Barbara Oehring Photography

Saturday, June 28, 2014

TarraWarra Museum of Art - Danie Mellor: Exotic Ties Secret Lies

I went for a drive to the Yarra Valley to see the work of the Indigenous artist Danie Mellor at TarraWarra Museum of Art.

Danie Mellor: Exotic Ties Secret Lies, a UQ Art Museum Touring exhibition curated by Maudie Palmer AO, runs from 10 May to 27 July 2014.

This major survey exhibition looks at different elements of the artist's practice and focuses on Australian history, shared histories, Indigenous perspectives. I found Danie Mellor's work haunting, particularly his installations.

TarraWarra Museum of Art also shows selected works from the TarraWarra Museum of Art Collection. I noticed the painting by Richard Bell "Australian art it's an Aboriginal thing" 2006 and "Notes to Basquiat: Totem lesson II 2001 by the recently deceased Gordon Bennett.

Entering TarraWarra Estate.

View from the car park.

Relaxing at TarraWarra Estate Cellar Door and Restaurant.

http://twma.com.au/exhibitions/event/danie-mellor-exotic-lies-sacred-ties/index.html

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Geelong Waterfront

A friend and I enjoyed a stroll along the Geelong Waterfront. It had been many years since my last visit there. I had heard about Darryn Lyons who, after a high profile international career in photojournalism, returned to his home city and was elected Mayor of Geelong in November 2013 on the message of "vision, passion, change".

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mullum Mullum Festival 2014

The Mullum Mullum Festival celebrates the ecological and cultural values of Mullum Mullum Creek Valley.

The opening ceremony of the 16th Mullum Mullum Festival took place in Mitcham on Sunday 4 May 2014.

Welcome banners greeted the visitors at Yarran Dheran Reserve. The colourful banners were on loan from The Koorie Heritage Trust. They were originally made to decorate the Welcome Place at Federation Square during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Wurundjeri elder Uncle Bill Nicholson performed Welcome to Country and John Baxter opened the festival.

Proud Latja Latja/Narungga man John Baxter speaks while MC "Den the Fish" looks on. Uncle Herb Patten is in the background and the Auslan interpreter on the left.

Uncle Den Fisher and Michael Bankes.

Traditional Smoking Ceremony conducted by Uncle Bill Nicholson.

Uncle Herb Patten.

The festival continues on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May 2014 with nature walks and presentations.

For details on the Mullum Mullum Festival and to view the festival brochure please go to http://mullummullumfestival.org.au/

Monday, April 21, 2014

Steamboat Trip on the Yarra River

My friend and I had a hour or so to spend in the city before attending a concert in Melbourne Town Hall. We decided to go on a short boat trip on the Yarra. At Southgate we boarded a classic steamboat built in 1924, the MV "Grower". We had a very enjoyable time cruising half an hour upstream and half an hour downstream.

Docking.

The captain removes the funnel for cruising under the bridges.

Several private schools offer rowing as a sport.

Morell Bridge.

Ornamental Victorian lights on Morell Bridge.

Aami Park, soccer and rugby venue.

Sheep transport.

Docklands.

The captain of the steamboat MV "Grower".

Nappy change onboard.

Monday, April 7, 2014

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.

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.

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.

William Yang and fan.

Five week old Thomas slept through his first gallery visit.

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

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Rod Moss: Whitegate - Where Art and Life Collide

The exhibition Rod Moss: Whitegate - Where Art and Life Collide opened at Burrinja Gallery on Sunday 30 March 2014. I was impressed by Rod's paintings which are a result of his unique and close relationship with the Arrernte community of Whitegate, a town camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs. The artist has been a resident of Alice Springs since 1984.

Writer and human rights advocate Arnold Zable who is a friend and admirer of Rod's work.

Dr Philip Batty, Senior Curator - Anthropology, Museum of Victoria opened the exhibition.
Here he listens to audio stories by Rod Moss.

The artist.

Rod Moss is also an award-winning author. The Hard Light of Day - an artist's story of friendships in Arrernte Country won the Prime Minister's Literary Award (non-fiction) and Northern Territory Book of the Year in 2011. In 2013 the author published A Thousand Cuts. Both books are available in the Gallery Shop at Burrinja.

There will be an artist talk and book signing on Sunday 6 April at 2pm - 3.30pm.
RSVP http://www.burrinja.org.au/

Rod Moss: Whitegate - Where Art and Life Collide until 22 June 2014.
Burrinja Gallery
Cnr Glenfern Road and Matson Drive
Upwey VIC 3158
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 4.00pm