Ingrid Hedgcock, director of the Tweed Regional Gallery, shows me around the amazing Margaret Olley Art Centre which is the relocation of Margaret Olley's home studio from Paddington in Sydney.
Famous for being like an Aladdin's cave of eclectic objects, the recreated home studio contains the sources of many inspirational items which appear in Margaret Olley's paintings. Over an astonishing 21,000 items were relocated from Sydney to the gallery.
Ingrid, having been involved in the project almost from its inception, is the ideal person to share insights into the creation of this extraordinary tribute to Olley.
This is the second of three episodes recorded at Tweed Regional Gallery. The previous episode is my conversation with Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald undertaking a residency at the gallery and the following episode will be my conversation with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt at the gallery about the exhibition 'A Dictionary for Painting'.
Photo of Ingrid Hedgcock supplied by Tweed Regional Gallery
Podcast listeners click here to see images of the Margaret Olley Art Centre
Margaret Olley Art Centre
'A Dictionary for Painting', exhibition with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt at the Tweed Regional Gallery until 2 March 2025
Scott Bevan on William Dobell
Ben Quilty (ep 80)
'The Hat Factory', Margaret Olley Art Centre
'The Yellow Room', Margaret Olley Art Centre
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Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald (with edited version on YouTube)
See an edited version of this episode (5 mins) on the talking with Painters YouTube channel
An artist’s residency provides more than just uninterrupted time to work; it’s also a valuable space for risk-taking, experimentation, and self-reflection.
That's what I learned when I caught up with Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald during my recent visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery. They were there for a residency in the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence studio. Both are accomplished landscape painters working in oils, have exhibited in solo and group shows across the country and both made the trek across Australia to immerse themselves in this experience - Sophie from Victoria and Sarah from South Australia. It was wonderful to hear their thoughts on the value of the residency and what has come from it.
This is the first of three podcast episodes which I recorded on my visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery a couple of weeks ago. I was invited to facilitate a conversation in front of an audience with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt, two leading painters who recently completed funded residencies at the gallery. Their new works, now hanging in the exhibition A Dictionary for Painting, are inspired by objects from Australian art royalty Margaret Olley’s glorious home studio, which has been relocated within the gallery. The gallery recorded the conversation and it will be coming soon to the podcast. I was also lucky enough to have an impromptu chat with gallery director Ingrid Hedgcock, an expert on Margaret Olley, who will be joining me on the next episode.
Links
Podcast listeners click here for website page and images of works
Sign up to the Talking with Painters newsletter
Sophie Perez website
Sarah McDonald website
Sophie Perez Instagram
Sarah McDonald Instagram
https://youtu.be/jxJybTWc81s?si=8neVQgRZyTP1x7y6
Wall of Sophie Perez' work
Wall of Sarah McDonald's work
Work mentioned by Sarah at about 9min 40s
Work mentioned by Sophie at about 18min 30s
Work mentioned by Sophie at about 21 min
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23:51
Karen Black
Podcast listeners click here to view the works
Through layers of paint in varying translucency, Karen Black explores not only the physical nature of the female form but through her use of abstraction and considered use of colour she brings out another dimension - an emotional layer.
There is a strong sense of a spontaneous response in her paintings so you may be surprised to hear that reading and research play as much a role in her process as creating those drips and brushstrokes.
Karen talks with me in this episode about her fascination with recent research on frequencies and vibrations which occur in all matter. That interest informs her most recent body of work which will be on view in her upcoming solo show 'alternative frequency' at Ames Yavuz in Sydney.
Karen has been acclaimed with awards and residencies and her work is in the collections of many public institutions. She has been repeatedly shortlisted in the Archibald and Sulman prizes, among many others, and has work hanging in both those prize exhibitions in the Art Gallery of NSW this year. She has also been recognised for her ceramic work, two of which have been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria.
In this podcast episode Karen talks with me about her childhood memories of art, how she came to painting, the story behind her current show and some interesting aspects of her process.
Links
Sign up to the TWP newsletter
Karen Black on Instagram
Karen Black at Ames Yavuz
Karen Black at Sutton Gallery
Solo show 'alternative frequency' at Ames Yavuz Gallery, 31 August to 5 October 2024
'Both of us'oil on canvas61 x 92 cmFinalist Sir John Sulman Prize 2024Source: AGNSW website
‘Head wind’ 2024,oil on polyester, 183.3 x 153 cmImage courtesy of the artist
'Licking the rain' 2017oil on canvas152.5 x 122 cmFinalist Sir John Sulman Prize 2017Source: AGNSW website
'I Will Shade You from the World'2022Oil on canvas213.6 x 198.5cmImage courtesy of the artist
Vivian Vidulichoil on polyester183 x 152.5 cmFinalist - Archibald Prize 2024Source: AGNSW website
'Crown legs arms' 2016earthenware, 23ct gold leaf69.0 × 29.7 × 29.2 cmCollection, National Gallery of Victoria
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44:51
Laura Jones wins the 2024 Archibald Prize
Watch the video version of my interview with Laura Jones here on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel
Congratulations to previous podcast guest Laura Jones on winning the Archibald Prize - Australia’s most famous portrait prize - with a sensitive and meaningful portrait of writer and environmentalist Tim Winton.
On Friday I interviewed Laura shortly after the announcement and I’m bringing you that 5 minute conversation in this episode but I’ve also gone through the archives to my podcast conversation with Laura in 2018 to bring you something extra.
When I interviewed Laura a few years ago it was after she had finished a residency on the Great Barrier Reef where she was studying the terrible bleaching events which occurred there (and continue to occur) and her concern surrounding those events is not unconnected with her winning portrait in this year's Archibald Prize.
Because it was after seeing Tim Winton’s documentary on the ABC, Ningaloo Nyinggulu, about the fight to save the Ningaloo reef that Laura requested an Archibald portrait sitting. They have in common a sense of urgency that we must act now on climate change and are doing everything they can to bring attention to the devastating and inevitable consequences of inaction.
One of the most interesting parts of my conversation with Laura was when she explained how coral bleaching occurs. It’s complex and scientific but she explained it in a way that anyone could understand so I thought I would bring you that part of the interview today .
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition continues until Sunday 8 September 2024. The Archibald finalist works then go on tour across 5 venues across NSW and for the first time, to the Northern Territory. The Wynne Prize finalist works will tour to four venues in regional NSW.
2018 podcast interview with Laura Jones (ep 53)
Laura Jones' Archibald Prize acceptance speech (Instagram)
YouTube version of my Archibald interview with Laura
Incognito Art Show
Studio A
Tim WintonOil on linen, 198 x 152.5cmImage: Art Gallery of NSW, Jenni Carter Winner 2024 Archibald Prize
Australia