STAGES: LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

During the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in Melbourne in 2020 I was delighted to take part in an online exhibition titled 5km Radius at Magnet Galleries. This exhibition can still be enjoyed in virtual gallery five at Magnet  https://magnet.org.au/gallery/5km-radius/

Due to the global pandemic Melbourne is again experiencing restrictions.

Photographs of life in lockdown are a great cultural record of the pandemic.

I responded to a callout by Monash Gallery of Art for a photo of personal experience of lockdown and I am delighted that my submission was successful.

Pan King

© Barbara Oehring 2020

During Lockdown in 2020 I spent much time in my garden watching wildlife. I observed birds, studied their behaviour and took photographs. Processing my images was another endeavour that gave me pleasure while staying home.

All photographs of STAGES: Life in lockdown are now online https://www.stages.mga.org.au/life-in-lockdown

When restrictions are lifted and gallery doors open again visitors will be able to view the printed photographs on Monash Gallery of Art's Atrium gallery walls. Until then enjoy the images online.

Stop Time: Ferntree Gully @ Monash Gallery of Art

I am delighted to announce that my latest Stop Time: Ferntree Gully series will show at the Ramp Gallery of Monash Gallery of Art from 25 September 2015.

The Rennie Ellis Show and Book Launch: Decadent

The actor Michael Caton opened THE RENNIE ELLIS SHOW at Monash Gallery of Art on Saturday 5 April 2014.

Michael Caton © Barbara Oehring 2014

The photographer Rennie Ellis (1940-2003) was a key figure in Australian visual culture.
THE RENNIE ELLIS SHOW highlights some of the defining images of Australian life from the 1970s and '80s.

The photo storyteller William Yang and photographer and writer Robert McFarlane were among the special guests.


Manuela Furci, Director Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive, and William Yang listen to the opening remarks by Michael Caton.

© Barbara Oehring 2014

DECADENT 1980-2000 was launched. The book highlights Rennie Ellis as one of Australia's most important chroniclers of the 1980s and '90s.

Robert McFarlane and Stephen Dupont signed copies of DECADENT 1980-2000 as well as DECADE 1970-1980 (published 2013) by Hardie Grant Books. Stephen Dupont was the photo editor of both books. They are available in the MGA bookshop.

© Barbara Oehring 2014

William Yang and fan.

 © Barbara Oehring 2014

Five week old Thomas slept through his first gallery visit.

© Barbara Oehring 2014

© Barbara Oehring 2014

© Barbara Oehring 2014

THE RENNIE ELLIS SHOW
5 April - 8 June 2014
Tue to Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat & Sun 12-5pm

Monash Gallery of Art
860 Ferntree Gully Rd
Wheelers Hill Victoria 3150
W: www.mga.org.au

Wildcards - Bill Henson shuffles the deck

Wildcards - Bill Henson shuffles the deck
Monash Gallery of Art
1 February - 30 March 2014


The opening of the exhibition Wildcards - Bill Henson shuffles the deck took place on a very hot Saturday 8 February 2014.

A friendly welcome.

Yifang © Barbara Oehring 2014

© Barbara Oehring 2014

 
Bill Henson is a long-time supporter of the gallery and ex member of the Committee of Management of MGA. He has, for the first time, curated an exhibition of Australian photography.

Henson has selected 88 photographs from MGA's collection covering the history of Australian photography. It includes two albumen prints c. 1870-80 by Fred Kruger and Darren Sylvester's 'On holiday' 2010. Norman Lindsay is well represented and so are Mark Strizic, David More and Wesley Stacey.

Jan Minchin, director of Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne talks with her artist Bill Henson in front of Joachim Froese's 'Rhopography #20'.

 

Bill Henson and Jan Minchin © Barbara Oehring 2014

Bill Henson's opening remarks centred around the importance of the individual's experience when looking at a work of art. Admirers were happy to get a chance to speak with him afterwards.

© Barbara Oehring 2014

 

© Barbara Oehring 2014

Wildcards - Bill Henson shuffles the deck

Monash Gallery of Art
860 Ferntree Gully Road
Wheelers Hill Victoria 3150
Telephone +61 3 8544 0500
T-F 10am-5pm S&S 12-5pm


More details and information on the exhibition can be viewed here: http://www.mga.org.au/exhibition/view/exhibition/140

PEACE at Monash Gallery of Art




Monash Gallery of Art
© Barbara Oehring 2013

Jack Thompson, AM opened PEACE, a Degree South Collective Exhibition, at Monash Gallery of Art on 16 February 2013.




Jack Thompson
© Barbara Oehring 2013

The actor is also an environmental and indigenous activist. He delivered a thoughtful speech about Peace as a construct.

The exhibition PEACE features work by the eight distinguished photojournalists in the Collective:
Ben Bohane, Michael Coyne, Stephen Dupont, Sean Flynn, Ashley Gilbertson, Tim Page, David Dare Parker and Jack Picone.

Ben Bohane made a rare visit to Melbourne. He and Michael Coyne were present at the launch and talked about their respective images, of finding and documenting a moment of peace even in a conflict zone.





Jack Thompson and Ben Bohane
© Barbara Oehring 2013



Jack Thompson with two admirers
© Barbara Oehring 2013
 



Jack Thompson and friends
© Barbara Oehring 2013

 

Stephen Dupont, internationally acclaimed humanistic photographer and Degree South member visited the Gallery on 9 March 2013.

He gave a presentation about his work in Papua New Guinea as a Gardner Photography Fellow and his forthcoming exhibition and book for the Peabody Museum at Harvard.




Stephen Dupont
© Barbara Oehring 2013
 

PEACE is at Monash Gallery of Art from 8 February - 28 April 2013
860 Ferntree Gully Rd
Wheelers Hill, Victoria, 3150
www.mga.org.au



Age of Aquarius: the Photography of Paul Cox

I visited this travelling exhibition of photographs from Monash Gallery of Art at Whitehorse Art Space, Box Hill Town Hall.

The White Horse at Whitehorse Art Space
© Barbara Oehring 2012

On Saturday 21 April 2012 Paul Cox discussed his work with the MGA curator Stephen Zagala.

Paul Cox and Stephen Zagala
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Paul Cox is best known as an internationally acclaimed filmmaker.
Age of Aquarius: the Photography of Paul Cox celebrates his photography. Cox started out as a photographer in the 1960s and taught photography at Prahran College during the early 1970s where his students included Carol Jerrems.

Paul Cox studying his 1972 image "The Earth is warm (Queensland)"
and pondering its title
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Paul Cox told the audience that he dismissed and gave up photography to make films.

Since his illness in 2009 Cox took up and embraced photography again. He also wrote a book
Paul Cox Tales from the Cancer Ward about his journey from the start of his ill health to
receiving a liver transplant and beyond.

A signature trait of Cox's work is a deep humanism which is already apparent in his early
photographs taken throughout Asia and the Pacific in the 1960s.

During his floor talk Paul Cox met up with former fellow Prahran College lecturer Derrick
Lee and two of their students John (Wynn) Tweg and Graeme Horner.

Derrick Lee, photography lecturer Prahran College 1969- 1993 (VCA)

John (Wynn) Tweg, Paul Cox and Graeme Horner

© Barbara Oehring 2012

Age of Aquarius: the photography of Paul Cox, Whitehorse Art Space, Box Hill Town Hall

19 April - 26 May 2012



COLD EELS AND DISTANT THOUGHTS

COLD EELS AND DISTANT THOUGHTS is an exhibition at Monash Gallery of Art by eight Aboriginal male photographers on Aboriginal men.

On Saturday 14 April 2012 I attended the artist and curator talk which led to the opening of the exhibition by Gary Foley, Aboriginal Gumbaynggir activist, academic, writer and actor.

Welcome to country was performed by Wurundjeri Elder Colin Hunter jr.

Uncle Colin Hunter
© Barbara Oehring 2012

The exhibition includes work by Michael Aird, Mervyn Bishop, Adam Hill, Gary Lee, Ricky Maynard, Peter McKenzie, Michael Riley and Jason Wing. It explores many of the stereotypes associated with Aboriginal masculinity from a range of perspectives, including documentary and conceptual practice.

Legendary photographer Mervyn Bishop with his photograph of prime minister Gough Whitlam pouring sand through the hands of Aboriginal Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari. Bishop's photograph symbolised the return of land to its traditional owners. It became one of the defining images of the 1970s.

Mervyn Bishop
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Jason Wing is one of the younger generation artists included in the exhibition. Here he is with his 'An Australian government initiative self-portrait'

Jason Wing
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Cold eels and distant thoughts is curated by Indigenous curator and writer Djon Mundine OAM. "The central intention of the exhibition is to see Aboriginal men as just normal males with varying attributes, attitudes, fears, and hopes and dreams for a better future."

The catalogue informs that the title for the exhibition comes from a statement by Afro-American boxer Jack Johnson (1878-1946). When asked why white women were attracted to black men, Johnson amusingly and cryptically replied: 'We eat cold eels and think distant thoughts'.

The exhibition opening was a joyous event with the photographers happily snapping each other. They asked me to do this group shot.

Michael Aird, Jason Wing, Djon Mundine, Adam Hill, Mervyn Bishop, Gary Foley
and friend Margaret
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Destiny Deacon, photography, video, installation & performance artist attended the opening of Cold eels and distant thoughts.

Destiny Deacon
© Barbara Oehring 2012

Cold eels and distant thoughts at Monash Gallery of Art until 3 June 2012.