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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Fine Arts graduate wins 'best in show'

'softe', inkjet pigment print 60cmx80cm

Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts graduate Amanda Mayrhofer has won 'best in show' for her artwork, 'Softe' at the 2012 Winmalee Artfest. Amanda's large-scale photograph was produced in the photographic studios at NADC using a CanonEOS 5D Mark II  and MP-E65mm F/2.8 1-5X macro lens. Congratulations to Amanda for taking home the $1500 first prize. Amanda intends to spend the money on a macro lens to enable her to continue her fascination with this style of imagry.

Head-On exhibitions in Blackheath

A visitor views Wendy Watson's exhibition at the National Parks and Wildlife Centre, Blackheath, as part of the Head-on Photographic Festival.

NADC Fine Arts photography students past and present are engaging with industry in two impressive exhibitions as part of the Head-on Photography Festival. Current student Wendy Watson has an exhibition of silver gelatine landscape images on display at the National Parks and Wildlife Centre, at the end of Govett's Leap Road, Blackheath. The exhibition runs until May 27.

Former students Marcela Vilaplana and Lenore Gee are also showing as part of Head-on, at Gallery Blackheath (see previous post for details).

Congratulations to all the artists  on their inclusion in this important festival.

 Artist Lenore Gee, (left) and Marcela Vilaplana (right) with Dr Anne Graham, artist and academic, who was the guest speaker at their exhibition at Gallery Blackheath.

 

Fine Art graduates in Head-on exhibition

 'Meditation 2' by Lenore Gee, type C print, 24 cm x 17cm

Two of our graduates in fine art photography are exhibiting this weekend at Gallery Blackheath, as part of the Head-on Photography Festival. Come along to 'Vestiges' by Marcela Vilaplana and Lenore Gee, which opens this Saturday at 2.30pm. The opening speech will be given by by Dr Anne Graham. The Gallery's address is 44 Govett's Leap Road, Blackheath. 

Congratulations to Lenore and Marcela for their involvement in Australia's largest photography festival!

http://www.galleryblackheath.com/vestiges.htm

Carole Fitzgerald selected for the Swan Hill Print and Drawing Award 2012

Congratulations are in order  for Carole, our  advanced Diploma  Printmaking student who  has been selected for the biennial   Swan Hill Print and Drawing Aquisitive Award ( 2012).
The  award  promotes excellence in Australian printmaking and drawing through  an  exhibition  that builds upon the  Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery collection. Selected works must  have been created after January 2010
Caroles' work has had  extraordinary success  having already been selected for - the Blacktown Art Prize (2010), The Fishers Ghost (2010), The Silkcut Lino Award (2010) .

“Anthony” - 4 colour linoprint, 82 x 62 cm (2010)

Janet Reinhardt's group show

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Diploma of Fine Arts 2011 graduate is in a group show that opens on Saturday. All welcome!

Two exhibitions at Blacktown Arts centre

Past student Linda Wilken  is a participating artist in the  On Paper exhibition  (10 February - 21 April)  at  Blacktown Arts Centre. The exhibition showcases 'challenging and surprising works by local and Western Sydney based contemporary artists, whose work engages with the medium of paper.'

Linda Wilken makes collages  from images appropriated from children's books, magazines and cartoons  to explore and critique issues on  gender stereotyping and child exploitation.

Swept off her feet collage 20cm x 20cm

Also showing is  'Idea of water'(10 Feb - 21st April)  which 'presents creative meditations from five Western Sydney artists who each explore their personal and conceptual connections with water.'

This exhibition  includes the work of  two of our  past  students : Jennifer Gabbay whose painted  works celebrate  colour through water distortion and Lauren Gock  who mixes media  to investigate memory and  Fijian ancestry.

NADC Fine Art Graduate Jennifer Gabbay's upcoming exhibition at the Blackheath Art Society

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More good news from an NADC printmaking graduate

 We just spotted this article in the Mount Druitt Standard describing the ongoing industry practice of our graduate Linda Brescia. Well done Linda!
http://mt-druitt-standard.whereilive.com.au/news/story/artist-returns-to-childhood/

Testimonial: Tia McIntyre, Diploma of Fine Arts

What did you like most about studying fine arts at NADC?
The teaching faculty at NADC really paid attention to the individual needs of the students. We all came to TAFE for different reasons and with different end goals.  I always felt supported and encouraged and have maintained relationships with my peers and teachers  in my professional life since graduating.

What are you doing now and how did TAFE help you get there?
My professional life in the arts industry has been a continuum from studying Fine Arts Diploma.  Studying at NADC provided me with the opportunity to establish a solid foundation in the arts industry before I graduated, making my transition into the workplace smooth and sustained.  In the years since graduating I have worked across numerous organisations developing and delivering arts projects that include curating, public art, events planning and project management, professional development programs for artists and arts based community development projects.

What are your plans and goals for the future?
I will continue in Arts Administration and Project Management and look forward to further study toward teaching in the future.

Peter Lewis Completes Memorial Commission

Peter Lewis, who studied Ceramics at WSI Nepean last year,  has won a commission to produce a bronze memorial.

"This work will be sent to a metal foundry to be cast in bronze for a K9 memorial being installed at Tahmoor, NSW to honour police dogs which have died in the line of duty.

I used the free form coil building technique to create the work using the skills that I was taught at TAFE by Sue Jorgensen and Rob Linigen. This meant the the sculpture is hollow (therefore lightweight) and I did not need a metal armature to support the work. " Peter Lewis

You can also check out an article about Peter's commission that appeared in the Penrith Press.
http://penrith-press.whereilive.com.au/news/story/castlereagh-sculptor-completes-first-stage-of-police-dog-memorial/

Carol Fitzgerald selected for postcard publication

Carol Fitzgerald,'the flock', 2010

Advanced Diploma of Fine Art student Carol Fitzgerald is one of 12 finalists selected in the Co-op bookshop's postcard competition. 12  national finalists have been selected from art and design schools, and Carol's work will be available in Co-op Bookstores Australia wide.

Carol created her design by using a part of a drawing she produced in her Diploma of Fine Art class in 2010.
See all the winners at:
http://www.studentart.com.au/gallery.php?id=7&cat=FineArts&winners

Fine Arts photography students past and present in 'Head On' exhibition.

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Three photographers who met whilst studying fine art photography at Nepean Arts and Design Centre are holding a joint exhibition as part of the Head On photographic festival.

Sue Storry, Marcela Vilaplana and Wendy Watson met whilst studying photography units from the Diploma of Fine Arts at NADC. Their exhibition, entitled themountains opens in the Theatrette at the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath, on Saturday May 26th from 2pm-4pm.

The trio's exhibition is part of the Head On photographic festival, which is currently on at locations and venues all over Sydney. Head On has grown to become one of the world's largest photographic festivals. Congratulations to Marcela, Sue and Wendy on their inclusion.

Where are they now? : good news from a NADC Fine Arts student

http://digitaledition.penrithpress.com.au/?startpage=79&iid=48043