3d Miniworks

3D Miniworks

3d Miniworks is our annual competition for sculptural work, less the 150 mm in any dimension.

Diana Robson – Curator of the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery was this years judge and announced her selection for the finalists and prize winners.

The 20 works will have their work exhibited at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery in December. Details of this show to follow later.

The 20 finalists are: Caitlin Chapman "Planets"; Jeffrey Alexander "Sepik Dreaming" and "Bow Wow"; Cath Randall "Green Power"; Lisa MacKay "Fox and Wolf"; Alison Shore "Any Advice Dr Pat?"; Carolyn Eadie "Black and White (I need a Place To Read)", Ruma Hort "Sempervium 1" and Sempervium11". Kim Cooke "Rockmelon", Sheryl Anderson "Seed Pod Series" and "Open Seed Pod"; Sophie Abbott "Dear Deer"; Calen Starling "Jurassic Park" and "Hell Boy" and "E=mc2" Bron Newman "The White Rider (after SH)"; Paul Gould "Toxic Planet Dog"; Robert Linigen "Head"

And the winners are...
1 Calen Starling, "Hellboy" $200 prize from Western Sydney Institute
2 Sheryl Anderson "Open Seed Pod" $100 prize from Artsup
3 Bron Newman "The White Rider (After SH)" $100 prize from Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Have a look at images of the finalists at our Flickr site

"Hellboy" Calen Starling 

Congratulations to the winners, finalists and all the entrants. Thanks to Diana Robson from Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and everyone involved in organising th eshow, particularly Susan Jorgensen and Paul Gould.

Diploma Year 1 exhibition

Our first year Fine Arts Diploma  students  will be showcasing   the  spoils of their hard  work so far this year at our  annual exhibition.

Works will include  selections from  photography, painting, printmaking, ceramics and drawing.

The exhibition will kindly be opened by Zona Wilkenson Curator of Indigenous Programs at Penrith Regional gallery.


It opens this Thursday evening at 6.30pm in the Trapezium Gallery, P Block , O'Connell Street,  Kingswood - all welcome !  

Amazing public art project involving our students

Eighteen NADC students are thrilled to be involved in a multi-media art and inclusive community event in Penrith in September called No Boundaries. For at least 12 of these volunteers, their participation in the project will turn into a paid traineeship, which will make them eligible in the future to work operating the multimedia equipment in use during the project, which is planned to remain in the community for use in future events.

No Boundaries will involve:
"Large scale architectural projection… interactive and playful displays… and a gathering of people from Penrith, Blue Mountains and Sydney… An unforgettable show bringing together creative and talented people from all walks of life to see something very new in Penrith!"  
 - from the 'no boundaries' website

The project aims to involve members of the community from all walks of life, and is being overseen by a creative industries company called Illuminart. This company specializes in the design and creation of world class projection art, cross-disciplinary arts and audiovisual storytelling of lasting significance to communities. Illuminart's avant-garde media art projects incorporate illumination, interactive projection art and performance, developed in creative partnerships and collaborations among a variety of disciplines. 
 - from the illuminart website http://www.illuminart.com.au/
Have a look at the gorgeous example of illuminart's work inthe clip below. In this video, the kinetic ship sculpture is also the source of the projections on the building. This is the kind of cool stuff our students are going to be working with, so keep your eye on this project !

 In another wonderful collaborative opportunity, NADC photoimaging students will document the performance events in September.

Studio Space at Parramatta Artists Studios

Here's a great opportunity from Parramtta Artists Studios for artists who are not enrolled in study, or will have graduated by the start of 2013.

Parramatta Artists Studios is at the fore of contemporary artistic production.
 Located in the centre of Parramatta’s CBD, the Studios offer affordable non-residential and residential studio space to contemporary artists.

Artists are invited to apply for non-residential studios with tenures ranging from 6-24 months. A residential studio is also available to regional NSW, interstate and international artists for up to 3 months.

Please note, Artists who are in the midst of tertiary studies for which a studio is allocated are not eligible for a studio here. The current round covers studio access from 1 October 2012 and throughout 2013. So if a student is gradating this year, then they should apply now and stipulate that they would take up a studio upon completion of their course (at the end of this year or start of next year).

Applications close 4:30pm Thursday 30 August 2012.

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/play/facilities/arts/artists_studios for further information and to download an application form.

Enquiries on 02 9687 6090 or studios@parracity.nsw.gov.au

Miniworks on now!

MINIWORKS  2012 is our much loved annual 3D exhibition and competition. This exhibition comprises of sculptural and 3 dimensional work by NADC students and staff, with the only restriction being the work must be no larger than 15cm in any direction. The opening is at 12pm - 13pm at C Block

You are welcome to come and join us as Diana Robson – Curator of the Hawkesbury Regional gallery announces her selection for the finalists and first prize winner.

Cathy O Donnell showing in Queensland

Catherine O'Donnell - drawing and history teacher at NADC   is currently showing in 'Venetian Visions' at Caloundra Regional Gallery (11 July to 12 August 2012) in Queensland.

Catherine's fabulous drawing exhibition is a result of winning the prestigious Albany Art Prize and its accompanying residency in Venice, Italy in 2009.

The exhibition has been touring around the east coast of Australia for the past year. In the exhibition is a suite of large-scale charcoal drawings of the Venetian landscape exploring the architecture, culture and history of everyday Venice.

Catherine spent the weekend as the guest of the Regional Gallery delivering a formal guest lecture and talks reflecting on the works in 'Venetian Visions' to gallery patrons. Catherine also delivered a booked out drawing workshop which was so popular a waiting list had to be created. Congrats to you Cath!

Ceramics Master Class

Susan Jorgensen will be offering a master class in Modelling a Human Head in Clay at WSI, Nepean. The class will run over 3 Saturdays 10:00am - 3:30 on August 11, 18 and 25th.

Susan will demonstrate techniques that she has developed over years of ceramic studio experience, including techniques particular to her practice. Workshops will begin with basic skills and move to more advanced techniques, and students will be given a step-by-step guide in creating a sculpture of the human head. Susan will discuss and demonstrate possible surface treatments for the work, including texture demonstrations and oxide/glaze treatments. Participants will be encouraged to design work that goes beyond the purely representational. Clay and firing is included in the course cost of $330 per person.

http://nadc.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/fine-arts/course-info/ for more info, download the pdf and register online, or call ph 9208 9442 to register your interest.

K9 Memorial, Tahmoor

Peter Lewis graduated from ceramics at Nepean a couple of years ago, and recently won a commission to create a bronze memorial to Police dogs killed in the line of duty. The original model was made in clay and then cast in bronze. The commission is now complete and has been officially opened.

"My sculpture was unveiled on 5th July and it was quite a ceremony. Despite a very cold wintery day about 200 people attended the memorial including the Mayor of Wollondilly, MP Jai Roland, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Catherine Burn APM, NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services The Hon Michael Gallacher, Sgt Sean McDowell (police dog handler of K9 Titan who was stabbed to death while apprehending an offender), and a number of other dignitaries", said Peter.

The official guests admire the sculpture by NADC graduate Peter Lewis

Tim Allen solo exhibition and student excursion

click for a larger image

Fine Art teacher Tim Allen currently has a solo exhibition at Defiance Gallery, Sydney. The show is a result of a trip to the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia to work plein air, which led to a series of large scale paintings produced in the studio.

On Saturday 28th July at 2pm Tim will hold an artist floor talk at the gallery, in conversation with Richard Morecroft, to discuss the processes, ideas and experiences behind the artworks.

Second year Diploma painting students will visit the exhibition as part of a series of commercial gallery visits on Tuesday 31st July. Gallery owner Campbell Robertson-Swann will give a talk to the students about aspects of forging a career as a professional artist. The students will be joined on excursion by 2nd year painting students from Hornsby TAFE (with teacher Stephen Hall) in order to encourage an exchange of ideas between art schools.
The exhibition runs until 11th August. Defiance Gallery is located at 47 Enmore Rd Newtown.

The Fine Art of Photography: A pop up show in the Trapezium Gallery

 click for a larger image

Come along and check out the work in the Trapezium Gallery by students studying fine art photography at NADC. The students are enrolled in the Diploma in Fine Art, or as part of a Program of Selected Study. Photography is one of a range fine art subjects the students are studying as part of their course.

This is a ‘pop–up’ and in some cases ‘pin-up’ show, put together somewhat spontaneously. We saw a gap in the exhibition program and decided to put together some work and work-in-progress gathered from the recent mid-year assessments. 

The show is open on weekdays from 9am-4pm until next Thursday July 26.

A vital part of the process of developing artwork is to take the opportunity to look at the work you are making, and reflect, evaluate, and gather feedback, and plan how the work can be improved or refined. This exhibition gives the selected artists an opportunity to do just that.

The represented classes will use the exhibition as a learning tool in numerous ways including creating a platform for discussion and ideas generation.

Studies in fine art photography gives the student an opportunity to not only develop technical skills in the medium of photography, but also to develop and refine a personal aesthetic or visual style. Projects are developed over numerous weeks, and students are mentored in the production of a body of work, a process that includes research, capture, editing, re-capture (if required) and printing.

The generation of photographic images has never been more prolific than it is now in the digital age. The study of art photography ensures that an image moves beyond capture into a well-considered print that has been refined, finessed and presented to create an art object suitable for exhibition. This pop-up show is a valuable tool to assist the artists on that journey.

 To find out more about studying fine art photography as an elective, or as part of a Program of Selected Study, contact Head teacher Cath Barcan at Catherine.barcan@tafensw.edu.au

Bruni's in the Silk Cut too!

The work by Bruni Guenther-Tsapilis selected in the Silk Cut Award

Stop Press! A THIRD printmaker from NADC is included in the prestigious Silk Cut award! A print by 2011 Advanced Diploma of Fine Art graduate Bruni Gunther Tsapilis  has also been selected. Congratulations to you too Bruni!

Two fine art students selected for the Silk Cut Award

Dead Love' by Carol Ann Fitzgerald, selected for the 2012 Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints

 Congratulations to Carol Ann Fitzgerald, Program of Selected Study, printmaking, and Ruma Hort, Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, who have both been selected for the Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints. The Silk Cut Award is one of the country's most prestigious printmaking awards, and many of Australia's finest printmakers vie for selection in this exhibition. Congratulations to our students on their selection, and good luck with the judging in September, we have our fingers crossed for you!

'Syzygy,' by Ruma Hort selected for the 2012 Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints

  

Sculptural Ceramics

There's a new part time course available in Sculptural Ceramics at WSI Nepean.

The course will focus on handbuilt sculptural Ceramics with experienced teacher and Ceramicist Susan Jorgensen and will run on Tuesday evenings from 17 July until the end of November.

You can download a course information brochure here and enrol online.

Have a look at the ceramicsnepean wikispace to see what's on in Ceramics.

 

Catherine O'Donnell's show in Melbourne

click for a larger image

Anyone heading down to Melbourne during the break? NADC Fine Arts teacher Catherine O'Donnell is exhibiting at Dianne Tanzer Gallery. The Gallery is located in Gertrude St Fitzroy, which is a fantastic area for art, design and fashion. Catherine's show runs until July 21: congratulations to Catherine on another great achievement.

The Making of Al Pacino

Have a look at the new video of the experimental drawing project by Diploma of Fine Art Year 2 students.  As well as exploring contemporary practice through the use of a maverick art material (did we mention the image has been drawn with coffee?), the students have developed skills and confidence in the fine art of mural production. Congratulations to the artists and their teacher Di Holdsworth!

Stephen Hall's Solo Show

a work from Stephen Hall's solo show

NADC Fine Art teacher Stephen Hall has a solo show opening at Gallery Red in Glebe this Friday night from 6pm-8pm.

Stephen will be exhibiting mixed media works, in an exhibition called 'The Kedumba Musings of Merry Andrew the Limner'.

You can read more about the exhibition on Gallery Red's website.

Enrol online now for the Certificate II in Visual Arts!

details of artwork produced in a range of NADC fine art courses. From left to right Cole Barrett, Jo McDonald, Julieanne Bartolo, Phillip Murray, Ali Hutton, student at work.

In second semester 2012, NADC is offering the Certificate II in Visual Arts as a full-time introductory course in visual arts studio practice.

The course is offered full-time (3 days per week) over the 18 weeks of Semester 2, with classes running from 9am-4pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The course is suitable for those who wish to commence full-time study in the visual arts, with an emphasis on hands-on studio practice.

Subjects covered include painting, ceramics, drawing, photography, printmaking and painting.

Many of our students use this as a stepping-stone to further study with in a following year. This course could assist you with entry in 2013 to Certificate IV in Visual Arts, or the Certificate IV in Ceramics.

You can download a Certificate II Visual Arts course information leaflet here: http://wsi.tafensw.edu.au/Handlers/ContentFile.ashx?crsid=5430

You can enrol online now in the Certificate II in Visual Arts by phoning the College on 131 870, or by using the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/6n53x72

An information and enrolment session will be held at 10am on Wednesday 27th of June, 2012 in the Trapezium Gallery, Block P , Gate 2, 12-44 O' Connell St Kingswood. Please attend this session if you have enrolled or wish to enrol in the CII Visual Arts. If you are unable to attend this session, please call the fine arts section on ph 9208 9513.

Click here for details on how to find NADC and the Trapezium Gallery.

Hidden 2012

Congratulations to staff members Stephen Hall and Aiden Harris  who have  been selected for the fourth annual Hidden : Rookwood Sculpture Walk. The exhibition invites  audiences to explore the historic cemetery and find the sculptures  installed within  the grounds.
All artworks selected into Hidden 2012 are short listed for the Rookwood Necropolis Sculpture Award -  a $5,000.00 non-acquisitive award.

 'With views of the city on the horizon, this site offers artists a rare opportunity to showcase their work in an extremely thought provoking context'.

"The Limner Loses"

gouache on a photographic image on watercolour paper

 Image from Stephens proposal for Hidden 2012

Clay at the Corner

Clay at the Corner was established last year at the Arts and Crafts Studios at St Marys Corner by Penrith City Council, aiming to promote community connections in the Nepean region through the creative medium of clay.

Nepean Ceramics teacher, Susan Jorgensen opened an exhibition of ceramics by members of the Nepean Potters Society on the Friday evening, and followed up with a clay workshop for children on Saturday and another for adults on Sunday. There were "local families from St Marys and St Clare, Penrith , Blue Mountains and other regional areas...over 100 hundred in the first few hours of the Saturday workshops." said Adnan Begic, Cultural Projects Officer.

Simon Cook - Sculpture Award Finalist

Congratulation to Simon Cook, a graduate of the Certificate 3 in Ceramics in 2011, who has been selected as a finalist in the UWS Sculpture Award.

"The UWS Sculpture Award showcases major works by significant Australian artists, some of whom have created sculptures especially for the University's Campbelltown Campus."
The Acquisitive prize is valued at up to $25,000.

"The UWS Sculpture Award and Exhibition aims to establish closer links between the University and artists, and engage with the community by providing a valuable educational and cultural resource, as well as enhancing the campus environment for teaching and learning."

Have a virtual tour of the work here

You can even vote for Simon in the People Choice Award.

Paola Talbert in Head-on Exhibition

Fine Art photography teacher Paola Talbert is exhibiting at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Marrickville as part of the head-on Photo Festival. Paola is showing with fellow artist Johanna Trainor, who has also taught with TAFE NSW for many years.
Paola's exhibition opens this Friday May 18 from 6-8pm at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Piddock St Camperdown. All welcome.
'Paola Talbert's captivating translucent assemblages of glass fragments, scavenged at low tide, are arranged in painterly constructions defining a topographic edge. Juxtaposed with underwater scenes that reveal and conceal the body in a diaphanous plastic, her photographic series Gyre exposes the fragile ecology of our oceans and foreshores'.