Art Up Close: Ten Years Ago at Newcastle Art Space

by Madeleine Snow on June 21, 2011

The exhibition Ten Years Ago by Damien Minton currently at Newcastle Art Space (NAS) presents an eloquent snapshot of Newcastle, featuring Dallas Bray, Chris Capper, Tom Carment, Gabrielle Collins, James Drinkwater, Peter Gardiner, Isabel Gomez, Myfwany Gullifer, Ross Laurie, Liam Power, Neal Smith, Tanya Sparke, Catherine and Jennifer Strutt, Neridah Stockley & guest artist Euan Macleod courtesy of Watters Gallery. This is an accomplished celebratory show for Damien Minton, who ran a commercial gallery in Newcastle’s east end and is now based in Redfern.

The salon style hang of paintings by Isabel Gomez and Euan Macleod tie both spaces of NAS together. Where Macleod has created energetic plein air scenes of Newcastle, Gomez presents a considered study of a recent visit to Spain. In Cars and Headland, Newcastle 24/11/06 Macleod captures the quotidian parked cars by Newcastle Beach. It is a pithy reminder of our desire to be close to the sea and fruitless quest for free parking by the beach. The date in the title locates it historically documenting the artist’s presence in responding to the landscape whilst measuring time passing - with the threat of rising sea levels might these cars be submerged by 24/11/26? In Gomez’ suite of works, the cold of her trip is evident. The stark landscapes are both fresh and ancient, pared back of excessive detail the works get to the heart of the matter. In Spain’s present the wind turbines lined like a row of trees are a harbinger of environmental shifts a sight unseen in the Europe of old.

Peter Gardiner’s striking paintings of Ravensworth are almost apocalyptic, quasi religious images of environmental devastation. The burning bush or the effects of mining through the seductive lens of a century old landscape tradition – is the painting a teleport to the future or one to the past?

In Dallas Bray’s Streetlife, a man feeds his dog a slab of meat in the middle of a city street whilst another lounges in front of a TV in a department store window. Reminiscent of the alienation of Edward Hopper’s city scenes and De Chirico’s symbolism, his characters are disconnected and plagued by shadows. The sometimes absurd compositions star bunnies and men in intriguing narratives.

The Strutt Sisters mixed media assemblage work with titles such as Bride from Juri, Setu Woman, Women from Häädemeste suggest an interest in women, folk traditions and cultural identity. The patterns and colours are reminiscent of layered and juxtaposed fabrics in quilting and textiles, although here from materials such as wood and punctured metal.

Myfanwy Gullifer, Ross Laurie and James Drinkwater bring a burst of colour to the show with Neal Smith and Tanya Sparke a little pop. Seascapes are explored by Neridah Stockley, Liam Power, Gabrielle Collins and Tom Carment. Chris Capper creates still life including titles like “And after that the wicked Scotsman never drank again”.

The works which sing here are those where the artist is not represented by a single work but rather displayed together as a body of works, giving them context and a sense of the artists oeuvre. There is plenty to contemplate and plenty for the avid collector - don’t miss it – open to view until Sunday 26 June 2011.

Newcastle Art Space is located at 246 Parry Street Newcastle West NSW 2302 and is open from Thursday - Sun, 12 - 5pm. You can contact them on (02) 4940 8066.