Rick Amor The end of Lyall Street, Newport 2002 Watercolour

Rick Amor is one of Australia’s finest contemporary artists and the Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition showcasing how he composes his finished oils by producing sketches, prints and watercolours that are used for his final oil paintings. A must for anybody interested in how professional artists undertake painting compositions.

Exhibition to be opened by Alex Miller, world renowned novelist on Saturday 1st June at 3pm

Sir Will Ashton. Monaco. Oil on canvas on board. 36 x 45 cm

This exhibition examines the works of Rupert Bunny, E Phillips Fox, Sir Will Ashton, Ambrose Patterson and many more, to show the inspiration and influence that light and colour had on these painters. It also looks at the work of tonalists Justus Jorgensen, Colin Colahan and Harley Griffiths to ‘debunk’ art historians criticisms of their work and reasserts their progressive conceptual thought with a stronger use of colour not normally associated with this group of painters.

Barry Singleton. Three Ceramic Vessels 2011. Stoneware

An exhibition and survey of ceramics by this Central Victorian ceramicist. It illustrates the journey taken by this potter over a forty year period. Displayed is the work of a craftsman at his peak. Confdent and at ease with the many techniques he acquired during his time in Japan.

R W Sturgess. Among the Marigolds, 1923. Watercolour

Over thirty-five works from 1912 to 1930 presented
to the Gallery by the artist’s daughter and shown
together for the first time.

Margaret Preston. Aborigines Preparing for a fight. Gouache stencil on black paper. 35.2 x 32.0 cm (sight)

Works selected by the Director over 38 years of his tenure at this institution. The exhibition will include both purchases and gifts during this time covering a range of mediums.

16 November – 15 December 2013

Lynn Miller. Winter Storm, Bay street Brighton, 2011. Oil on board 92 x 122 cm

The Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum is delighted to invite entries for the 2013 Len Fox Painting Award. The Len Fox Painting Award is an acquisitive award of $20,000 which is held every two years, commemorating the life and works of Emanuel Phillips Fox.

The award was initiated and funded by author, teacher and historian Len Fox (1905-2004) whose uncle was the Australian born Impressionist painter E. Phillips Fox. The award is for a painting of an Australian subject in sympathy with the work of E. Phillips Fox.

Click Here to download the Len Fox Painting Award brochure with terms and conditions of entry (321kb).

Click here to download the 2013 Len Fox Painting Award entry form (PDF 106kb).

Completed entry forms including entry fee must be received by the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum by 5pm Monday 16th September 2013.

The winner of the 2011 Len Fox Painting Award was Lynn Miller, for the work “Winter Storm,Bay street Brighton”.

Artist talks and Public Forums throughout the year

Barry Singleton Artist Talk Saturday 6 April, 2pm

Mediterranean Summers, Director’s Viewpoint (Peter Perry) Saturday 20 April, 2pm

Explore the Permanent Collection I with Kate Stones Saturday 18 May, 2pm

Rick Amor: From sketch to finished oil, Curator’s Talk, (Peter Perry) Saturday 15 June, 2pm

Explore the Permanent Collection II with Kate Stones, Saturday 20 July, 2pm

Printmakers Forum, Saturday 17 August, 2pm

Explore the Permanent Collection III with Kate Stones, Saturday 14 September, 2pm

Shimmering Light: Dora Meeson and the Thames, Curator’s Talk (Kirsten McKay), Saturday 12 October, 2pm

Behind the scenes: issues of conservation and cataloguing, (Kate Stones with guests curator/conservators Kirsten McKay and Tom Chippindall), Saturday 9 November, 2pm

Gallery Excursions

Master of Stillness: Jeffrey Smart paintings 1940–2011 at TarraWarra Museum of Art, Thursday 14 March

The Stoneman Collection at Duneira, Mount Macedon Saturday 27 April

Winter Masterpieces, Monet’s Garden: The Museum Marmottan Monet, Paris at The National Gallery of Victoria, date to be announced, August

The Castlemaine Art Gallery Community Education Program is generously supported by the Ian Potter Foundation.

A Castlemaine Casement, 1927. Oil on board, 60.0 x 45.0 cm

AME BALE, Her Art and Life By Peter Perry. Published by the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum

Alice Marian Ellen Bale (1875-1955) is one of Australia’s most significant painters of flowers. She is also known for her subtle and sensitive portraits and for her many evocative studies of interiors and landscapes. She had a strong sense of independence and a firm belief in her own considerable talent, and her life was completely devoted to art.

AME BALE, Her Art and Life, the first monograph, is a valuable new source of reference on the life and work of this noted Australian Artist. It contains an authoritative chronology, exhibition list and bibliography. It traces Bale’s Formative influences, including that of painter and teacher Max Meldrum, and assesses her achievements and her position in the early twentieth century Melbourne art world.

This publication provides a pictorial survey of wide appeal to art admirers and collectors. Of the numerous works illustrated in colour, many have been selected from private collections and have not before been on general view.

With 151 pages, and over 40 large colour plates, this limited edition book is wholly published, printed and bound in Australia.

To Secure your copy of AME BALE, Her Art and Life visit the Castlemaine Art Gallery,  contact Peter Perry on (03) 5472 2292, or send a cheque or money order to:

Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum PO Box 248 Castlemaine VIC 3450.

The price of the book is $60, plus postage (Victoria $11, Other states $16). Please include your name, address and contact phone number with your payment.  Orders for 2 copies of the book only attract one postage charge.