Photograms photoshopped

digitally altered photogram by Diploma of Fine Art student Alex Curtis

Photography students from the Diploma of Fine Arts year 1 are currently producing some beautiful photographic images that combine old and new photographic technologies. These evocative images have been initiated in a traditional wet darkroom using photogram techniques. Photograms are silver-based images that are produced by placing objects directly onto photographic paper and exposing it to light. Once produced, the students have scanned their images and manipulated them in photoshop. Final output is to photo rag inkjet paper. For more examples of this lovely project, see our flickr set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsifineart/sets/72157624618884587/

Catherine O' Donnell's Venice Residency

a snap from Cathy's Venice residency, 2010

Fine Arts teacher Catherine O'Donnell has recently returned from an inspiring artist residency in Venice. As part of winning the Albury Art Prize in 2009, Catherine was awarded apartment accommodation and a studio in Venice at the Scuola International Grafica, as well as a generous travel bursary.

"My trip was amazing not only as I was staying in one of the most unique places in the world, but I had time to explore, experiment and reflect on my art practice" Catherine said recently.
" At the same time, I was exposed to the rich cultural heritage of the art and architecture found in Venice. The opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Renaissance masters, and be immersed in the culture was an extraordinary experience. At Scuola International di Grafica I mixed with artists and scholars from other countries as well as the broader community. The people I had the opportunity to meet enriched my experience greatly."

As well as the apartment, Catherine had a studio which she visited daily, and also took numerous side trips including visits to the best Museums and Galleries in Europe and New York City.
" For all of this I have to thank the Albury Regional Gallery, who sponsored my trip" Catherine said.
"Their generosity has enabled me to grow on a personal and artistic level, a growth which can only come about as a result of the time and space a residency can provide."

Catherine highly recommends an overseas residency, and we look forward to seeing the body of this work that will surely come from this fantastic experience.

view of the studio space in Venice provided by the residency

Silk Cut Award

Carol Fitzgerald, 'Anthony' lino cut

Congratulations to Carol Fitzgerald, who has been selected as a finalist in this year's prestigious Silk Cut Lino Award. The Award is one of Australia's most important printmaking prizes, and is open to printmakers from all over Australia. Carol is currently enrolled in the Diploma of Fine Art, and her print, 'Anthony' has been selected as a finalist from hundereds of entries. Congratulations Carol!

The Wool Drawing

study for wool drawing by Elizabeth Dubi, Diploma of Fine Art student, 2010

The wool drawing was a collaborative project produced this July by students from second year of the Diploma of Fine Art, TAFE NSW, Western Sydney Institute, Nepean College. The drawing is based on a black pen sketch of sheep in a field by the English Sculptor, Henry Moore (1898-1986). The students made a large scale drawing, that was approximately 3 x 5 metres, using black wool as the drawing medium. The wool was used to 'draw' lines on white paper to create the image of the sheep and additional wool was added to create darker areas of tones in the drawing. The project was created and exhibited at the Trapezium Gallery during July 2010. A time-lapse video of the students creating their drawing can be viewed on Youtube at WSI Fine Art channel, by following this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaetbebV0so

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/