In light of the recent announcement by the Victorian Government, Gippsland Art Gallery is once again temporarily closed to the public. The Gallery will close its doors for the next six weeks in line with the Government restrictions. Updates will be available on the Gallery website and social media platforms.
While the Gallery is closed to the public visitors are able to enjoy a variety of programs on the Gallery at Home page to keep families entertained and inspired.
The Gallery Collection is now available online, with over 2,200 items showcasing the art of Gippsland and beyond. Artworks range in materials from paintings, sculpture, photography, and printmaking, through to glass, ceramics, textiles, and woodwork. The collection has particular strengths in works on paper, landscape and wildlife art, craft (1960-1990) and contemporary painting (1990-present).
Alone, Together is a special online-only exhibition that brings together a selection of portraits from both the Gippsland Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Victoria. The works chosen represent a selection of activities that you might be undertaking during your isolation.
From these twenty-four artworks we can see a selection of figures creating their own artworks, men and women bathing, children with toys and books, musicians contemplating their instruments, people spending time with pets, depictions of taking (socially distant) walks and an overwhelming selection of people staring pensively into the distance.
These images provide us with a snapshot into people performing the very same tasks that we have found ourselves repeating over the previous many weeks. They act as a reminder that we have been down this road before, and that we will make it through.
“During this time of crisis, many of us are turning to a wide variety of creative outlets – music, art, performance, photography, writing, films,” says Erin Mathews, Curator Gippsland Art Gallery. “Whether we are creating or consuming culture, the arts are vital during this time of uncertainty.”
“We can use art as a space through which to process the difficult and challenging emotions that arise as a result of our isolation. In contrast, we can also use art to focus on the positive elements around us. Concurrently, many forms of creativity can help to reduce anxiety and stress and help us to relax.”
The Gippsland Art Gallery at Home Podcast has three new episodes available now – hear from Malcolm Boyd, Paul Gennings and Gillian Klein in conversation with Gallery staff about their work and connection to Gippsland.
In addition, Art at Home workshops are available online for adults and children, including the recent episode of Art Techniques at Home with Hayley Duyn, which focus on capturing the texture and form of an object, with creative use of soft pastels.
For more information about the Gippsland Art Gallery, visit: www.gippslandartgallery.com for details.
Image: Gippsland Art Gallery (supplied)