2010 National Photography Prize

Cath Barcan Bear hug, lambda print, 80cmx 50cm, 2009

Lenore Gee, 'The First Meditation' Cyanotype on cotton sateen, 92cm x 92cm, 2009,

Fine Arts at Nepean Arts and Design Centre is represented twice at this year’s prestigious National Photography Prize. Works for this year’s prize were selected by Dr Isobel Crombie, Senior Curator, Photography, National Gallery of Victoria.
Head Teacher and art photography teacher Cath Barcan has a work in the prize titled ‘Bear Hug’, which is part of a portrait series called ‘At Home with Cree.’ The work was shot in Tasmania, at the home of the subject, who lives with a menagerie of large toy animals. Also represented in the NPP is recent graduate Lenore Gee. Lenore graduated with a Diploma of Fine Art from WSI, and undertook extra fine art photography studies with us. Her work in the prize uses a 19th century blue emulsion known as cyanotype. The image, entitled ‘The First Meditation’ is a response to musings by the philosopher Descartes on the dream state, in which he debates whether the dream or waking state is our true reality.
Both works are on display at the Albury Art Gallery from August 31-September 26.

'Framed': Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts students exhibit at the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest

Andy Petith's assemblage portrait of Margo Lewers, installed in the Gallery window.

'Framed' is the name of a exhibition project being undertaken at the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest by students of the Advanced Diploma of Fine Art. The exhibition is part of the Advanced Diploma professional practice program, and has been a valuable opportunity for our students to interact with a Regional Gallery, and gain exposure for their work.

As part of the project, students were given a lengthy briefing by Gallery staff including CEO John Kirkman, Gallery Director Anne Loxley, Manager - Education and Public Programs Naomi McCarthy, and Curator and Collections Manager Shirley Daborn. The students were then invited to make a pitch for a site specific work, relating to the history and context of the Gallery site, including the lives and practices of its former artist occupiers Gerald and Margo Lewers, and/or the work of Sydney abstract artists. As part of their professional development, the students were required to present their proposal to a curatorial team comprised of Gallery staff, who gave constructive feedback on their work. Each artist then returned to the studio to produce an artwork designed to be displayed in a window of the old Lewers House, which is now part of the Gallery. This work is on display in the windows until Wednesday June 23, 12 noon. The garden also forms a significant part of the site, and is something many of the students chose to respond to.

The second phase of this exciting project will be on display in Lewers House from July 3 - August 8. This will be an exhibition of large photographic artworks created by the students. These photographs will re-interpret and respond to the site specific work that has been on display in the windows of the house. The official opening of this aspect of the show will be held on July 9, between 7 and 9pm. All welcome, we hope to see you there.

For some pictures of the work in progress, visit our flickr set at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsifineart/sets/72157624170320971/

The final photoworks can be viewed here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsifineart/sets/72157624249726173/

For more information about the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, including contact details and how to find the Gallery, visit
http://www.penrithregionalgallery.org/

Night shoot

Untitled image by Katherine Fallah

A few weeks ago, students from the second year Diploma of Fine Art photography class went on a night shoot. The normal class time was rescheduled so that instead of morning, the class met in the late afternoon. This allowed us to take advantage of other possibilities of light, as the afternoon changed to dusk and dusk changed to evening. Several types of cameras were in use, including lo-fi plastic film cameras , compact cameras, and digital SLRs. The visual results were varied, and include moody, poetic, melancholic, abstract, playful and gritty images. For more images from the shoot, visit our flickr site :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsifineart/sets/72157624047065529/

Common Factor - opening Friday

(click for larger view)

Our next exhibition, Common Factor, will be opening at the Trapezium Gallery this Friday June 4th at 12 noon. This exciting exhibition showcases the work of four vastly different artists, each of whom have studied at NADC, and then gone on to forge careers in the art world. The exhibition features Raquel Ormella, Linda Brescia, Abdul Karim Rahimi, and Hans DeHaas, all returning to their alma mater for this unique showcase.

Fine Arts has been taught for thirty five years at Western Sydney Institute, and we are pleased to welcome back four previous graduates from various points in the art school's history. We are really appreciative of the educational contribution that the artists are making to current students through this exhibition. Much of the planning and organisational work behind the exhibition has been done by our present Diploma I Fine Art students, capably guided by Diploma First Year Co-ordinator, David White.

The selected artists vary considerably in their approach and the work on show encompasses contemporary conceptual pieces, traditional portraiture, surreal sculpture and Persian miniatures with a contemporary twist. Viewing these dynamic works together in a place where each artist once learnt their trade will be an engaging experience that we hope many people will share and enjoy.

These artists are well known within their fields and have worked internationally as well as across Australia. It is an exciting and inspiring opportunity for current students, staff and the general public to see what these local graduates have gone on to do.

‘Common Factor’
Opens Friday 4th June @12noon
Exhibition runs from 03/06 - 17/06
Trapezium Gallery, P Block TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute, Nepean College (Kingswood Campus) 12 - 44 O’Connell St Kingswood
Gallery hours 9am-4pm weekdays
enq ph. Regina Cooper on 92089484

Tim Allen - Painting and Drawing

Landscape, trees and rocks I and II, 2010, Oil on Canvas, each 120 by 90cm

Drawing teacher Tim Allen's new show opened at Defiance gallery in Newtown last week, with works also being shown in Paddington - both galleries are open Wed - Sat 11-5 and Tim's show runs until June 19th. It's a great opportunity to head into the city - check out the Biennale while you're there.

Staff Show

Fine Art drawing teacher Cameron Ferguson with his self-portrait diptych

The annual Fine Arts staff show went up in the Trapezium Gallery last week and the official 'opening' where several staff will speak about their work will be at 12 noon this Thursday (May 20th) with drinks and nibbles provided. All welcome!

Art Prizes

Drawing and cultural productions teacher Stephen Hall's painting Hanging Around the RPA was selected for the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Award - the winner will be announced May 19th


In addition another of our drawing teachers, Tim Allen, won the people's choice award for the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize 2010 with his charcoal drawing Braidwood 1 (2009).