THE Maryborough Art Gallery launches its 2015 program today with a show to warm the cockles.
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The second biennial Golden Textures exhibition brings together some of Australia’s best art quilters.
Curator and local textile artist Jenny Bacon said the 24 artists exhibited had taken their quilting cues from the Australian landscape.
“In making our selections we have looked to include a range of techniques and subject matter, effective use of colour, with a commitment to contemporary art quilting,” Jenny said.
“While including those on the cutting edge of design, we are mindful that many of our viewers are more traditional quilt makers, and so include some that they will find more relevant to their practice.”
Gallery arts manager Kay Parkin is expecting big numbers to the gallery between now and April 5 to see the quilts.
“We’ve had a couple of quilt exhibitions in the past and they’ve proved hugely successful, so we decided to start having our own exhibition,” Kay said.
The show includes a $3000 prize, with the winning entry acquired by the gallery.
“We’re now collecting quilts as artworks, which also helps capture some of the better quilters around Australia,” Kay said.
Once Golden Textures is taken down a selection of the works will travel with Jenny to Europe’s leading patchwork and quilting show, the Birmingham Festival of Quilts.
Last year award-winning quilter Jenny was invited to help judge the international show.
“We’re delighted to be invited to exhibit some of this collection there,” Kay said.
The recognition is part of a growing awareness of Victorian regional galleries.
Kay said the strength of the surrounding galleries in Castlemaine, Ballarat and Bendigo had helped raise the profile of all in the region.
“We don’t have the budget or the space to do what they do, but we try to focus on professional artists from our region, so we complement the big gallery events,” she said.
“And we have some fabulous regional artists.”
Among the shows to look out for this year include group exhibition North of the Divide.
“North of the Divide will prove very popular because of its diversity. There will be watercolours, ceramics, oils and print making,” Kay said, adding it was important for regional artists to have a professional gallery space to exhibit in.
“We’re also a council-run gallery so it’s good to also acknowledge the community, which we do through the community art and VCE art events each year.”
Other local shows booked for this year include ceramicists Ellen Hansa-Stanye