Barbara Oehring Photography

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Coranderrk Festival 2014

I was delighted to be chosen as the official photographer for the 2014 Coranderrk Festival.

In 2013 the inaugural Coranderrk Festival commemorated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Aboriginal station in Healesville. It celebrated the history of the reserve and its links to the community.

The 2014 Coranderrk Festival once again paid tribute to the dignity and resilience of the original inhabitants who survived despite the forced closure of their Coranderrk home in 1924. Visitors to the festival, indigenous and non-indigenous, were invited to join descendants of the Coranderrk community in a family day of music, dance, stories and art.

Here is a selection of my favourite portraits:

Dardee Balagamdail member © Barbara Oehring 2014

Djirri Djirri Dance Group girls © Barbara Oehring 2014

Alesa Lajana © Barbara Oehring 2014

Bobby Binnungurr © Barbara Oehring 2014

June Mills © Barbara Oehring 2014

Rod Neason © Barbara Oehring 2014

Allan and Jacqui Wandin © Barbara Oehring 2014

Sally Grice © Barbara Oehring 2014

Djon Mundine © Barbara Oehring 2014

Uncle Jack Charles © Barbara Oehring 2014

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Fun at the Fair

I enjoyed visiting the annual Knox Festival to photograph for the local community paper "Ferntree Gully News".

The 2014 Knox Festival took place on the first weekend in March in Ferntree Gully. On Saturday I spent a couple of hours at the Wally Tew Reserve. I would like to share some of my images of the fair.

Lesley Maxwell, author & world figure champion.

Logan © Barbara Oehring 2014

Sandra © Barbara Oehring 2014

Community Newspaper Stand.

Kirigami from recycled books at the Ferntree Gully Library.

Hand-crafted rocking horse by the Knox & District Woodworkers.

Swing Patrol, Ringwood.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

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

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.

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

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Future Memorials at TarraWarra Museum of Art

I explored the two current exhibitions 'Russell Drysdale' and 'Future Memorials' at TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville. I particularly appreciated 'Future Memorials'.

The project, commissioned by TarraWarra Museum of Art, explores the effects of colonialism on Wurundjeri people and seeks new ways to understand and renew the relationship between the past and the present.

FUTURE MEMORIALS involves the Sydney-based Wiradjuri-Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones, Melbourne-based non-Aboriginal artist Tom Nicholson and Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy AO.

Tom Nicholson's Towards a monument to Batman's Treaty 2008-2013 comprises 101 A0 sheets on the museum wall and 3456 used bricks collected from citizens around Healesville.

Jonathan Jones with Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy after William Barak
untitled (shield design) 2013

The architecture and the landscape delight.

Future Memorials
until 9 February 2014
TarraWarra Museum of Art

311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road,
Healesville, Victoria, Australia
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 11am to 5pm

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Australian Open 2014 - Rod Laver Arena

A friend took me to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open at the beautiful Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on 22 January 2014.

The match between Swiss Roger Federer and Scottish Andy Murray was won by Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.

When we entered the arena just after 7pm the roof was closed. By 7.20pm the roof started to open. I loved the effect with the blue sky gradually showing.


© Barbara Oehring 2014

By 8.14pm the sun was setting.

Roger Federer during his quarter-final with Andy Murray.

By 9.03pm.

It's 11pm. After the match Roger Federer is congratulated on court by former World No. 1 professional tennis player Jim Courier from the United States.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Isabel Foster Retrospect - The Challenge of Colour

The Challenge of Colour exhibition runs at Burrinja Gallery in Upwey from 14 December 2013 to 16 March 2014.

I was delighted to accept an invitation to the official opening of Isabel Foster's retrospective exhibition at Burrinja Gallery on 14 December 2013.

Neil McLeod © Barbara Oehring 2013

The exhibition was opened by long-time supporter Neil McLeod of Neil McLeod Fine Arts Studio and Burrinja exhibition curator JD Mittmann.

Isabel Foster has a passion for colour. Over her 45 year career she has created a body of work which shows her lifetime's devotion to needle and thread. Her textiles are bright, bold and bizarre.

The exhibition features embroideries, weavings, tapestries, patchworks and 'crazy' knitting.

The 92-year-old artist is interviewed by Tim Smith and Burrinja's Melanie Berry.

The exuberant Isabel Foster.

Isabel Foster Retrospect - The Challenge of Colour

14 December 2013 – 16 March 2014

Free Guided Tours

Tues, Thurs and Sat 11am

Burrinja Gallery

Cnr Glenfern Road and Matson Drive
Upwey VIC 3158
Phone: 9754 8723

Open Tuesday to Sunday
10.30am to 4.00pm

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Wurundjeri Stories at Bukkertilibul

Reconciliation and Landcare supporters joined the Wurundjeri women at the Bukkertilibul Dreaming Site on 25 October 2013. The site at Wittons Reserve in Wonga Park is considered to be the birthplace of William Barak.

I felt privileged to attend this very moving ceremony. I was granted permission to photograph aspects the event.