Emma explains, "It can take up to 10 hours to paint a model in front of a background, and they're standing the whole time. I try not to worry about it because it would affect the work - but it's a fine line between being considerate about the models and getting the detailed work done!"

The success and exposure of the Goyte video gave people the opportunity to see that Emma's artworks are entirely handmade and not, as is often presumed, executed in photoshop. Although only briefly in the country Retrospect is thrilled to have secured Emma for an artist's talk about this elaborate process on Feb 2 at the gallery at ?pm.

Another recent project which gained the attention of the world press was  "Body Crash"  an extra-ordinary project for which she painted 17 people and then 'sculpted' them into position to create a crashed car for South Australia's Motor Accident Commission.

Works to be included in Retrospect Galleries exhibition include a series called "POP!" in which Emma explores her fascination with the pop art genre, Emma's is a fun, modern , however, day retake on the comic-inspired work of Roy Lichtenstein. Her heroines are not helpless romantics, but rather, they are strong feisty, sexy, superwomen. They are so impeccably integrated with their comic book surrounds, the viewer does a double take before realising the female figures are not caricatures but rather are real models.
 
We will also present Emma's most recent body of work, the stunning Blue and White series in which she focuses her attention on the fascinating journey of the ubiquitous blue and white patterned porcelain which evolved and mutated through centuries of trade between Asian and  Europe. The collection features designs from 5 countries, China, Holland, England, France and Portugal. Refined, intricate and subtle, these works are like the stylistic antithesis of the bold, primary coloured works of "POP!".

In a similar vein to The Blue and White series we will also be showing works from Emma's well known "Broadhurst" series in which the model was painted to blend into various beautiful elaborate Florence Broadhurst wallpaper patterns. The model distinguishing herself from the background courtesy of the exotic animal or bird she held in each photograph.

With 22yrs experience in the arena of body art/photography Emma Hack is now at the top of her field. The array of work to be exhibited here is in turn  bold, subtle, whimsical, and exquisite. Do not miss this opportunity to meet the artist and experience the work of an acclaimed internationally renowned artist.

See her work online here: http://www.retrospectgalleries.com/exhibition-detail/emma-hack-solo-show/3387/1

check out some of the links to her processes here

Native Mandala
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL156AEB99289E43ED&feature=plcp

Wallpaper Collection 2005-2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUBuZ3jgyzQ&feature=plcp

Voices in the Mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4spIMc9UclM

Other projects:

Body Painting Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Z3qga_vKc&feature=plcp

Natura:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnTbyW5Bg0

Guitar Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI1f2BM57Lw
Interviews:

Gotye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY


Interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQmH7mIAng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGyj_7zfN14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgFpANlBcHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVGaEM_-bNw

Check out the images from the show here...

At Retrospect Galleries we believe that charm (and the devil!) resides in the details. Our first exhibition for 2013, Intricate Lines, showcases a group of artists who will explore their personal fascination with the intimacies of fine lines and minute details. This exhibition presents a diverse range of medias and styles revealing breathtaking complexity and substance. What these works have in common, be they drawn, painted, stitched or cut, is a love of a refined line, of technical prowess and honed skills and imaginations.

Contributing artist Courtney Brims offers a series of fine graphite drawings, she says of her process,
"I invest a lot of care into creating the intricate forms in my work, immersing myself in the delicate structures of both the natural and man-made world. Creeping vines, decaying wood, hair entangled around raw bones and fine lace. For me, these tiny, intricate elements are not simply ornamental but act as separate life forms connecting the pieces together within the work."
 As one of the prestigious 'Element Advocate Artists' Courtney's images now grace the shelves of Billabong, with many of her drawings appearing on a wide range of clothing. She has also been published in many national periodicals  including Frankie, Empty and Monsters Children.    

Emerging artist, Lilly Piri's work also crosses over to the design world. Her delightful creations were recently produced for a recent Oxfam campaign and appeared on television, billboards and buses. Featured in Asian Lifestyle, Frankie, and Little Things magazine her innocent worlds of rainbows, picnics, and girls in frocks and socks are created in a soft 1940's palette. Lilly likens her drawing process to the human body," with its layers - bone, muscle, nerves, skin - each line begins from the inside. The knowledge of structure makes the drawing a living and breathing organism, more than meets the eye, still waters that run deep."

 The artists' acute understanding of their personal motivation and passion for working in such fine detail adds to the excitement surrounding this exhibition.  Comprehending the inner world of these artists, allows us to enter a  two-dimension landscape where time slows down, convolutes or is suspended as our eyes and hearts traverse the fine lines, whorls and mappings of these artworks.

"Welcome to my world," writes artist David Green, whose fine technical ability is harnessed to the challenge of creating bold, surreal drawings where schools of exquisitely formed fish transform into sailing boats. David describes his drawing experience as "one where drawing is not subservient to any other art form, where the line is master of the whole story. A line that glistens and glides across the page, that dances between the dots; a line that journeys between the dark of night and the dazzling displays of daytime colour."

 Heiko Windisch's work also harkens to this almost mediative approach finding a peace in the rhythmic repetition of lines and negative spaces.
"My medium is the black line on white ground. Dark dancing with the light, day with night, knowledge with intuition, life with death, here with yonder... As the lines fill up the canvas and black finds its balance with the white, intricate lines fall into place to create forests, buildings and creatures, but only the mind can untangle the web and make sense of it."
  An award winning illustrator and designer, Heiko has worked with clients such as Salomon Sports, Logitech, Iron First, Graniph and Palmer Cash. His distinctive black lines with primary colour accents have appeared on paper, canvas, wood, installations and in animations, winning several industry prices and making many noted appearances at Illustration festivals.

 For Nicola Hooper  tangled lines also play a primary part in her organic refined compositions which evoke a sense of victorian anatomy and botanical illustration in a modern context. Using watercolours, pigment inks and stitched threads, her "fine line works like a wrinkle on a face, describing a passage in time or an expression of a feeling."

Wendy Powitt also expresses her love of line with a needle and a thread, though for her it is an embroidery needle that creates her updated take on the exemplars of old with their stitched maxims and illustrations. She see's embroidery as "the most intimate of mark making. Each line formed from tiny stitches traversing across the surface, combining only at the very end to form with visual purpose."

 Just as a fine line can be drawn, or stitched, it can also be cut, as in the stunning, precise work of Lisa Rodden. Lisa concentrates on the space made from delicate incisions into paper, using these cuts to 'draw' fish, feathers and chrysanthemums of astounding beauty and purity. Slicing, layering, painting and folding to create 3D wonders where shadows and colours appear and disappear as the viewer moves around the work.

Last but certainly not least we are thrilled to introduce Byron Bay to the work of Singapore artist Ieo Gek Ching. Leo draws her menagerie of painstakingly detailed hybrid creatures with a fine line art pen, creating strangely appealing, haunting beasts that are often up to 150cm in height. For her they are a response to a world that is " full of strange and unusual things. The hunger for discovering new things never slows down…Some animal’s hybrids are born in the wild due to the environmental factors, while humans for profit or scientific curiosity breed others. For me, I do it to fill up my curiosity and desire."

Full of wonderment and delicate excitement this exhibition is a celebration above all else of line, of its beauty elegance and complexity as it traverses the chosen surface and transforms it into a multitude of worlds. Intimate and playful these artists invite the viewer to investigate a labyrinth beyond the surface of their work and examine the artistic and microscopic possibilities of INTRICATE LINES.

Sculpture fields of Nova's Ark, Millstone Road, Bridgehamptons, NY

Retrospect Planet continues its world tour of International Art Fairs with some of its favourite artists. Coming up next is ArtHamptons set in the beautiful Sculpture fields of Nova's Ark, Bridgehamptons, NY. This year ArtHamptons celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Jackson Pollock. We are exciting to join the 75 galleries attending the fair. Join us at stand A25 as summer sweeps through the Hamptons at their best. View this online preview of fresh and exciting artwork from $300 to $1500.

View the online preview of the exhibition here...

These ethereal Visual metaphors from a local whimsical artist speak to the heart

His whimsical painting speak to the heart. In each of his works, artist Craig Martin, 36, masterfully encapsulates past, present and future with fanciful, cartoon-like visions that incite the imagination into life.

He confronts the human condition with beautiful, almost ethereal visual metaphors that leave the viewer with a sense of connection and wordless understanding.

Northern Star | MArch 2012

Northern Rivers Echo | MArch 2012

We are very proud of all our artists and are seriously excited about our artists’ position in the global art scene. We have had such a great response to all the work and outstanding sales. Many artists sold out in Brussels or London including Shane Martin, Lyndy Delian, Dave Newman, Artslave, Alberto Sanchez, Shannon Doyle and Hilary Hermann.

Lotta, The Fair Director from Stockholm emailed “I immediately fell for your amazing artwork.”  Another customer told us “this is everything I love about Australian art” and Gerald from London said “I have walked around the fair 3 times, and I just keep coming back to your stand.”

Banned and Censored!
The artist who has made most noise is Mike Chavez. His works made the press in Brussels for it’s edginess, was high selling and a real talking point. In London this pattern continued. However, the second last day of the Fair, we were asked by organisers to remove his work as it was considered offensive. Despite our arguing for freedom and artistic expression, we eventually conceded. The irony being that in a “Dog Friendly Art Fair”, it was 2 dogs doing what comes naturally that caused so much fuss!

If you can’t make it to New York don’t worry, our next port of call is the Melbourne Affordable Art Fair from May 24th to 27th. Stayed tune for more news about Retrospect Planet – Showroom in Flinders Lane Melbourne coming soon…

See the exhibition here...

On page 26 in our local newspaper, The Echo, you\'ll find all the details for our upcoming exhibition, \'The Full Spectrum\'. You can also view our available works here: http://www.retrospectgalleries.com/exhibition-detail/the-full-spectrum/3348/1

"... the Friday night before Magic Millions the exhibition was opened by Racing Queensland deputy chairman Tony Hanmer and attended by the exhibition's artists, racing industry participants and a who's who of art on the Gold Coast ..."

Click here to view exhibition online

Click on image to read article in more details

* Mari Hirata artworks will be on display during the Gold Coast Fashion Week - February 8-12 at our Broadbeach gallery on the Gold Coast.

Click here to view exhibition online...

Click here to view the exhibition online...

(Click on image to read article)

Click here to view the exhibition online...

Retrospect Galleries would like to extend all our love and condolences to Sarah Watt who passed away at home with her family last Friday. We wish to thank everyone who has been ringing with such love and support and to thank those who attended her exhibition 'Little Picture' earlier this year and made the dinner show and opening of the exhibition such a special event. Our best wishes and love goes to Sarah's family William, Clem and Stella who have been such an inspiration for Sarah's life long work both as an artist and film director. Here is a link to the article written by the Age newspaper. Thank you Sarah for letting us into your life. 

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/tributes-flow-for-the-director-who-gave-her-all-20111105-1n1d7.html

"As the Director of the gallery, I would like to say how Sarah and her work have personally influenced me and how much inspiration she evoked. I am devastated to hear of her passing and think she is one of the truly great Australian directors whose films have changed many peoples lives. Seeing her art and animation gave us a true glimpse into her soul and helped us all look closely at the beauty of the Little picture, and indeed make us live and breathe and be in the now... Thankyou Sarah for the joy you have brought me, for the opportunity to sit by you and listen, for your art hanging on my wall and your honest friendship and support. All my love for now and eternity!" Bree Delian

See the images from Michelle's new exhibition here...

"Foremost is Michelle Dawson's small portrait of the artist Rene Bolten staring at a sparrow with the kind of intensity Chairman Mao might have practised when he had these birds exterminated in 1958. This work, which was highly commended by the panel, is a superior piece of painting and quirky enough to stand out from the crowd.

To prove it's no fluke, Dawson has another impressive painting in the show, a self-portrait called The Visitation, in which she sits face-to-face with a hyena. I won't speculate on the symbolism but there's no denying the skill with which this artist paints flesh, fur and fabric".

Read Michelle's artist profile here...

Read the review in full here: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/womens-work-20111027-1mknn.html#ixzz1cWaDcpIH

See her artist profile and new work here...

Marina Saint Martin interviewed Mari Hirata in 'hands and heels' for the Artworld page in the Paradise magazine in the Gold Coast Bulletin.  Showing selected works from Hirata's solo show 'Wild Soles' opening this Friday, 14th October at 6pm at Retrospect Galleries Broadbeach.

...Also for this show, 30-year-old Hirata is leaving her former comfort zone and presenting her first series of sculptural pieces... "

Click on image to read article 

Wild Soles by Mari Hirata opens at Retrospect Galleries Broadbeach at 6pm Friday 14th October.

Exhibition runs until 27 October.

To view exhibition online click link here - Wild Soles by Mari Hirata

Click here to see the finalists...

Click here to see the finalists and read more about the award...

See their artist profile and available works here…

Gold Coast Photographer Mari Hirata, whose solo opens at our Broadbeach gallery on October the 14th, is featured in the very creative promotional pics for the Prize, see if you can spot her in the pic...

Read more about the Border Art Prize here...

See his artist profile and works here...

Since 2002 the Mission to Seafarers Victoria art prize has exhibited the work of over 700 artists and fast become recognized as Australia’s leading maritime art award. Prize money awarded to date has exceeded $119,000 and the organisation has raised approximately $180,000 toward the provision of seafarers’ welfare services in Victoria.

Now known as the ANL Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition, the award was introduced to promote excellence in maritime and seafaring subjects in art; to raise the profile of the 1.5 million merchant seafarers responsible for transporting more than 90 per cent of the products and produce traded globally and to attract support for the work of the Mission to Seafarers.

Read more about the Maritime art prize here...

A tiny piece from the story below...

...Just like the range of artists and styles, the gallery has a diverse range of work for sale to suit all budgets. The gallery supports emerging artists whose prices are very reasonable, meaning art lovers can purchase highly skilled original work at a great price. Additionally, Retrospect represent nationally recognised artists whose work sells at prices aimed toward the higher end of the contemporary market...

... The galleries don’t like to be fenced in and as a result, showcase a wide variety of works ranging from street/urban art, through to the finest of draughtsmanship and painterly works...

Click on link to view full article - http://giftedandtalented.net.au/2011/09/12/a-new-retrospective/

Right now I am...
Thinking 

At the moment I am working on...
Some new work.. a bit unpredictable

My proudest moment this year was...
Nearly winning that trophy 

My biggest mistake this year was...
Going backhand instead of forehand 

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of...
Mark Rothko

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually...
Do some drawing 

I have always been fascinated by artists that...
Have confidence, that shows in their work

If I were to try my hand at a new art form, it would be…
Animation

When I was a child I dreamt of...
My early years were full of dreams and in fact have been the main inspiration and starting point for my work, I have tried to capture the energy of theses dreams

My first job was...
A printer 

My first big love was...
Cricket 

The first piece of art I ever bought was...
Well i have swapped many paintings over the years, so have a bit of a collection 

My favourite record cover of all time is...
Little Feat - Down on the Farm

The best film I have seen this year is...
The Road 

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be...
Bob Dylan
 
In the film of my life I would like to be played by…
Robert de Niro

My Avatar would be...
Blue

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been...
My new camera 

If I am cooking for myself I...
Always make my own almond meal

My last meal would be...
Roast lamb, you silly

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is...
My eyes sort of start to close

I am currently reading...
Arthur Boyd - A Life

If I could be a mythical creature I would be...
Mr Curly 

The best gift I have ever received was...
A bike

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would...
Do a lot of research first

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack...
iPod, camera, sketch books

If air travel was no longer possible I would...
Be very happy, because I wouldn't have to get into those pesky planes again

If I was a superhero I would be…
Kramer

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…
Médecins Sans Frontières

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was...
The music 

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose...
Paris in the 1930s 

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is...
Patience 

The craziest thing I have done this year was...
Well i haven't done it yet, but....... 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be...
A picture of lamby

When I think about the GEC, I...
Think they make the best fridges

The rise of graphic art makes me think...
Oh well

I found the Bill Henson debate...
Tragic 

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to...
Always be making art 

In the next year I hope to achieve…
45 questions

Click here to view John Cottrell's gallery of works

The Drawing Group is Rene Bolten, Michelle Dawson, Hilary Herrmann, Kellie O'Dempsey and James Cruickshank. As a group of practicing artists they are endlessly grateful for the casual collision of circumstances two years ago that conspired to bring them together on a fortnightly basis. Drawn Together is a cross section of the work they have produced within these meetings.

See images from the exhibition here...

The Drawing Group sees this exhibition as a great opportunity to share the creative fun and explorations had over this time. What has naturally evolved in these sessions is a propensity to work in turn on each others artwork or to work collectively on one piece of work. Their combined skills have coalsced in such a way that defies dissection into who did what and in this way the finished artworks have come to have their own identity.  It is as though the five very different ways of seeing and mark making have created a 6th artist, or as Rene puts it, " 5 is more than 5, 5 is one"

The diversity of their individual practices is perhaps the key to the success of their collaboration. Such a collaborative process is a fine blend of respect, trust, and let go, of not worrying about the outcome or being too attached to individual mark making.  They all concur that what they do in these meetings feeds back into their individual practice.  James, never one to mince words reflects " While there is the simple pleasure of their company and working without  expectation... but what I really love  about working with these seasoned campaigners is I get to see how they solve problems and then steal their ideas for my own." For Kellie "drawing together resets my compass." And for Hilary it is, "fun, inspiring and reassuring..." Michelle simply speaks of it as "a tonic'

Each meeting is facilitated by a different artist who sets the exercise, be it a still life of apples or fish or the old surrealist game of "the Exquisite Corpse." The element of chance has become an important factor. The works from the series "Lucky Dip Words" involved pulling a word out of a paper bag and drawing it before passing it to the next person who drew a new word out and had to incorporate an image of that word into the existing picture, this process was continued until the drawings had gone full circle. These are the most narrative of the works produced by the group.

Over Christmas when the group scattered across the globe, they hit upon a game to keep them connected until meetings could resume. Each artist sent out 4 postcards they had altered in some way. The recipients in turn responded to the change and sent the card on to a new recipient who did likewise. The results of this process are the small artworks in the show entitled "Missing You".

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

In keeping with the spirit of their fortnightly meetings the Drawing Group drew names out of a hat  and took on the task of encapsulating what each member brings to these fortnightly Wednesday meetings.
Of each other they have this to say:

Hilary Herrmann
" Intrinsic and instinctual with a complexity that belies their primal execution, Hilary paints a world , her world with a stroke that can break you heart..."

Rene Bolten
"Whether drawing on the heritage of Rembrandt or the honesty of scratching  shoe polish across paper Rene Bolten’s work is always considered , mercurial  and tender."

Kellie O'Dempsey
 "a visual collision of line and energy."

Michelle Dawson
 "Michelle the artist is as Michelle the person, gentle, concerned, amusing." 

James Cruickshank
By emoting every mark he makes, be it with frustration, doubt, passion or pure joy, James constantly reminds us of the vulnerability, excitement and struggle of what we do.

The simple truth and affection of their responses perhaps best illustrates why they work so well together and why Rene Bolten sums up what The Drawing Group means to him by saying 'wish it was Wednesday."

Maryanne Wick's painting,  Self Portrait (Reflection of a Night Painter)

Maryanne Wick draws attention to the incidental but often poignant moments we miss in our hectic day to day lives. Through painting, drawing and creating visual diaries, her subject matter focuses primarily on still life and figurative composition to convey - a sense of place - in quiet, unassuming ways. She has been described by art critic John McDonald (Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 2008) as - an emerging painter with a subtle, distinctive touch.

See Maryanne Wick's profile here...

Michelle Dawson had an unheard of two entries selected as finalists in the prize her works are titled Sparrow Man and The Visitation shown below.

Born in New Zealand, Michelle moved to Australia in 1985. She has been working as a professional artist since 1996 and has studied both in Australia and the UK at the UCL Slade Art School. Michelle has been shortlisted for several major art prizes including the Bendigo drawing Prize and the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize. She has twice represented Australia at the Intercontinental Biennale of Small Graphics in Romania and was shortlisted for the CBCA 2009 Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.

See Michelle Dawson's artist profile here...

This is Jessica Geron's painting, Our Time

Jessica Geron graduated from the College of Fine Arts Sydney (MFA) and is currently working out of Brisbane. She has had numerous solo shows in the last decade as well as exhibiting extensively in NSW, QLD and VIC. Her works draw heavily upon iconography and grabbed moments of pop culture. She is a compulsive hoarder of imagery, cut outs, obscure film and discarded postcards. Her bold and colourful canvases are a buzzing reflection of this obsessive compulsion.

See her artist profile here...

"Much like his art, Rene Bolten is gentle, humble and unassuming. But while his paintings are dark and sombre, he is friendly and quick to laugh - there's humour and kindness in his eyes. He was born in The Netherlands in 1954 and studied art at the Academy Reitveld in Amsterdam..." Rene is one of the five artists who is part of The Drawing Groups exhibition opening 6pm Friday at Byron Bay.

See The Drawing Group Show here...

"A stylish group of artists and -in-the-know locals packed our Retrospect Galleries at the Oracle for the opening of the Drawn Forth exhibition.  As they were served delicious canapes and wine, guests were mesmerised by over 20 artists' extraordinary drawings..."

The exhibition has since moved to our Byron Bay gallery

Click here to go to the Drawn Forth exhibition online

LISA LEE

Lisa Lee is a Queensland based artist living on the Sunshine Coast. Her recent works draw on parallels between voluntary insular behaviour and the involuntary isolation of those with vision impairment, through an exploration of sight and the distorted human figure. Many of her works feature braille that has been applied to the canvas surface.

I am interested in observing how people block out circumstances and other people around them, particularly in crowded venues. The figures in my work are obscured and devoid of all facial expression and emotional complexity. The investigation of motion and visual obscurity dominates and exemplifies the things we see and don’t see. – Lisa Lee
 
Right now I am… designing my new studio to be built in the next few months (woo hoo!), entertaining my baby and wondering what to have for dinner.

My proudest moment this year was… becoming a mother for the first time.

My biggest mistake this year was… sticking my finger in a nappy to see if there was a number two. There was…. that’s not cool!

When I was a child I dreamt of… being a forensic photographer - a dark, macabre place my mother is glad I didn’t venture to!

The first piece of art I ever bought was… a funky little work from a street artist in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The best film I have seen this year is… hands down, Avatar in 3D! Those animators are creative geniuses and I worship them.

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be… Kurt Cobain.

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been… splurging of a couple of hundred dollars on an absolutely gorgeous, classic tan leather handbag. It just won’t date… Well at least that’s what I told my husband!

If I am cooking for myself I… get in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible. Andrew Denton summed it up perfectly when he said, ”Cooking is an interruption to my day.” I can find better things to do… like paint!

I am currently reading… Reading! Who the hell has time to read? I’m a new mother…

If I could be a mythical creature I would be… part Shiva (the Hindu deity with many arms) and part sloth. That way I could do loads at once then just laze about and sleep later.

My grandmother always said… ‘Behave or you’ll get the whopper”. Nan’s whopper was like a fly swat but made of leather. But she’d have to catch us first.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would… fund developments for new schools in third world countries.

If air travel was no longer possible I would… pay Jessica Watson to skipper me places?

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to… I previously created a series of works that aimed to raise public awareness of vision loss. I received support from the Queensland Braille Writing Association and Queensland Guide Dogs, two exceptional organisations that provide much needed services for our vision-impaired communities.

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was… the quintessential grunge years. Ripped jeans, Doc Martens, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, moshpits…. all with my ‘besties’ by my side.

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose… to go back and hang with the ancient Egyptians and see for myself how they built those damn pyramids!

When I think about the GEC, I… say thank you K. Rudd for the stimulus package. I wouldn’t be without my new Fisher and Paykel dishdrawers.

The rise of graphic art makes me think… that new media is the way of the future and there is an undeniable place in today’s society for graphic art. Painting, drawing and all the other old art forms aren’t going anywhere.

I found the Bill Henson debate… enthralling, provoking, disturbing. Art should stimulate. It should arouse discussion and invite opinion and debate. Am I a fan? Put me in the undecided basket, but I loved the public response his work generated.

I do think artists have a responsibility to push the boundaries and… challenge the viewer. Who wants to always just look at a pretty picture? There’s a place for all art genres but artists should certainly push boundaries and get people to think outside the square or hell just think!

In the next year I hope to achieve… a workable balance of being an artist and mother.

Read more about Lisa Lee on her artist profile and see work here

Marina Saint Martin interviewed Alberto Sanchez in 'photofinish' for the Artworld page for Paradise magazine.  Showing selected works from Sanchez's new body of works for his upcoming show, El Duelo, opening this Friday at Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach she discusses with Sanchez the inspirations behind his works and his background that influences him to this day. 

"... the series portrays not only these amazing acrobats, but is a celebration of the human body and human spirit to strive and to succeed.  All are presented in a 'timeless, surreal scenario', very much like the performance itself..."

Click on image of article to read article

El Duelo by Alberto Sanchez opens at Retrospect Galleries in Broadbeach 6pm Friday 19th August.

Exhibition runs until September 1.

To view exhibition online click link here - El Duelo by Alberto Sanchez

We are also very excited about Lisa's upcoming solo show at Retrospect Galleries QLD opening on Friday September the 16th. Lee's upcoming solo IN THE FAST LANE is an exploration of energy, and life in the ever accelerating speed of twenty-first century society. Lee's works spotlight the blurring pace at which our world is moving in order to achieve. Her subjects are paused in the fast moving urban environment, seized in heightened moments, suspending them in time, where motion is paralyzed.

Check out her artist profile here...

To view more of the twins work click on link here to visit their artist profile and gallery - click here

As ususal their work from our latest drawing show Drawn Forth sold out in a few days.

Check out their work on our website here.

There are only a few sets of prints left from our latest limited edition release from them, so be quick if you want any.

IDENTICAL twins Christie and Kelly Turner grew up together, went to school together and graduated together, so it is no surprise the two are now embarking on an art career ... together.

The 21-year-old twins from Tallebudgera use graphite and ink to produce their drawings, which are created by the sisters working on the same canvas at the same time.

Christie said she had always been close to her sister and the unusual way of producing the drawings was borne from a shared passion to make art their career.

Read the full article here...

Kelly Sullivan - August Artist of the Month at Retrospect Gallery

See her new works for Artist of the month here...

See her artist profile here...

Kelly's work is largely based on circumstances that surrounded her when she was young, as she was born to a family of great iconic imagery and pop culture of the 20th Century. Her work is fundamentally grounded in graphic pop culture.

Kelly has worked extensively in the Arts, Theatre & Music Industry for the last 20 years along the East Coast of Australia. She now resides in Byron Bay and when she isn't crafting and painting, she works seasonally on the Splendour In The Grass music and arts festival.

I popped in for a cuppa and a chat with Kelly to get the lowdown on her latest work.

How did the map thing come up?

The map thing just came up I guess because I'm into visual graphic stuff so I started just looking around at old books and Mr Google and just lucked onto all these cool old retro maps and then I became fascinated with them and I started collecting them in a folder. I've always been fascinated by the graphic nature of art and that's what drew me to the maps.

What do mean by graphic nature of art?

Well just really flat colour. Graphics is making a bit more of a comeback in art now, as opposed to realistic kind of painting. They're sort of like a visual diagram I guess of what's going on around here and in my head...

Your first map seemed like it was more about the physical environment, literally, the newer works, especially Friday on My Mind, are more internal? Is that like a step further?

I guess it is a step further, um; I'm interested in visualising ideas that don't necessarily have a geographical landscape basis to them, so they are bridging art and design and demented geography.

Read the rest of the iterview from byronbay.com here...

See link http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/08/03/sculptures-express-festival-spirit-byron-bay/

AS SCULPTURES were brought on to the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival site yesterday, project manager and curator of the festival’s Sculpture Competition Dev Lengjel watched in awe.

“This is sculpture of an international standard,” Mr Lengjel told The Northern Star.

“The pieces that have been entered in this competition are fine examples of what I would call contemporary populism.”

The largest piece in the competition is by Clunes sculptor Daniel Clemmett.

His Venus de Willendorf weighs half a tonne and was made of the underside of car bonnets.

Mr Clemmett’s muse for the work was the 11cm Venus figure estimated to have been made between 24,000 and 26,000 years ago.

“Most of my work is based around re-interpretations of contemporary ideological constructs,” Mr Clemmett said.

“If there had been hotels back then, there would have been aVenus fertility symbol in every room instead of a copy of the Bible.

"It was a god symbol.

“My wry commentary is the juxtaposition of an old construct, of a god figure, into what we now might call a morbidly obese one.

“And who knows how that might be re-interpreted in another 40,000 years!”

Mr Clemmett has been juggling sculpting for the past 12 weeks with the care of his new baby.

“I think there’s some irony in the fact that I subverted an ancient fertility symbol and the universe has responded by sending me a child,” he said with a laugh.

The 42 sculptures will be judged by festival guest and speaker Betty Churcher, who is best known for having been the director of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra in the 1990s.

The winner will receive $8000.

"How could a girl refuse an invitation that says "Frocks, Feathers, Furs", especially if it is also Fiona Kennedy-Altoft's latest exhibition at Retrospect Galleries at the Oracle.  And so it was on Friday night that art lovers young and old gathered to admire the whimsical works that Fiona has created based on observations of the people around her and the animals she sees in them.  Her humorous, imaginative paintings have won several awards and will bring a smile to your face..."

Shane creates this using engraving techniques, and the application of finely ground intense transparent pigments, which all lay beneath a deep layer of crystal clear glaze to give an incredible depth of colour and life to each piece. With a 3D like quality, these works transform their appearance depending on the angle of light reflection, to create an interactive experience for the viewer.

Click on image to view more details online

(Image: (L-R) Artist Melitta Perry, Artist Fiona Kennedy-Altoft, Retrospect Galleries Owner Bree Delian)

One of our favourite magazines, Ocean Road Magazine came along to the latest exhibition opening at our Broadbeach gallery on Friday night for Fiona Kennedy-Altoft and Melitta Perry. 

A great night was had by all and we thank them for sharing their images with us.

Click here for link to story and photos of the opening night from Ocean Road Magazine.

Check out her artist profile here

Check out her artist profile here..

Visit his artist profile and see available works here...

This is his selected arwork.

Visit her artist profile here...

This is the picture of Blue Beard's Cane Chair

This is his chosen work..

El Duelo

Visit her profile here to see some fantastic available works...

At Retrospect Galleries, we're very excited about her upcoming solo show on the 17th June 2011 called Frocks Feathers Fur

See our facebook event here

For more information of Fiona and to see here available works please visit her profile here...

This is her selected painting Offspring

... of Charlie Gordon's works "His works in this exhibition are particularly poignant, capturing the nature sanctuaries in the heart of Tokyo, even as the media parade the devastation of last month's earthquake in Japan"...

To view the Shutterspeed exhibition online click here

Click on image below to zoom on article

Click here to see a preview of the show...

One of our popular guest artists at Retrospect Galleries, filmmaker Shaun Tan recently won the Academy Award for best animated short film with The Lost Thing.

The Lost Thing, which took over three years to create, is a 15-minute fable about a boy in Melbourne who, while collecting bottle caps near a beach, discovers a strange creature that seems to be a combination of an industrial boiler, a crab and an octopus.

Read more about Shaun's Oscar win here

Click here to view Shaun Tan's profile on Retrospect Galleries and see available works  

Directors Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann accept the award for Best Animated Short Film for 'The Lost Thing'. Photo: Getty Images

View The Lost Thing website here

See from images of the exhibition here...

Bob Dylan's contributions to the music industry cannot be compressed into a single page much less a short paragraph. His song writing is often held as his highest accomplishment, blending textural visual images, a stream-of-consciousness lyrical attack, and time-honoured folk traditions to create a sound and sense that strike listeners as somehow new and ancient simultaneously. Dylan has shown steadfast devotion to traditions of American song, from folk and country/blues to rock 'n' roll and rockabilly, to Gaelic balladry, even jazz, swing and Broadway.

Retrospect Galleries thought it only fitting that this legend be honoured and celebrated with an exhibition that ponders, reflects and portrays Dylan in all of his glory. In this group show, Dirt Road Blues, artists respond to the legacy of his incredible lyrics and music.The multifarious works range from lyric interpretations right through to portraits of the great man in performance mode.

The Dirt Road Blues exhibition opens as the legend himself flies into town, ready to headline a powerhouse line-up at the 2011 Bluesfest.  This Byron Bay event won a swag of awards in 2010 including 2010 Australian Event of the Year, Best Cultural or Arts Event and the 2010 The International ‘A Greener Festival ‘Award. 

Interestingly, participating artists have commented that they actually enjoy painting or art making to Bob Dylan music! Contributing artists include Lisa Lee, Donna Malone, Craig Martin, Luke Hallam, Simon McLean, Sarah Crawford, Susan Gourley and Shane Martin.

Lisa Lee’s enigmatic and faceless portraits show a bluesy figure masterfully playing his apparatus. The fluid movement and intensity of the works capture the gestures of this musician faultlessly. Lee has also created an arresting image of Dylan, Man in the long black coat, walking soulfully with cigarette in mouth (pondering a lyrical creation?) – while the world rushes by.

Craig Martin’s delightful watercolour work The beautiful blues, shows a solitary figure, seated in a mystical forest, communing with his instrument – formulating notes that morph into flowers that make their way to a higher plane.

It could be said that Luke Hallam’s staring portrait in blue, titled Just Bob, reflects the intense spirituality of the man. Of all matters religious, Dylan once said “This is the flat-out truth: I find the religiosity and philosophy in the music. I don't find it anywhere else.”

The loose, energetic work of Sarah Crawford, The One you Love, features a combination of portrait and lyrical text – translating in image the fact that truly superior music does not date and that Dylan’s work holds a place that spans generations.

In 2008, Bob Dylan’s unique contributions to American arts and letters received acknowledgement in the form of a Pulitzer Prize. His is the first popular musician to receive the honour. The citation from the Pulitzer committee recognized his “profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.”
Dare I say that this wide-ranging body of works reflects the depth of variation in Dylan’s own musical career?

Decide for yourself! Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay proudly and humbly honour this man with beautiful, humourous, enigmatic and energetic works on show from Thursday April 21 to May 10. Opening night Thursday April 21, 6pm.

See the exhibition of her upcoming show Little Picture here..

Read her artist profile here..

Right now I am…
catching up on my emails

At the moment I am working on…
little pictures, my exhibition at Retrosppect

In the last year I have challenged myself to…
explore more of visual arts process

My proudest moment this year was…
watching my son playing cricket in the firsts

My biggest mistake this year was…
discovering chocolate with sea salt

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of…
Stephen Shore

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…
keep working, there’s all those other ideas I haven’t done anything with yet.

I have always been fascinated by artists that…
can still make me see things in new ways

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be… 
digitalized special effects

When I was a child I dreamt of…
hamburgers comes to mind I’m afraid. Maybe spiders.

My first job was…
selling buttons at Adairs

My first big love was…
dogs

The first piece of art I ever bought was…
I can’t remember, I swapped things for a long time

My favourite record cover of all time is…
I really can’t remember many but I always liked Creatures of Leisure by Mental As Anything

The best film I have seen this year is…
Welcome

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be…
Dean Martin or Prince

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…
Simone Signoret or James Gandolfini

My Avatar would be…
healthy, gorgeous, Spanish maybe

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…
chocolate with sea salt

If I am cooking for myself I…
make toast

My last meal would be…
something I didn’t have to cook

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…
a suduko puzzle

I am currently reading….
Lorrie Moore –short stories

If I could be a mythical creature I would be….
The Loch Ness Monster

The best gift I have ever received was…
anything that people have made for me

My grandmother (pick one) always said…
a little fat is good for you.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…

give it away

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…
my camera, a sudooku puzzle , and my venolin unhaler

If air travel was no longer possible I would…
take a boat

If I was a superhero I would be…
male most likely

And my costume would be…
flattering

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…
the glass half full foundation

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…
a welcome

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…
I was there

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…
now

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…
don’t ignore the back of the fridge

The craziest thing I have done this year was…
ignoring the back of the fridge 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be… 
temporary

When I think about the GEC, I… 
I don’t

The rise of graphic art makes me think…
happy for shaun tan

I found the Bill Henson debate…
interesting

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…
it can be true

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…
travel

In the next year I hope to achieve…
travel

Unfortunately Simon Mee couldn't make it on the night, but people loved his work and it created many intersting and thought provoking conversations. It definitely was not a dull night.

See Deb's artist profile and available works here...

See Simon's artist profile and available works here..

Click on the image to see a slideshow of the evening and fantastic artist talk.

It's the mystery that surrounds a photo that photographer Toby Burrows likes to focus on in his work.

"I love the anonymity the obscurity... the idea that you don't know the whole story," he says.

Four of Burrows' works are currently on display in shutterspeed...

This show saw eight of our artists come together with individual photographs and separate bodies of work, which might be experienced as instances of the artists' persistent interest in mirroring. In some cases the works narrate what the mirror never tells and in others the photographs serve as a magnifying mirror - wiring humans and our environments together. Shutterspeed asks questions with both beautiful and haunting figurative imagery and pays homage to our culture with a photographic nod at a larger history of landscape representation.

Read the article written by Helen Hawkes from the Northern Star Newspaper here..

See images from the exhibition here..

Australian artist Anthony Lister is only in his late 20's, but everybody wants him. Collectors can't get enough of him - his works sell out before openings and there's hundreds on gallery waiting lists. Lister graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2001, shortly after, he went to New York and worked under the mentorship of New Zealand painter Max Gimblett in 2002 and was the recipient of the 2004 Education Queensland Minister's Art Awards, with a further mentoring workshop residency at Blender Studio, Melbourne. Recently, he undertook a research residency in Berlin, and his travels have extended him to take part in an impressive list of sell-out solo and group exhibitions around the world. Lister's work has been acquired by the National Gallery, featured in Juxtapoz magazine, and he was a finalist in the 2007 ABN Amro Award. His gritty portrayals of superheroes, the figure, tattoo art, graffiti and pop-cultural icons show Lister's skill in the exploration and depiction of modern life. Anthony Lister currently lives and paints in New York City.

Check out the rest of his artist profile here..

Red Parrot
Size: 90cm x 90cm
Media: Mixed media on canvas

DOUG BARLETT Dinner Talk @ Retrospect Galleries, Gold Coast, Australia from Retrospect on Vimeo.

"Don't let Doug hear you say that‚Ķ" Nick Morris and Dave Bowers jokingly comment while discussing the enormity that is Doug Bartlett, their pseudonym and collaboration. Enormous is an apt description for the crowd, the response and a couple of the works shown in the Doug Bartleltt solo show which opened Friday 25 February. Matt Hoy, renowned Quick Silver Pro Champion was kind enough to open the show and introduce an impromptu talk by the boys.  Again art lovers, friends and esteemed guests were thoroughly entertained by the narration ( and of course the works) that Nick and Dave supplied. A big thank you to all who attended both the Wine and Tapas evening and also our opening night.

Check out images from their show Double Extra Super Here

'Shutterspeed', featuring Alberto's Tokyo series opens Friday 11 March 6pm at the Byron Bay gallery.  

You can view Alberto's works here.

Deb’s recent works are to feature in our next Gold Coast show - Honestly!  Opening Friday 18 March at 6pm.  Show runs until 31 March. Click here to view show.

An evening with Deb Mostert - Objects Speak! is also being held on Thursday 17 March at 6pm.  For more information contact the Gold Coast gallery on (07) 5538 8825.

This interview is an excerpt from InRetrospect 11, to be released soon.

Right now I am…

Trying to focus on the computer screen, ‘where are my glasses-’

At the moment I am working on…

Developing some ideas into paintings. It’s hard work, much harder than doing the actual painting.

In the last year I have challenged myself to…

Care more.

My proudest moment this year was…

Suddenly realising that my three teenagers are extraordinary individuals with so much potential.

My biggest mistake this year was…

Forgetting the lid was off my tube of Cerulean Blue.

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of…

The Dutch masters, yet again. I keep going back to them, to be inspired and depressed in equal measure by their skills and the mood they create.

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…

Think ‘great! Now I can relax for a while’....never happens.

I have always been fascinated by artists that…

Can make paint moody and suggestive.

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be…

Sculpture or silver smithing. 

When I was a child I dreamt of…

Being a vet, sadly my grade 8 science grades put a match to that dream. 

My first job was…

As a paste up artist/ graphic artist (back in the 80’s when cut and paste was literally that!)

My first big love was…

Drawing, I became aware at an early age that I could draw and that knowledge lit a fire which never went out. I draw nearly every day and consider it the bones of my art practise. 

The first piece of art I ever bought was…

An etching of the interior of St Pauls Cathedral by English artist Edward Sharland, I still love it.

My favourite record cover of all time is…

Resurrection by Sons of Korah. The artwork was done by Warren Breninger whose sensitive and dynamic paintings I very much admire. And it’s a great album too!

The best film I have seen this year is…

I’m still waiting for it!

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be…

Paul Simon or Sting or a whole host of others to numerous to mention!

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…

Dame Judi Dench, what a great actor

My Avatar would be…

A snowdome or a tin paint box

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…

Spending the entire profits from the sale of a painting on tubes of luscious Langridge Paints. It’s probably spoilt me for life.

If I am cooking for myself I…

Make a risotto, good comfort food!

My last meal would be…

Slow cooked lamb shanks on sweet potato mash.

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…

Read usually.

I am currently reading….

A few books at once as is my custom and strangely enough all related to concepts of last days and how we choose to live them.  The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Beach by Nevil Shute and One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook.  Sobering, thought provoking and uplifting.

If I could be a mythical creature I would be….

A dryad, I love trees

The best gift I have ever received was…

Things hand made by my children, complete with tipsy misspelt words of love written on cards made with felt pens and crayon.

My grandmother always said…

‘et smakelijk’ meaning enjoy your meal in dutch.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…

Use it to organize a redistribution of wealth on our planet. We have enough for everyone, we just need to re organize it.

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…

My bible, my watercolour kit/paper and photos of my family

If air travel was no longer possible I would…

Go by boat, preferably by sail.

If I was a superhero I would be…

Marine Boy because he was my favourite growing up, he had cool chewing gum that allowed him to breathe underwater. Whatever happened to Marine Boy-

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…

Compassion International or Share an Opportunity (Baptist World Aid) as they work to connect orphans and desperately poor children in developing countries with sponsors who can support them with basic needs and schooling. 

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…  

A community of like minded people.

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…

I can only comment on the decades in which I have existed, so:  60’s music, 70’s clothes, 80’s hair and 90’s gadgets

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…

Right now is all right by me

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…

To be more patient, to slow down, listen more and talk less

The craziest thing I have done this year was…

To go to my 25th year high school reunion. What a surreal experience. 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be…

‘not anytime soon!’ Written in Old English type face accompanied by a dolphin jumping over a skull carrying dragon with butterflies and Chinese characters spelling out my three children’s names.  Oh, and a rose and a snarling leopard. 

When I think about the GEC, I…

Think it’s a great opportunity to live more simply and to be thankful for what I have.

The rise of graphic art makes me think…

Is graphic art rising-

I found the Bill Henson debate…

An overreaction but an interesting glimpse at how people project through their own paradigms onto artwork they see. 

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…

It is, just look at a giraffe tongue! Why electric blue-!

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…

Spend time writing a novel

In the next year I hope to achieve…

A bigger veggie garden

Check out here artist profile here..

See her wonderful exhibition Honestly! here...

Browse her works and artist profile here...

Kitsch (not to be confused with Quiche) within the visual arts is associated with images that convey excessive sentimentality and melodrama. Snow domes, swizzle sticks and fridge magnets are the epitome of popular kitsch and are cheap and whimsical holiday souvenirs.  They are honestly kitsch, honestly ugly and honestly dishonest.  Snow domes are a poor reflection of the original and they make no claim to be anything other than a flawed imitation of something bigger, grander and purer.

We are seeing life through the glass darkly, a clunky imperfect version of what it should be.  They seem to the artist Deb Mostert, to be reminiscent of the human condition, a metaphor for our incompleteness, our dorky charm and potential as well as an acknowledgement of our frailty and the hope for the future.

In 2009 Deb won the Sponsors Prize for the Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards, in that year she was also the recipient of the New Generation People Choice Awards.

2010 was a stellar year for Mostert, being a finalist in the Duke Gold Coast Art Prize, the Redlands Art Awards, the prestigious Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize and the 2010 Northern Rivers Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery; just to name a few!Come and see what the fuss is all about.

An evening with Deb Mostert Objects Speak!
Thursday 17 March - 6pm

Deb Mostert's beautifully executed works bring with them an instant warmth, a familiarity akin to an old friend or accidentally finding your favourite childhood trinket in an old box of junk.  There is magic in the fact that these worthless objects can hold so much personal significance and in an instant, can transport us to a time of innocence, purity and simplicity. In that instant, we remember and we connect.

Join us for an intimate evening of tapas and wine with Deb Mostert as she shares some insights into her 20 year art practice and in particular, her recent still life paintings of humble objects and toys.  Process and concept will be explored and shared through the presentation of a lively slideshow of key images from her still life collection... This event is limited to 40 guests and will sell out. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $40 and includes mixed tapas, wine and great company.  Phone: (07) 5538 8825 to secure your booking

Regarding Nikky Morgan's work, Dr. Cornelius Delaney writes:  ‘Recent work by emerging artist Nikky Morgan-Smith is provocative and energetic.  Her use of layered mixed media is complex and the paint is applied in a bold, almost careless way that relishes gesture.  Her surfaces are deeply layered in some areas and impoverished in others, bringing about a sense of lingering unease.  Abandoned tricycles, ghost birds, rain and bathtubs full of what could be hair are redolent of grief or a lost childhood.  This visual poetry seems at first mundane, then sinister, then somehow beautiful. The Touch Wood show hangs until March 3, if you haven’t already come for a visit, it is a must see!

This interview is an excerpt from InRetrospect 11, to be released soon.

Right now I am…
on a flight home from Melbourne

At the moment I am working on…
showering more creatures in my bath room

In the last year I have challenged myself to…
move on

My proudest moment this year was…
dealing with turning 31

My biggest mistake this year was…
getting booked speeding while on probation and loosing my licence

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…
look back to the future…at themes and concepts I was working on.

I have always been fascinated by artists that…
can balance a life AND have an art practice.

If I were to try my hand at a new art form, it would be…
sand castles…because fall they into the sea eventually.

When I was a child I dreamt of…
monsters under my bed

My first job was…
cutting up onions at a kebab joint, I became a vegetarian after watching those big lumps of meat defrosting next to me!

My first love was…
Rupert Campbell Black, a character from a crappy English airport novel. I used to dream about him then wake up and be disappointed he didn’t exist.

The first piece of art I ever bought was…
I’ve never actually bought an art work, but in the past I’ve swapped paintings with other artists.

My favourite record cover of all time is…
Frank Zappa ‘ Wakka Jawaka’ because it’s got a sink on the cover.

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be…
Biggy Smalls. ’Oooh biggy give me one more chance’

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…
Geoffrey Rush because despite being a male he is the only one who could pull off the smouldering intelligence and witty post-modern humour that I aspire to.

My Avatar would be…
this life is enough-

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…
driving unlicensed

If I am cooking for myself I…
try and eat all 5-food groups

My last meal would be…
naked

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…
eat chocolate

I am currently reading…
a questionnaire

If I could be a mythical creature I would be…
a toonacorn

The best gift I have ever received was…
computer heated gloves which also happens to be the worst gift.

My Grandmother always said…
cut a nice little fringe to hide your large forehead and always look nice and be tidy and it might not be too late for you to find a husband.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…
run.

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…
that billion dollars, some dark sunglasses and a fake moustache.

If air travel was no longer possible I would…
finally relax because I hate flying.

If I was a super hero I would be…
David Bowie

And my costume would be…
Ziggy Stardust.

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…
The Fred Hollows Foundation.

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…                 acceptance and tolerance.

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…
apparently the 20th century was the most destructive century so I guess the thing I love about it is that it is over.

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…
to travel with Doctor Who.

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…
be kind to your mother.

The craziest thing I have done this year was…
getting a Bunnings worm farm.

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be…
an anchor.

When I think about the GFC, I…
gamble.

The rise of graphic art makes me think…
I should dress in black and learn to use Photoshop.

I found the Bill Henson debate…
typically distorted and full of fear and witch-hunting.

I do think artists have a responsibility to push the boundaries and…
make people think.

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…
the majority of the population has no imagination.

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…
have a job where I get paid enough to not live like an endlessly ‘emerging’ and starving artist.

In the next year I hope to achieve…
something!!!

Simon Roots is an emerging Queensland artist working and residing in Brisbane.  He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006.  As part of his degree, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia during 2004.  As well as devoting much of his time to his art practice, Roots has since gone on to teach art at the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE.  He has been selected as a finalist in several national art awards including 2008 LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Art Scholarship, the 2008 Heysen Prize for Interpretation of Place, and has four times been a selected finalist in the Churchie Emerging Art Exhibition.  In 2006 he won first prize in the St Joseph’s Nudgee College Art Festival.

Roots’ recent works focus on the exploration of the figure in the urban landscape, and the relationships people have with their physical and psychological environment.  Roots says “I like to explore the themes that help us construct our version of reality and how varied these ideas can be.  The viewer has an opportunity to interpret and apply their own narratives to the subject of the artworks”.

See his artist profile here...

For those of you who have been kind enough to wait, we actually have available luscious new work by one of favourite (and busiest!) artists Shane Martin. His works have been dissapearing off our walls in NSW and QLD faster than he can make them. With over 100 hours of work in each piece, these magnificent works shimmer with possibility. We only have two peices available so if you love his work, please contact us quickly! You can see his profile here.

I have been in LOVE since our 'Blind Date' over 30years ago. Shirley was the inspiration for the first LOVE piece, which has now become my most successful series to date. I wanted to create something simple in concept, but also containing a message the theme of LOVE, and incorporating all the emotions associated with it. Passion, Respect, Honour, Truth, Desire, Intimacy and Integrity. Each piece is Hand Engraved, Hand Coloured and Hand Polished a true labour of LOVE.

I still get a buzz each time that 'Wet Look' shine evolves during the polishing process, showcasing those deep, almost edible, Toffee Apple Red colours.When a person stops for just a moment to view and reflect on a piece I have created, I believe I have succeeded in my work.

The Exhibition Chalk and Charcoal opens on Friday March 18, Check it out here...

An evening with Deb Mostert  - Objects Speak! Thursday 17th March 6pm

Join us for an intimate evening of tapas and wine with Deb Mostert as she shares some insights into her 20-year art practice and in particular, her recent still life paintings of humble objects and toys. Process and concept will be explored and shared through the presentation of a lively slideshow of key images from her still life collection.

This event is limited to 30 guests and will sell out. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $40 and includes mixed tapas, wine and great company. Phone the gallery now on (07) 5538 8825 to secure your place.

Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach is located at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast.

The new Gallery features 124 square metres of exhibition space, a gallery shop, café and fully licensed wine and tapas bar, in one of the world’s most desirable architect designed ocean front beachside precincts, the new Oracle at Broadbeach.

Check out their new show Double Extra Super

Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach is located at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast.

The new Gallery features 124 square metres of exhibition space, a gallery shop, café and fully licensed wine and tapas bar, in one of the world’s most desirable architect designed ocean front beachside precincts, the new Oracle at Broadbeach.

 
‘Doug Bartlett’ is a collaboration between artists Nick Morris and Dave Bowers. But is it Collaborative production, or collaborative consumption•  Collaborative Consumption describes the rapid explosion in swapping, sharing, bartering, trading and renting being reinvented through the latest technologies and peer-to-peer marketplaces in ways and on a scale never possible before.  Morris and Bowers have used a combination of sharing, bartering and annihilation to produce works that seem to visually demonstrate the pace and style with which we currently live.  

Morris and Bowers throw enough colour and action into the works, to satisfy even the greediest 21st century consumer, but are they dredging up the trash and treasures that the insatiable population have already digested and discarded. Doug regurgitates the debris of 20th century pop culture and delivers it back in ferocious technicolour to an eager audience.

A combination of found imagery, silkscreen, photography, wild freehand and quotes from celebrities, B grade pulp media and even junk mail all go in to Doug Bartlett’s blender and come out as a pop art thick shake with meat. Finalists in the Doug Moran Painting Prize 2010, invited to illustrate the cover of the Hoodoo Gurus latest album, fresh from recent shows in France, New York and India, Doug is coming out swinging Double Extra Super.

The creative process is raw, free and unplanned. They slap down slabs of colour and layer images at random.

Much of the initial work doesn’t survive because the rule between the pair is: ‘Paint over anything, and the other one can’t protest’.  Whole vistas appear and disappear. Hours of work are swept away with one sweep of a brush. This process of creation and elimination continues until they agree the painting is finished. This represents an exceptional way of working which, quite frankly, would be violently upsetting to the vast majority of working artists today.  


The canvases are a free-flowing exchange of random images and themes using stencils, spray paint, silkscreen, acrylic, oil stick and collage. The subject matter is gleaned from popular culture, including quotes from spam, advertising and gossip magazines.

Bowers writes, “I’m mesmerized by what I call incidental urban micro landscapes. The patterns of road repairs. Chewing gum on the footpath. The machinery and byproducts of human endeavour. The unintentional poetry of everyday life”.

Morris explains “Our rule of painting over anything you want creates art with no boundaries, free from clinging and being too precious, the creative process is accelerated as we bounce off each other.”

This balance of chaos and control, careful creation and ruthless obliteration creates the tension that justifies Doug Bartlett’s irresistible appeal.

How great to see so many beautiful works on wood in the one space.  The gallery was transformed into an atrium of surprises.  Many works have sold from the show but there are still some great pieces available via the gallery online.  View the exhibition and works here...

Check out the pics from the opening night.

What an opening!  For all our wonderful supporters who came on the night we thank you for a very special occasion. We had over 700 people turn up over the course of the evening and great wine from our exciting new wine bar and tapas was enjoyed by all.  Enjoy looking at the photos and we hope to see at our next opening for Doug Bartlett - Double Extra Super - Friday 25th February 2011.

Retrospect Galleries Queensland is excited to be featuring new works by two guest artists, Mike Chavez and Anthony Lister.

Anthony Lister is an Australian-born painter and Installation artist.  He has been featured in exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and had solo shows in New York City and London. Lister appropriates his immediate surroundings, painting parodies of modern life. His inspirations are varied: graffiti, stencilling, installations, Pop art, comic book imagery, cartoons and his recollections of childhood.

Mike has been “nominated as one of the top 20 artists under 35 in Australia" by an independent panel of curators and arts writers assembled by Art Melbourne 06. He was featured in New Generation, a showcase of emerging artists who are “doing important work and should be considered seriously by collectors and astute investors.” His paintings based on the Australian ute explore the themes of racism and parochialism through their use of bold images, slogans and repetition. 

for more information about the works please email sales@retrospectgalleries.com

A new cutting edge art gallery situated at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast fuses the experience of two Gallery Directors with diverse backgrounds, and brings together an exciting stable of artists in an environment of fresh energy and ideas.

The new operation, Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach, sees Bree Delian, founder of one of northern NSW’ most successful commercial art ventures, Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay, joining forces with respected Queensland art consultant, Lorraine Pilgrim.

Working together the pair say they aim to develop a vibrant cultural space that defies the typical gallery stereotype. The official opening of the Gallery and launch of their first show will provide a taste of what’s in store throughout 2011.  This is an event where the Gallery is throwing their doors open to the public. Everyone is invited to come along on Friday January 28, starting from 6pm.  Local Gold Coast identity, Con Nikiforides will officially open the gallery on the night. 

This premiere show will go by the name of Fusion, as a reflection of the basis of Delian and Pilgrim’s new partnership and the new combination of artists and ideas.

Artists include; Anthony Lister, Artslave, Alberto Sanchez, Courtney Brims, Dave Groom, Dave Smith, Deb Mostert, Di West, Doug Bartlett, Donna Malone, Fiona Kennedy Altoft, Jan Van Dijk, Jeff Raglus, Jules Hunt, Kareena Zerefos, Kathy Mackey, Katka Adams, Kelly O'Dempsey, Kirstin Reed, Lisa Lee, Llewellyn Skye, Lyndy Delian, Mari Hirata, Mia Taninaka, Mike Chavez, Michelle Dawson, Nathaniel Kiwi, Nick Batchelor, Nikky Morgan-Smith, Perran Costi, Robert Mars, Ross Tamlin, Sam Creyton, Shane Martin, Shayle Flesser, Simon Roots and Stephen Phibbs.

Delian, says, “I am really excited to learn from Lorraine and have someone with that wealth of experience around. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

“I have always been impressed by her integrity and how deeply she cares for the artists she represents.  She is incredibly committed to working with artists to develop their careers, and to encouraging emerging artists and artforms,” she continues.

“I would be happy after 40 years if I had the respect that Lorraine has engendered from artists, collectors and institutions.”

Pilgrim adds, “The collaboration between Bree and myself has presented a wonderful opportunity for me to extend what I see as my role in the arts today.”

“I am fiercely passionate about the arts and developing artists and their practice. Bree and I share this passion, and I am looking forward to us working together every day, and doing what we believe in.”

“Bree has impressed me immensely with her dedication to her cause and the support she has given to the arts. It is rare indeed to find a young person who is so devoted and single minded in her approach to her chosen vocation.”

“I can’t wait to get going and enjoy our new venture,” she concludes.

Bree Delian started Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, six years ago, at the age of 29.  During this time she has developed the business into a thriving gallery and exhibition space showcasing the work of local North Coast NSW and southern QLD practitioners alongside the best of young cutting edge Australian and international artists, at purpose built premises in a prime location on Jonson Street.

Lorraine Pilgrim has enjoyed a highly successful arts curatorial career, spanning 40 years in private art galleries and studios.  She is a highly sought after art consultant, renowned for her perceptive and sympathetic eye for new and emerging artists, and is a former President of the Crafts Council of Queensland.

Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach is located at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast.

The new Gallery features 124 square metres of exhibition space, a gallery shop, café and fully licensed wine and tapas bar, in one of the world’s most desirable architect designed ocean front beachside precincts, the new Oracle at Broadbeach.

The official opening of the Gallery and launch of Fusion will be held on Friday January 28, from 6pm to 9pm.  

Each month we will bring to you a new artist of the month, an exclusive interview with unusual questions. Get to know your favourite artists, get the inside information here deep inside the Retrospect blog! This interview is an excerpt from InRetrospect 11 which will be published shortly this year.

So meet one of our new artists Llewellyn Skye. She was a student of the National Art School, Sydney and The Sydney Gallery School. During her studies she was a finalist in the John Olsen Drawing Prize, a finalist in the MCAAA by Janice McCulloch, editor of Art Almanac magazine. Skye was chosen for consideration for the Arts North permanent collection and was chosen to be showcased at the Downing Centre Sydney. In the following years Skye has had four Solo exhibitions and been a part of many group exhibitions. Most recently Skye has been selected for an Artist residency in Italy 2011.

Right now I am…

sitting here trying to think of something clever to write.

At the moment I am working on…

an Italian project for my residency next year.

In the last year I have challenged myself to…

learn how to balance my new role as a mother, a wife, an artist and a stylist.

My proudest moment this year was…

yesterday, I officially survived the first year of motherhood.

My biggest mistake this year was…

painting my lounge room wall metallic gold!

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of…

Ben Quilty

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…

look through books or on the internet at other artists work.

I have always been fascinated by artists that…

know when to stop.

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be…

hmmm, ceramics.

When I was a child I dreamt of…

dancing.

My first job was…

an office assistant.

My first big love was…

dancing.

The first piece of art I ever bought was…

two small paintings of aboriginal figures dancing for my mum.

My favourite record cover of all time is…

ooh, I dont know about this one. Haven’t seen enough of them. When I was young I was most impressed by Grease I suppose.

The best film I have seen this year is…

Avatar. (your question below reminded me, ha ha)

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be...

Segovia. My mum used to get me to listen to him with my eyes closed. It’s magic.

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…

Kat Stewart (Roberta in Underbelly)

My Avatar would be…

Buddha.

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…

the most amazing ring designed by Sel Pilgrim. I love it.

If I am cooking for myself I…

eat cheese and crackers.

My last meal would be…

scrambled eggs on toast, I was inspired by the cooking segment on the morning show.

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…

check on my baby.

I am currently reading….

brrrm brrrm. We have to read it all the time. Oh how my life has changed.

If I could be a mythical creature I would be….

a dragon.

The best gift I have ever received was…

my mum surviving against all odds.

My mother always said…

wish in one hand, piss in the other.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…

be able to make a difference.

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…

a camera, a notebook and a pen.

If air travel was no longer possible I would…

have a long walk to get anywhere.

If I was a superhero I would be…

able to fly.

And my costume would be…

wings of course.

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…

helping to bridge the gap between indigenous and non indigenous Australians.

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…

a friend.

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…

being born.

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…

the Renaissance. A lot more work for artists.

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…

to have fun.

The craziest thing I have done this year was…

to be inspired after a couple of wines at 11 o’clock at night to cut my own hair. My husband said I look like Joe Dirt!

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be…

my sons name and something honouring my mum.

When I think about the GEC, I…

the General Electric Company• Oh the Global Economic Crisis..both things make my eyes glaze over.

The rise of graphic art makes me think…

great, times are a changing.

I found the Bill Henson debate…

a mountain out of a mole hill.

I don’t think artists have a responsibility to push the boundaries...

but if they would like too they should go ahead with full gusto.

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…

it really is. I hear stories from my clients that would make your hair curl.

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…

well actually, I would love to be busy making art, if only I had the time.

In the next year I hope to achieve…

success in my art, my family and my health.

At the end of each year we look forward to presenting our annual Petits Travaux, ‘smalls’ show, featuring over 300 unique artworks from 34 artists, each measuring 25cm x 25cm.  This is our chance to showcase some of our most popular artists from the year in miniature form and at matching miniature cost, and introduce you to some new faces.  This year people loved Simon McLean’s quirky illustrations and humourous text, which sold out within a few hours.  Other favourites included Craig Martin’s whimsical paintings, Mia Taninaka’s works on wood and Susan Gorley’s retro inspired screenprints.

We are counting down the days until we officially open the doors of Retrospect Galleries, Queensland. Fully licensed with a daytime café operation, we are hoping that our new purpose built Gallery space will become an arts hub for local Gold Coast arts enthusiasts, and visitors.  

We still have construction crew putting the final touches to the new space, but we can tell you it is beautiful, featuring 124 square metres of exhibition space, a gallery shop, café and licensed bar, located at the ground floor of The Oracle, architect designed ocean front beachside precinct.

In addition to a full exhibition program we are looking forward to hosting regular after-hours arts discussions and events with sumptuous foods and wines on tap.  Keep your eyes peeled for our January 2011 eNews with some exciting announcements...

And now to introduce the members of our new team:

Bree Delian, Director, started Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, six years ago, at the age of 29.  During this time she has developed the business into a thriving gallery and exhibition space showcasing the work of local North Coast NSW and southern QLD practitioners alongside the best of young cutting edge Australian and international artists, at purpose built premises in a prime location on Jonson Street.

Lorraine Pilgrim, Director, has enjoyed a highly successful arts curatorial career, spanning 40 years in private art galleries and studios.  She is a highly sought after art consultant, renowned for her perceptive and sympathetic eye for new and emerging artists.

Sarah Crawford, Manger, is an artist and designer.  For the past few years she has enjoyed a successful career on the management side of the fashion industry. We are thrilled that she has agreed to join our team, where she can combine her passion for art with her considerable organisational expertise.

Mari Hirata, Gallery Assistant, is a fabulous photographer, has a great eye for art and she also speaks fluent Japanese. 

Shayle Flesser, Gallery Assistant, is an artist and has extensive experience in art and galleries. We are excited to include Mari and Shayle in our wonderful crew here at Retrospect QLD. 

If you’re in the neighbourhood in January please call in to say Hi to us all, at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast, under the green fins.

The official opening will be held Friday January 28. We would love to see you there if you can make it!!

Danza De Un Adios
'The Dance of Farewell'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Danza Del Galan
'The Dance of the Gallant'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Danza Del Viento
'The Dance of the Wind'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

El Duelo
'The Duel'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Romance A La Luna
'Romance of the Moon'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Romance A La Sol
Romance of the Sun
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Romance De La Pena
'

Romance of the Sorrows'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Romance De La Pena
Romance of the Soul
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Romance Sonambulo
'Romance of Sleeplessness'
$590.00
Size: 620 mm x 620 mm
Media: printed on 100% cotton rag 300 gsm archival fine-art paper then hand-painted with tea ink, acrylic paint, and gold leaf resin coated and completed with a natural timber Frame.

Each image will be out of a series of 20 only, but because of the nature of the hand painting and hand finish, each work is a one-off piece of art.

Kellie O'Dempsey

Botticelli’s Beasts

In honor of the weird, wonderful and phenomenal beings that have entertained and informed the world I give you Botticelli’s Beasts. This sideshow family was collaged from a disintegrating antique book of Botticelli’s paintings. With ink, pencil  and paper I drew these images into a new existence. Botticelli’s Beasts  recognize the unique freak that lives within the individual.

Title: Perkeo of Prussia
Price: $ 450
Size: all dimensions in 525mm x 435mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description:  Perkoe was the dwarf jester of Heidlberg Castle in 18th century Germany. Famous for his intelligent humor and never saying ‘no’ to a drink, he was the famed protector of the barrel. A portrait of him still remains in the castle.

Title: Madame Annie Jones
Price: $ 450
Size: all dimensions in 525mm x 435mm Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: The bearded lady has raised interest for centuries and is known for her seductive power. In the middle ages it was believed a bearded lady was cursed by god and more recently in the early 20th century, a women’s beard was believed to be the result of an unhappy love affair. Annie Jones became a member of P.T. Barnum’s circus at the age of Four. She was famed not only for her beard, but also for her 2meter long mane of hair and her grace and charm.

Title: The Elongator
Price: $ 320
Size: all dimensions in 400mm x 325mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: The Elongator is a character from the novel “All my friends are super hero’s”. In despair she tried to stretch herself around the city, in order to beat the time barrier to save the man she lost.

Title: Centaurian Angel
Price: $420 Size: all dimensions in 520mm x 385mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: The centaur is a being caught between worlds. The half human and half horse, he is instilled with both a wild and innocent nature.

Title: Balancing Sisters
Price: $ 420
Size: all dimensions in 520mm x 385mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Drawing on the heritage of circus families, I made this image in reverie of the close friendship I have with my little sister.

Title: Birdgirl
Price: $450
Size: all dimensions in 520mm x 385mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Birdgirl was born of the the Botticelli beasts. She rose in honor of Betty Green, the original “ koo koo the bird girl”  who was famed by Tod Browning’s 1932 feature film “freaks”

Title: Circus companions
Price: $450
Size: all dimensions in 520mm x 385mm Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: The donkey is the clowns beast friend…. after the chicken

Title: Pony Boy
Price: $ 320
Size: all dimensions in 400mm x 325mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Again born of Botticelli, Pony boy is mother nature’s original child.

Title: Sofian Twins 1
Price: $320
Size: all dimensions in 400mm x 325mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Sofian means ‘he who walk s fast’. These twins have features of giraffes and move like gazelles.

Title: Sofian Twins 2
Price: $320
Size: all dimensions in 400mm x 325mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Sofian means ‘he who walk s fast’. These twins have features of giraffes and move like gazelles.

Title: Jesus the Monopod
Price: $320
Size: all dimensions in 400mm x 325mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Ancient Greeks believed the existence of mythical monsters called Sciapods . Sciapods lived on and shaded themselves with one foot. Jesus, in this case, has one healing hand.

Title: Joseph and the Jinni.
Price: $320
Size: all dimensions in 520mm x 385mm
Media: Mixed media on paper
Description: Joseph ( The claw) conjures up a Jinni that sits graceful on his heavy hand. The jinni or genie, is one of the sentient beings of Arabic folklore.

Craig Martin
Craig has seen himself as a high flying trapeze artist and coach, a guide on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a social director on cruise ships, a bit of an actor and dancer, an international flight attendant and an illustrator and still has no idea what he wants to be.

The circus is a special place for me. Teaching and performing circus was the first vocation I found in life that gave me inspiration, purpose, fulfilment and confidence.

The collective title of my Carnies Kooks and Clowns pieces is, "When Clowns Dream". I wish I had more hours in my day so I could pump out all the images that come to mind when I imagine what clowns might dream about and long for.

Each piece represents a single clowns most treasured dream place. One has the biggest audience he could possibly dream of for his humble little performance, another lets fly with the biggest and best clown stunt ever performed and I love that he does it for no one but himself, the 3rd dreams of being "normal" and joining the masses but can never shake whats in his blood and the last clown wishes simply for what what I imagine to be a secret dream for so many of the literal and metaphorical clowns of the world, a place of stillness.

What made this idea so fun was the masks of clowns. I think their painted smiles is a metaphor for us all and it gives so much scope to the imagination to picture what greater truths and unique dreams might lie behind their... our immediate faces.

Taking a Bow
Price: $690.00 Sold
Size - Roughly A1
Media - Water colour, gouache
I've see this dream,
I live it now.
Before this all,
I take a bow.

BOZO RULZ

Price $690.00
Size: Roughly A1
Media: Water colour. Mainly used an orange rock found on the beach for most of the colouring
Description: Bozo really does rock. In his dreams he performs the biggest and best clown stunt ever. He is naked while windsurfing a clown car backwards across a desert along a cliff edge on two wheels as the cloud of dust building behind him screams "BOZO RULZ" across the sky with lightning. What I really like about Bozo's dream is that he's not doing it for any audience and isn't even aware of the paintings viewer who is the only person allowed to share his private dream.

Clown Time
Price $290.00
Size - A4
Media - Water colour and graphic pen
Description - A clown can only dream of a quiet place where there's no need to be anything for anyone.

Fitting In
Price $290.00
Size - A4
Media - Water colour, biro, coloured pencil on my sketch pad paper
I don't want to be different, I don't want to be seen, I don't want to stand out, I just want this small dream

Andrew Clements Forbes

Predominantly an installation and performance artist, Andrew is also instinctively and technically a sculptor and drawer. Born of artist parents Dorothy Forbes and Clem Forbes he has always studied drawing, painting and sculpture. His Bachelor of Arts in animation at Griffith University Brisbane further developed his interest in drama and film.

Creating and Directing  Omniscient Gallery he attracted consistent arts funding and developed his performance and theatrical installations, this chapter culminated in a massive site specific collaboration in the New farm powerhouse paving the way for the commissioning of the current powerhouse theatre and institution.

His spectacle theatre work is often satirical comical political aggressive and abrasive. It is ephemeral and commission based practice.
 
This drawing series is inspired by his performative experience from his world-renowned performance installation Wacko and Blotto. The works are ink pen on paper.
Andrew Forbes currently resides in Byron Bay Australia.

Mavin never wanted to be a clown
Price: $ 690.00
Size: 86cm x 66cm Framed
Media: pen ink paper
Description: Mavin never wanted to be a clown its written all over his face sometimes your just born into these things and you go along for the ride. Marvin actually just wanted to be a priest but tragically no one would believe him let alone take him seriously.

 
Title: Even Felix couldn’t believe he was an atheist
Retail Price: $ 690.00
Size: 86cm x 66cm Framed
Media: pen ink paper

Description:

Image: Felix wasn’t really a  funny clown he was however an atheist which was the only amusing thing about him the rest was all bells and whistles. He once auditioned for a spot in the notorious Wacko and Blotto show he slept threw the audition so they immediately gave him the part it was only when Wacko discovered during a intense savaticle that he was an atheist that he got the sack he is currently on full sick leave.

Cal MacKinnon

Backstage 
$1500.00
406mm x 609mm
Framed photographic print. Edition of 5. 

Cleo Bullen
$2200.00
762mm x 508mm
Framed photographic print. Edition of 5. 

Lennon Bros
$1800.00
508mm x 762.00
Framed photographic print.
Edition of 5.

Michelle Dawson + Hilary Herrmann

Born in New Zealand, Michelle moved to Australia in 1985. She has been working as a professional artist since 1996 and has studied both in Australia and the UK. Michelle has been shortlisted for several major art prizes including the Bendigo drawing Prize and the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize. She has twice represented Australia at the Intercontinental Biennale of Small Graphics in Romania and was shortlisted for the CBCA 2009 Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.

Hilary Herrmann is motivated to paint by the need to express her thoughts and imagination. The figures, creatures and visual references often reflect a wide-ranging curiosity and reference. A diverse range of sources that include fragments and abstractions from world mythologies, the kabbalah, poetry, novels, current affairs and personal memory. The works are a metaphorical place to find haven from the harsh and complicated of the modern world, the shadow of which is still discernable. This makes for a strangely compelling cocktail of, innocence, whimsy, longing and menace.

Circus Tricks ii
$4900.00
2000mm x 2000mm Oil on canvas

Fiona Kennedy Altoft

Fiona completed her Visual arts degree at QUT in 1993. She is a dedicated artist and art educator and believes that art is a reflection of the Artist. Born and raised in Roma, Queensland, she explores concepts based around play, society, childhood and domestic life.

These pieces tell the story of a cool charcter that you see at the show.  He can do it all, fly through the air, ride the motorbike round the cage and land perfectly everytime.   He is the image that I  have of the old circus, a true performer with character and passion.  Every childs hero and mine too.

Evil Caninel
$790
Size: 900mm x 900mm
Media: Acrylic and enamel on Canvas

Da daaaa
$790
Size: 900mm x 900mm
Media: Acrylic and enamel on Canvas

Flying Through the Air
$790
Size: 900mm x 900mm
Media: Acrylic and enamel on Canvas

You can run but you can't hide...
$830
Size: 1000mm x 1000mm
Media: Acrylic and enamel on Canvas

Off Season maggie
$890
Size: 1200mm x 900mm
Media: Acrylic and enamel on Canvas

Sarah Harvey

bird on a wire, 2010
Media: Gouache on book cover, mounted on wooden panel Size: 18 x 12cm
Retail Price: $280.00

the balancing act I, 2010
Media: Mixed media & collage
Size: 15 x 15cm
Framed Price: $190.00

the balancing act II, 2010
Media: Mixed media & collage
Size: 15 x 15cm
Framed Price: $190.00

the balancing act III, 2010
Media: Mixed media & collage
Size: 15 x 15cm
Framed Price: $190.00

the balancing act IV, 2010
Media: Mixed media & collage
Size: 15 x 15cm
Framed Price: $190.00

the lone clown, 2010
Media: Gouache on book covers, mounted on wooden panel Size: 18 x 12cm
Retail Price: $280.00

Simon McClean

 STELLA SWALLOWS SWORDS
  Charcoal on paper Framed   1000x750mm $1800

  LIFE IS A SIDE-SHOW
  Charcoal on paper Framed   1000x750mm $1800 

Susi Gourley

Susan was born and grew up in the small Victorian coastal fishing town of Port Fairy, renowned for its historic buildings, beautiful beaches and migrating mutton birds. However, at the tender age of forty it has been the Far North Coast of NSW that she has called home for the past twenty years. With ten years of academic achievements, Susan is near to completing her Bachelor of Visual Arts at Southern Cross University. This self-proclaimed late bloomer is a relative new comer to the commercial scene, but with increasing recognition plus full time commitment to her studio based arts practice, it appears that hard work and dedication is paying off for this artist who is flourishing in terms of artistic scope and invention.

Carousal i
Cotton paper cut-out on matt board, Framed
760mm x 1060mm $690.00

Carousal ii
$690.00
760mm x 1060mm
Cotton paper cut-out on matt board, Framed

Carousal iii
$690.00
760mm x 1060mm
Cotton paper cut-out on matt board, Framed

Maria Patterson

Little Bee
$1400
110cm x 90cm Framed
Pastel on Paper

The Catcher
$1200
100cm x 80cm Framed
Pastel on Paper

Trapeze girls
$800
57cm x 57cm Framed
Pastel on Paper

Emma Gale

Emma Gale was born in Sydney in 1972. She lives and works in the Northern Rivers. Emma finished her studies at Julian Ashton Art College in Sydney in 1989. Her experience as a graphic designer over a ten year period is evident through her work with strong iconic imagery and text. Her work demonstrates and celebrates a deep love of pattern and colour colliding with text and form, drawing from her local rural landscape, igniting imagination and creativity on a daily basis.

 Big Cat
 $1250.00
 1300mm x 1000mm
 Acrylic on canvas
 Big cats. what would the circus be like without the big cats. They always draw a 'ooohh' and 'arhhh' from the audience on their entrance, creating nervous excitement on their next performing pounce!

The Show Pony
$1400.00
1100mm x 1300mm
 Acrylic on canvas.
 They're colourful, they're showy, they're regal, they're spectacular, they are the circus ponies! Performing perfect routines with plumes of bright feathers and glittering braid, they're dressed to impress.

Nikky Morgan Smith
There is physicality to Nikky's work that is intimately encoded in the process. By building up and breaking down, incorporating and excluding, working intuitively at times and more formally at others, she holds together the elements of disorder in ways that cannot be imitated by planned decisions. In relinquishing some control of the work Nikky finds that the narrative reveals itself. Her instinctual gestures, assertive brush marks and image use lead through thoughts, behaviour, memories and actions.

'i scream'  (collaboration by Nikky Morgan Smith and Cameron Haughey)
size-90cm x 90cm
media-acrylic spray paint on ply. $850.00

'I scream' #2 (collaboration by Nikky Morgan Smith and Cameron Haughey)
acrylic on ply
60cm x 122cm. $830.00

Karena Zerefos

With a background in design, graduating from College of Fine Arts in 2005, Kareena works using a variety of media, including pencil, gouache, tea and ink, and often combines traditional drawing with contemporary digital graphic techniques.

Kareena has exhibited in solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in numerous group shows across Australia. She also works on commercial illustration projects for the music, fashion and advertising industries.

From The Menagerie
2100 x 970 mm
Mixed Media. $2100.00

Keep scrolling down to see all works in the exhibition. Feel free to call the gallery for more information on the show on (02) 66808825 or email staff at admin@retrospectgalleries.com

Christie & Kelly Turner

Bio: "Our names are Christie and Kelly Turner and we are identical twins that create fine art and graphic design on the Gold Coast. Painting together, each artwork we produce is created through the combination of both our efforts. We challenge each other through mistakes. A mistake by one can be transformed into a master piece by the other.
We have received numerous awards throughout our schooling: Certificate from the Education Minister's Awards for Excellence in Art, Marymount College Academic Award for Visual Art yr 12 along with a Certificate of Merit for Rivers Art Award.  In 2008 we attended a graphic design course where we received a Diploma of Printing & Graphic Art, including a Student of the Year Award -for excellence in all aspects of the course and achieving the highest grades."

"Our main focus was on hair for the pure fun of taking something lifeless and giving it a life of its own. A personality/character through splashes of colour and lines, spontaneous and free in contrast to an unenthusiastic face. The hair is an extension of them, their inner world of expression bursting out into a dance of colour. Unveiling a hidden world of emotion, imagination and creativity, normally masked by a plain face. Lines and colour create their own rhythm and beat, each picture revealing the person's own unique melody. A bird, leaves, and flowers all establish a connection with nature.

Creating the hair as music played in the background we were able to forget about structure and just let the paint and brush dance together."

Title:'Mi'
Retail Price $690.00 including frame
Size: 760mm x 570mm (framed size 950mm x 750mm in a beautiful white box frame)
Medium: Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Title:'Fa-So'
Retail Price $690.00 including frame
Size: 760mm x 570mm (framed size 950mm x 750mm in a beautiful white box frame)
Medium: Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Title:'La'
Retail Price $690.00 including frame
Size: 760mm x 570mm (framed size 950mm x 750mm in a beautiful white box frame)
Medium: Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Title:'Ti-Do'
Retail Price $690.00 including frame
Size: 610mm x 570mm
Medium: Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Title: 'Do-Re'
Price $690.00 including frame
Size: 760mm x 570mm (framed size 950mm x 750mm in a beautiful white box frame)
Medium: Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Title: Orange Cherry
Retail Price $550.00
Size: 500mm x 500mm
Medium: Ink and gouche on canvas with a white box frame

Title: Purple Cherry
Retail Price $550.00 Size: 500mm x 500mm
Medium: Ink and gouche on canvas with a white box frame

Title: Red Cherry
Retail Price $550.00 Size: 500mm x 500mm
Medium: Ink and gouche on canvas with a white box frame

Diddy Purple
$220.00
250mm x 250mm Framed
Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Diddy Red
$220.00
250mm x 250mm Framed
Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Do
$220.00
250mm x 250mm Framed
Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Dum
$220.00
250mm x 250mm Framed
Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Singing
$220.00
250mm x 250mm Framed
Ink and gouche on Stonehenge paper

Courtney Brimms

Bio:  Courtney Brims is a Brisbane-based artist who graduated with a degree in interior design before turning her attention to illustration in 2008. Her drawings are influenced by Victoriana, ghost stories, old photographs, daydreams and nightmares. Working with pencils, Courtney creates dreamy worlds of lost girls and bewildering creatures, focusing on the beauty of nature and its dominance over time. Courtney had her first solo exhibition at Sydney’s Monster Children Gallery in 2008 as winner of the Mooks Artspace competition. Since then she has had solo shows at LA’s Black Maria Gallery and most recently at Brisbane’s Nine Lives Gallery as well as numerous group shows across Australia. Artist Statement

When people view my drawings I like to think I fill them with a sense of curiosity and a feeling of nostalgia. Drawing is my way of storytelling where I can take the viewer off the winding path and into the deep woods reminiscent of a fairytale. I primarily focus on themes of displacement, abandonment and loss of self, telling tales of neglected creatures trying to find their place in the world.

Title: Darkness Creeps
Retail Price: $ 750
Size: 430mm x 400mm Framed
Medium: Graphite and coloured pencil on paper
Description: This piece centres around the idea of dark versus light, of something sinister arising from something innocent. The animals and objects tangled within her hair bring to light the inner workings of her mind. What lies behind the innocent facade is quite unexpected.

Title: The Bowerbird
Retail Price: $ 500
Size: 330mm x 370mm Framed
Medium: Graphite and coloured pencil on paper
Description: I've always been fascinated by bowerbirds and the lengths they go to to make their nests look exceptional and attractive in the hope of luring a mate.  I find this is a reflection of human nature in the way that we preen ourselves and obsess over our appearance.

Title: The Gothic
Retail Price: $ 700
Size: 300mm x 350mm Framed
Medium: Graphite and coloured pencil on paper
Description: Inspired by the Victorian age, "The Gothic" is a reflection of the beautiful details of gothic architecture.

Title: The Naturalist
Retail Price: $ 700
Size: 300mm x 350mm Framed
Medium: Graphite and coloured pencil on paper
Description: "The Naturalist" is inspired by the Victorian age when people were becoming increasingly curious about life across the seas and were discovering new species of fauna and flora around the world.

Michelle Dawson

Bio:  Born in New Zealand, Michelle moved to Australia in 1985. She has been working as a professional artist since 1996 and has studied both in Australia and the UK at the UCL Slade Art School.

Michelle has been shortlisted for several major art prizes including the Bendigo drawing Prize and the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize. She has twice represented Australia at the Intercontinental Biennale of Small Graphics in Romania and is currently shortlisted for the CBCA 2009 Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.

Hare-do 80cmx100cm
$1700.00
Charcoal and watercolour on paper. Framed

The Wreck of the Hesperus
34cmx39cm
$450.00
Gelatine print and mixed media on paper. Framed

Size: print size 270 mm x 200mm, frame size 370 mm x 300mm
Markings: Titled, Signed & Numbered by the Artist
Matt/Mount: White
Edition: 30
Medium: Giclee print on 290gsm Moab Entrada 100% cotton Archival fine art paper.

$90.00 print only, $190.00 each Framed.

There is a special price for the set of three prints Framed only $500.00

Size: print size 270 mm x 200mm, frame size 370 mm x 300mm
Markings: Titled, Signed & Numbered by the Artist
Matt/Mount: White
Edition: 30
Medium: Giclee print on 290gsm Moab Entrada 100% cotton Archival fine art paper.

$90.00 print only, $190.00 each Framed.

There is a special price for the set of three prints Framed only $500.00

Size: print size 270 mm x 200mm, frame size 370 mm x 300mm
Markings: Titled, Signed & Numbered by the Artist
Matt/Mount: White
Edition: 30
Medium: Giclee print on 290gsm Moab Entrada 100% cotton Archival fine art paper.

$90.00 print only, $190.00 each Framed.

There is a special price for the set of three prints Framed only $500.00

Braidy Hughes

Bio: Braidy Hughes is a young self taught artist and has been painting since the age of 15.
Born in Mackay in the early 80's, she has spent most of her life living in the country while dreaming of big cities. She currently lives and works in Brisbane, and hopes to one day move to New York.
Though her current day job is completely removed from all things creative, she finds sanity in her days off, which she religiously spends in front of her easel.  To her art, in it's simplest form, is a like a movie condensed down into one moment, in one image a story of a hundred pages can be told. This is how her passion for art has formed, through the ability to provide the world with another escape into a altered experience.  Her work is held in many private collections across Australia, California and New York.

"From a symbol of the feminine, to a belief formed from religion, hair splits down the path to many ideals. It can structure the telling in a story, & the flow in the wave of a curl can expel a harsh overtone and entwine an image in an emotion.

Personally as an artist, hair is a major tool in implementing the soft feminine nature of the girls that I paint. I find it interesting how we view a woman's softness. The elements of her outside appearance -  the length and the movement of a woman's hair in an image can greatly lend to the overall feeling of a work, telling a story of who she is without any words. This is where I work from, my painting's concentrate on the way we perceive softness and innocence through a physical image.

The symbolic nature of hair is a great story teller in so many ways."

Title: Clementine Dressed in Orchids
Retail Price: $500
Size: 760mm x 760mm
Medium: Acrylic and ink on canvas

Title: He Called Her the Girl of the Sea
Retail Price: $500
Size: 760mm x 760mm
Medium: Acrylic and ink on canvas

Title: Penny in the Moonlight
Retail Price: $600
Size: 1020mm x 1020mm
Medium: Acrylic and ink on canvas

Title: The Healer
Retail Price: $650
Size: 1210mm x 910mm
Medium: Acrylic and ink on canvas

Claire Kurzmann

Bio: Claire Kurzmann is a young practicing painter and illustrator hailing from Brisbane, Australia.  Having no formal artistic education, Kurzmann has developed a large body of works all featuring her unique and quirky characters. Influenced strongly by her companions and the intricacy of the human form and mind, the artworks never stray from the human form.
Kurzmann has exhibited in various group exhibitions and sold works throughout galleries in the Gold Coast and Brisbane region. She is constantly partaking in artistic projects; working with fashion labels, online developments and government funded projects.

"We can devote hours of attention to it and spend hundreds of dollars altering it.  Sometimes we cannot control it; a bad hair day results in a bad mood.  It's so important to most that when we loose it, we spend more on replacing it. We tear at it when in greif or when stressed. It gets in our food, on our clothes and always in our eyes. It's too hot during the summertime and the plumber hates pulling it out of the blocked drain. It's much more practical to be bald."

Title: Like wild swans, out of control!
Retail Price: $280
Size: 450 x 300
Medium: ink illustration on paper, Framed
Description: Sometimes it got so out of hand, so uncontrollable. He could've sworn there were wild animals living amongst it.

Title: Wisdom is in the beard, and sometimes the head.
Retail Price: $780
Size: 900mm x 600mm
Medium: Acrylic, ink, watercolour, spraypaint on board.
Description: Whether he be wise or not, there is nothing more intelligent looking then a man stroking his beard while deep in thought. Foolishness can easily be covered by the facial hair facade.

Nick Simpson

Bio:  Nick Simpson moved to Melbourne after living in Brisbane for most of his life. He showed at a number of galleries and exhibitions in Brisbane (after completing a Diploma of Visual Arts) including Nine Lives, Joshua Levi, and the popular, annual I Used To Skate Once. The illustrations are character based and completely unbiased. Screenshots from imaginary movies featuring fuck-ups, weirdos, dwarfs, accountants, models, Germans and jockeys. It's not powerful, nor deeply moving, but it has humour and is rooted in real life.

Title: HAIRlip
Retail Price: $ 90
Size: 210mm x 150mm
Medium: Pen on paper, Framed
Description: I've got a strange fascination when it comes to harelips. Not sure why. Ever since reading Rules of Attraction where a boy has a thing for other boys with harelips...

Title: The Bassett Hound
Retail Price: $ 120
Size: 290mm x 210mm
Medium: Pen on paper, Framed
Description: When I grow up I'm going to buy a Bassett Hound and take him everywhere with me.

Title: Princess
Retail Price: $ 140
Size: 290mm x 210mm
Medium: Pen on paper, Framed
Description: The words sexual fetishism mean sexual attraction to objects, body parts or situations not conventionally viewed as being sexual in nature.

Title: Zanzabar
Retail Price: $ 140
Size: 290mm x 210mm
Media: Pen on paper, Framed
Description: You get one hair in your mouth and you pull and face, do your best to extract it quickly. Imagine that times one thousand.

Rachael Bartram

Bio:  Rachael Bartram was born and raised on the Gold Coast and completed a Bachelor of Visual Media (major in Fine Art) degree at Q.C.A on the Gold Coast, in 2008. In 2009 she was accepted into the B.V.A honours program and achieved a first class nomination. Rachael’s work has been exhibited in a number of different group shows since July 2009, including Tales from the Cold Ghost III at 19Karen and B.E.A.F at the White Canvas Gallery. In the first half of 2010, her work was also selected by Brisbane City Council to be printed on vinyl and installed at King George Square in conjunction with Youth Week and she was a finalist in the Lethbridge 10000 award in May. Rachael’s current practice principally employs two-dimensional assemblage or collage as well as an intuitive style of drawing and mark making. The collection of materials specifically images, books and small objects is a key element within her work. Whilst consistently referencing identity, family history and memory - Rachael is also engaged with notions of visual narrative and story telling. ‘What excitements me about books and found images are the countless narrative possibilities, titles and conclusions that can be drawn from a re-contextualised illustration or segment of text.’

"For me hair always seems to resonate with a bound feminine relevance. Hair makes up such a significant part of our identity and self image and in turn, I think this becomes entrenched in sensory memory. The feeling of a friend running their fingers through it in the assembly line up at school, the stiff saltiness of it after swimming at the beach etc etc. In a way, the aesthetic character of hair often reminds me of water and wind. In contrast, the series of two-dimensional assemblages I produced for the Hair-Jacked exhibition, appropriate and reinterpret the female protagonist/narrative archetype in juxtaposition with animal furs and feathers. Whilst making these pieces I grew interested in the different types of hair, fur and hides in the animal world. There was parallel drawn between the sumptuous tactility of an animal's fur with a woman's beauty and self image. Whilst at the same time (as with the Hair-Jacked I piece) maternal/daughter roles are compared with the nestling, encircling warmth of a pouch or nest. Nevertheless, to get back to what hair means - one the whole I would place it within the context of identity and the feminine psyche."

Title: Hair-Jacked I - Venetian Beading Girls with Crimped Hair
Retail Price: $195
Size/dimensions: 190 mm x 230 mm, Framed
Medium: Collage
Description:  This first piece hair and fur represent a symbolic intersection of maternal instincts - both animalistic and humanistic.  A mother from the animal world grooms her offspring’s fur or feathers in the nest. The Venetian woman encircled by fur and tails, crimps her daughter’s hair as she arranges beads for a necklace.

Title: Hair-Jacked III - Number One Guy
Retail Price: $185
Size/dimensions: 140 mm x 175 mm, Framed
Medium: Collage
Description: I recently found a pile of young girl’s graphic novels dating from around the 1970s/1980s all of which contained hollow stories referencing disco championships, stereotypical female occupations (i.e. secretary, typist etc) and exotic locations. I decided to take the mickey out of the clichés inherent in the Number One Guy comic by cutting away the smug 1970s hairstyles of the two lovers on the front cover and replacing them with Turkey feathers and Beaver fur.

Title: Hair-Jacked IV - Ten Faced Brunette
Retail Price: $195
Size/dimensions: 155mm x 240 mm, Framed
Medium: Collage
Description: This last piece in the Hair-Jacked series, like Number One Guy, also derives its imagery from a 1970s girl’s comic.  The multiple faces of the raven-haired protagonist were found in a story called ‘It started in Central Park’. What struck me about ‘It started in Central Park’ was that, out of all the comics I’d found it was the only one that did not revolve around a blonde, happy-go-lucky woman. Rather it’s central character was a dark haired single mother who spent most of the story throwing tantrums, crying and coming to terms with her rocky past. Ten Faced Brunette thus playfully exaggerates the visual metaphor of dark hair connoting a dark/emotional character.

Troy Archer

Bio:  Northern NSW resident, Troy Archer is a self taught fine artist. His intricately detailed works are a reflection of his passion for capturing the essence of human emotion, fuelled by a need to escape the realities of life. Among other subject matter and styles, Troy ironically spends countless hours creating works depicting reality; real life situations showcasing bustling lives, confusion, stress and love.
Although a trained graphic designer, and inspired by most genres, his work is void of traditional or academically trained art styles, choosing to focus his energy of the creation of an objective and the release from everyday life.

"Hair, what does hair mean to me• That's actually a question I was hoping I'd never be asked. Thing is, hair confuses me, I mean, I fully understand what role it plays, but i'm confused because I have always hated hair, and now I spend countless hours drawing the damn stuff. Truth be told, i've hated hair for a long time, my first memory of hating it is of me at about 12 years old, enjoying my weet-bix only to be sabotaged by a stray hair, it got half way down my neck and i've never forgotten it. I'm super haunted by hair, which could be a result of that scene in Trading Places, where Dan Akroyd is dressed as Santa Clause and he eats a raw fish that's caught up in his beard, it's f**king disgusting. Above all, my personal life is riddled with it, Mum malts, my wife leaves her disgusting brush around the place, my chest is like a persian rug which is hell bent on setting the trend for the rest of me, it's everywhere, toes and all. At least, I guess, i've been able to take a positive away from all this by using it as a theme in my art."

Title: 'Invention of Dying'
Price $
Size:
Medium:

Title: Anita Avocado
Price $ 150.00
Size: 250mm x 250mm framed
Medium: Pen and pencil on paper

Title: Mary Mushroom
Price $ 150.00
Size: 250mm x 250 mm framed
Medium: Pen and pencil on paper

Title: Georgina Grapes
Price $ 150.00
Size: 250mm x 250 mm framed
Medium: Pen and pencil on paper

Title: Party Girl
Price $ 690.00
Size: 710mm x 910mm framed
Medium: 

Title: Four
Price $ 690.00
Size: 710mm x 910mm framed
Medium:

Keep scrolling down to see all works in the exhibition. Feel free to call the gallery for more information on the show on (02) 66808825.

Kelly Sullivan

Title: War On Everything
Retail Price: $550.00
Size: 1010 x 760mm
Media: Mixed Media

Title: You Are Here / Automapa
Retail Price: $450.00 (2 panels)
Size: each panel is 600 x 300 mm
Media: Acrylics & collage on canvas

Title: We Are All Beautiful Monkeys
Retail Price: $450.00
Size: 600x600mm Media: Acrylic & Oil on Canvas

Title: Us Vs. Them
Retail Price: $450.00
Size: 910 x 460 mm
Media: Mixed Media

Title: Girt By Sea
Retail Price: $400.00
Size: 610 x 500 mm
Media: Mixed Media

Stephen Phibbs

Storm Rider 2 140cmw-120cmh oil on canvas $3600

Wangannui 100cmw-120cmh oil on canvas  $2950

The Neon Forest
150cmw-100cmh oil on canvas $3400

Sandon River
120cmw-110cmh   oil on canvas   $3200

Cherry Venture oil on canvas  120cmw-140cmh
$3600

Mirror of the sun
120cmw-140cmh oil on canvas $3900

Pacifica-Northern Rivers
140cmw-120cmh oil on canvas $3800

Yurigar Rockpools 75cmw-100cmh oil on canvas $2200

Cappodocia 90cmw-100cmh oil on canvas $2800

Broken Head
62cmw-76cmh oil on canvas
$1600

Sandon Beach Midden 62cmw-76cmh oil on canvas
$1600

Austral Horizon
62cmw-76cmh oil on canvas $1600

Where Oceans Meet
120cmw-140cmh oil on canvas $3700

Pacific Antipodes 94cmw - 120cmh oil on canvas $2950

Adrian Doyle

The Heads 2010
100 x 190 cm
Mixed media on Canvas
$ 5500.00

Untitled Landscape 2010
110 x 80 cm
Mixed media on Canvas
$ 2,500.00

Juan Fernandez

At Sunset
Size:  320mm x 510mm
Media:  Oil on wood
$220.00

Beloved Size: 300mm x 400mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$220.00

Brother Size: 1200mm x 600mm
Media: Oil on wood
$680.00

The Caldera Track
Size: 900mm x 600mm
Media:  Oil on canvas
$650.00

Hanging Rock
Size: 610mm x 460mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$390.00

Kullburri
Size: 510mm x 760mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$490.00

Landing
Size: 560mm x 880mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$590.00

Mirror
Size: 530mm x 840mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$590.00

Taipan Wall Size: 760mm x 1020mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$790.00

The Look Out Size: 460mm x 460mm
Media: Oil on canvas
$350.00

Karen Jennings

Dry Run
$600.00
Size: 550mm x 160mm x 50mm each, Group of three
Media: Hi-fire clay and glaze

Sea Change I
$340.00
Size: 560mm x 200mm x60mm
Media: Hi-fire clay and glaze

Blu Bay
$650.00
Size: 500mm diameter x 150mm deep
Media: Hi-fire clay and glaze

It's So Noisy at the Fair
Media: Oil on canvas
Size: 1020mm x 820mm
$3300.00

Please ring the gallery on (02) 6680 8825 for assistance with purchasing works

The Amazingly Intricate Workings of the Brain
Media: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 1840mm x 2440mm
$4900.00

Please ring the gallery on (02) 6680 8825 for assistance with purchasing works

Word on the Street. Media: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 1840mm x 2440mm
$4900.00

Please ring the gallery on (02) 6680 8825 for assistance with purchasing works

Happy Abductions (part 2)  Media: Acrylic on canvas

$1100.00

See their works in our upcoming show The Magic Faraway Tree...

New arrivals this month include stunning works by Dolores Cupcake, from her A Thousand Words [or more] to Tell a Picture series, for which she spent hours writing text onto canvas, with exceptional results. 

Plus new paintings from Ross Tamlin, inspired by the lyrics of cult British band Joy Division, including tracks such as Love Will Tear Us Apart Again.

Catch these works in our Magic Faraway Tree show. 

View Zom's profile here...

See her work in our upcoming show The Magic Faraway Tree...

See his artist profile here..

John is part of our upcoming exhibition The Magic Faraway Tree...

See his artist profile here...

View his limited edition prints here...

Sarah is featured in our upcoming exhibition The Magic Faraway Tree...

View her profile here

The person who has most influenced my art is….
My partner, who encouraged me from day one to pursue the dream of working in a creative field.

My favourite artist is …
Paul Klee, hands down, he can do amazing things with a just a simple line.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I just sit and watch the confidence and pure imagination of my 3 year old son drawing.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
I am covered in ink and surrounded by printing presses.

I am currently reading….
‘Everything is Illuminated’ by Jonathan Safran Foer and anything I can get my hands on by Haruki Murakami.

The book that changed my life is…
‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams was beautiful, haunting and sad.

My favourite film of all time is…
‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ – there are some truly classic lines in that film.

It makes me smile when…
When my partner does some crazy dancing in our living room.

My three most valued possessions are…
Artworks collected from friends, photographs of my travels and my collection of Paul Klee books.

The three things in life I could never give up are…
A good cup of tea, swimming out past the breakers, my childhood memories. If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
Great books, a snorkel and flippers.

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go…
To Paris and watch Alexander Calder perform his circus act.

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Change the way we treat the Indigenous people of our country.

The achievement I am most proud of is…
Finally finishing my fine art degree!! (I had my son half way through the degree).. I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
Cocoa doesn’t taste like drinking chocolate (It took me hours to remove the dry cocoa from my throat!)

I hope my art...
Will always be a constant part of my life…and continue to evolve.
If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….
A fashion designer or a horticulturalist, most anything that is creative and uses my hands.

View his artist profile Here...

Great response from locals and visitors alike

Millie in action !!

Photographer Alberto Sanchez posed with one of his models in front of his wonderful works

Just like them we love Spanish artist Vilchez

Fellow tattooist Tom Burrey from Rock of Ages tattoo parlour and crew

Final work on Jess's leg after just 2 hrs and few bottles of wine ..

Join Byron Bay printmaker Sarah Harvey, to hear about her works exploring the fictional life of rabbits, inspired by author Richard Adams, and his book Watership Down; 

Goonengerry’s Zom Osborne, who will share thoughts on her obsession with journaling, and how words jotted in a notebook in the early hours of the morning, help her capture the beauty of otherworldliness and the dreamlike state;

Visual Arts Course Coordinator at Southern Cross University, John Smith who has had more than thirty solo exhibitions and his work is held in many major public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, work explores markmaking and text;

And Bangalow artist Michelle Dawson, who was last year shortlisted by the Children's Book Council of Australia’s Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator, on the letters that inspired the detailed pencil drawings of hybrid animals in the art/children’s publication, "How weird is that...".

Byron Bay Writers Festival Director, Jeni Caffin, will also be joining us, to share her reflections on the visual language of books.

The evening begins at 6.30pm at Harvest Café, with a preview exhibition of artworks by the featured artists, followed by great food, wine, artist presentations and discussion, plus fabulous music by local musicians Anna Squared.

Tickets cost $45, which includes a delicious two-course meal.  We recommend booking early as there are limited seats available and this event is sure to sell out. Phone 6687 2644, or email goodtimes@harvestcafe.com.au

This event is being held in conjunction with The Magic Faraway Tree exhibition opening at Retrospect Galleries, from 6pm Thursday August 5.

The show takes a journey into literature through the eyes of the artist, featuring works by Sarah Harvey, Zom Osborne, Michelle Dawson, Michael Taylor, Dolores Cupcake, Kareena Zerefos, Susan Gourley, John Smith and renowned author / illustrator Shaun Tan. For directions to Harvest Café in Newrybar, go to www.harvestcafe.com.au

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A beautifully stretched canvas

"Jess Bowen of Mud Honey fame adds to her tattoo collection courtesy of Lennox Head custom ink artist Millie Zavattaro. The performance needling was part of the Revolution of Art, Retrospect Gallery's annual urban art exhibition." Photo Jeff'Heart On Sleeve'Dawson

You can read the article here...

View the exhibition here..

Revolution of Art + Tattooed open at Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay 6pm Friday July 16, with a live tattooing demo in the Gallery, and fine bevvies sponsored by local brewers Stone and Wood.  Everyone is welcome, young and old alike.

You can view the Exhibition here...

Earlier this year he experimented with a series of images depicting iconic Byron Bay scenes, which he layered with words and textures to create original limited edition artworks, and he has been excited to witness these works hit a chord with local and visiting arts audiences. With the Tattooed show coming up, Alberto says he has been inspired to begin a new series, showcasing women and their body art against subtly decorated backgrounds, merging the idea of art on the skin and art on the wall.
 
He says he has always being amused by the contrary reaction tattoos have in the viewer, which he describes as often being disapproval and admiration in equal amounts, and hopes that by incorporating the tattoo into fine art photography, he can dispel some of the dispersions associated with body art forms.

The Tattooed show is being held in conjunction with Retrospect Galleries’ annual urban art show - an international showcase of cutting edge works by young artists, from around the world, now in its third year.

Retrospect’s Bree Delian says the Gallery is trying to broaden the show this year in recognition of the burgeoning tattoo culture.

“Although tattoos have been around for thousands of years, we are experiencing an explosion in the number of tattoo parlours, and also seeing the rise of custom tattoo artists like Millie Zavattaro, who are attracting attention to body art, as a significant art form,” Delian comments.

“Tattoos today are a far cry from the old sailor images, and there has also been a shift away from appropriating Indigenous designs from different cultures.”

“Now a new form is emerging, spearheaded by the artist/tattooist, whose work on the human canvas is created with artistic integrity by individuals working with their own individual forms of markings.”

“The interest in evident when you consider that regular clients may have to wait months for a booking at Rock of Ages, to be marked with one of Millie’s unique custom motifs.”

Also featured in the show are stunning works by Spanish artist Vilchez contrasting Latino Maras gang culture with that of Japanese Yakuza warriors, depicted as tattoos on the gangsters bodies.

The prints are created through a classic printing technique, mixing woodcut or linocut relief, with dry crystal etching for the tattoo, allowing the artist to have two different finishes in the same print.  Tattooed and Revolution of Art open 6pm Friday July 16 at Retrospect Galleries, 52 Jonson Street, with a live tattoo demo by Millie Zavattaro.  All welcome!

You can also check out the show online click here...

See her artist profile here..

See her profile here...

Read her Artist of the month interview here...

See her artist profile here...

See his artist profile here..

See his artist profile here...

Check out his artist profile here..

Check out her artist profile here..

Right now I am… being terrorised by my little cat who wants to sleep and chew everything on my desk…as well as living and working as an artist in Melbourne – which means painting walls and canvas, building things out of bones and discarded objects, drawing and photographing.

At the moment I am working on… a new collection of work for the Melbourne Art Fair , a video and installation piece and am one third of a curating team putting together  a show of 20 + artists in an empty disused space. It’s pretty rad.

In the last year I have challenged myself to… travel more, paint bigger, to draw more and make more sculptures and installations.

My proudest moment this year was… painting a giant painting on a 25m long wall.

My biggest mistake this year was… probably not ever getting enough sleep! 

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of… scientists, especially physicists, and indigenous astronomy stories. But that’s just lately, I guess I’m inspired by anyone who is passionate about what they do and has a desire to try and see the big picture and effect some kind of change or growth whether on an personal or universal level.

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually… read books, sit in bars drinking wine talking to my friends, or ride my bike around listening to new music. My problem is usually having too many ideas and trying to figure out how to make them all connect to each other or trying to decide what to focus my energy on.

I have always been fascinated by artists that… can mix their skill equally with their  ideas and subject matter, people who create art that is filled with passion and raw emotion.

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be… writing a book, most likely a children’s book or fairy tale.

When I was a child I dreamt of… flying and floating in my sleeping life. In my day dreams I always thought about painting, drawing, telling stories and  generally making things, a lot more than I probably should have when I was meant to be doing other things. My school report always read “she has a very vivid imagination if only she would apply the same energy to her schoolwork”
 
My first job was… pretty shit, I worked for a large multinational fast-food company and I got fired for insubordination pretty fast.

My first big love was… for reading, as soon as I could I started devouring every book I could, I’m always reading a novel and often a nonfiction at the same time, if I don’t I think I would go insane.

The first piece of art I ever bought was… a lightbox artwork, it took me about 10 months to pay if off and pick it up!

The best film I have seen this year is… it’s a tie between The Road, which is so beautiful and brutal and Moon.

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be… Nina Simone.

I am currently reading…. I just finished “The Time travelers wife” which was excellent and I'm also reading a book called “sleeping and dreaming” which is about sleeping and dreaming in science, society and art.

If I could be a mythical creature I would be… Some kind of half bird half human creature. A siren or something like that.

My grandmother always said… you are never too old to stop learning. My grandmother taught me that we are students of life, she is amazing and has so many talents - she can recite so much classical poetry, she is a bonsai master, and a gardening expert who knows all the Latin names the plants in her garden and keeper of our family history. If I can know half as much at her age I’d be pretty happy.

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack… paper, pencils & my ipod.

If air travel was no longer possible I would… take boats.

If I was a superhero I would be… Spiderman.

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to… buying back the forests and creating more national parks, on a global scale.

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose… it’s a tie between the 1920’s in Paris and late 1960s in San Francisco.

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to… be lying on a beach somewhere with a tropical old growth forest behind me, far away from the city reading a book.

In the next year I hope to achieve… so many things!

Read her artist profile here

And also check out her wonderful mixed media drawings

Read his artist profile here..

Sealers Cover

and Stratus over Pass

A leisurely arrival for our VIP artsCape ambassadors, who get a chance to view the sculptures before the official opening at 6pm.

The fabulous sand-shoe creations from Pamala Lee Brenner and Emma Medwel.

Byron Bay photographer David Young admiring wood-fired ceramic eggs from Samantha Collier.

Powerful sculptures by Jeffrey Frith, Michael Snape and Stephen King.

Japanese sculptor Keizo Ushio with Koicho Ishino and Lisa Anderson

Invited Syrian artist Usama AlNassar talks to Byron Bay sculptor Alan Horstmanhoff.

Somebody in cool boots admiring wall hangings from Anne Leon and quirky horse-like figures from Claude Jones.

Hanging mobiles from Jade Oakley, and on top of the lightbox works from Lucy Vador, Barbara Licha and Mishele Moran.

People keep coming and coming...

Gallery director Bree Delian invites our three speakers to begin their artist talks and opening speeches.

Greg Johns comments on the history of Australian sculpture and officially opens the exhibition.

Usama AlNasar talks about his work.

Keizo Ushio braves his second language and delights the crowd with his speech.

Sculptor Mike McGregor and artist Ken Johnson.

A bug thanks to interior designer and artist Kate Platt whose fantastic advice helped place all the works in an interesting display.

Artis Noel Hart with artsCape director Rebecca Townsend and Retrospect Galleries Director Bree Delian and artist Dolores Cupcake at the end of the night.

June 22, 2010

ArtsCape ready to storm the beachfront 

"Biennial sculpture exhibition artsCape workers will be installing pieces in Clarkes Beach Reserve, Byron Bay, from Wednesday June 23 to Friday 25 with the assistance of Dune Care ArtsCape is open to the public form Saturday 26 and all are welcome to the official opening at the Beach Hotel on Sunday June 27 qt 2pm. 

The beachfront will be home to works from local, national, and international sculptors. They will create sculptures which convey messages about the environment and sustainability through 'humour, beauty, mystery and surprise.'

In addition, over 40 of the artists from artsCape Biennal 2010 will exhibit small wall, floor and suspended interior sculptures at Retrospect Galleries in Byron Bay. The exhibition opens at 6pm on Friday and runs until Wednesday July 7..."

You can read the article here...

Bert Flugelman talks to Rosemary Neil about his eventful career in sculpture.

Born in Austria in 1923, Bert Flugelman arrived in Australia in 1938. He studied painting under Frank Hinder at the National Art School before heading overseas to further his training, including exploring the breadth of emerging contemporary art ideas and practices. Since returning to Australia in 1955 he has worked tirelessly to establish himself as one of the best-known and influential sculptors working in Australia today.

Retrospect Galleries are very excited about two of Bert's sculptures coming to the artsCape Indoor Sculpture Show. View the exhibition here...

See details about Slender Spiral here...

See details about Double Archway here...

Once Upon A Time Twice

"A new exhibition opening at Retrospect Galleries this week explores notions of the past through the work of four local artists whose stories began in Europe. Bangalow artist Hilary Herrmann Arrived in Melbourne at the age of two, with her parents, political refugees from Nazi Germany via Kenya. Hot on her heels was Clunes based artist Katka Adams who had just turned seven before she reached our shores, having made a similar departure from Czechoslovakia. Byron artist Cornelia Burless arrived here of her own accord at the age of 18, with plans for a year overseas and a few basic words of heavily accented Bavarian English.  Last Saturday night at Harvest Cafe these three local artists presented a series of short talks, in which each shared diverse stories from their pasts - of far away beginnings , introductions to Australian life, and how they ended up making a home in our religion. The talks were a prelude to an exhibition they have opening this week, at Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, called Once Upon A Time, in which they explore notions of the past, childhood memory and the influence of the fairytale. Opens 6pm Friday at Retrospect Galleries in Byron."

Retroism

Taking things out of context

Byron Bay hosts a fascinating look at some juxtaposed iconic images

"While we are surrounded by them, the objects of our time appear unremarkable. However, over the distance of decades and out of their original context, they can look truly bizarre.

It's this strangeness created by displacement that is the theme of the a new exhibition called, Retroism, now showing, naturally enough, at Retrospect Gallery in Byron Bay. It explores the recent explosion of interest in popular and nostalgic imagery form the 1920s to the 1970s. 

The 12 artists, a mix of international and national, have used collage in one form or another to produce results that vary hugely in style and focus. They include Americans Robert Mars, Cecil Touchon and Charles Wilkin, Dutch artist Handiedan and Germany's Mario Wagner. "

With the ever-increasing focus on environmental issues in the world, it was considered timely to reignite artsCape in Byron Bay with plans to stage the event biennially. artsCape 2010 will be staged at a new site, Clarkes Beach Reserve, an exquisite natural setting in the heart of Byron Bay. It will be an event which appeals to our sense of wonder and our increasing interest with large scale sculpture.

Sculptures will be installed sympathetically within Clarkes Beach Reserve, suspended in trees, nestled in sand dunes, overlooking the ocean, amongst the Casuarinas, skillfully sited to show off this stunning natural setting at one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. Sculptures will convey messages about nature, the environment and sustainability, through playfulness, humour, beauty, mystery and surprise; they will explore themes such as flora and fauna, ecology, marine conservation, water, air quality, the land, and indigenous culture.

Check out artsCape website here..

To find out more click here...

Animal lovers are in for a treat with the release of a series of prints featuring Michelle Dawson’s ever-popular dogs. Michelle says that when she used to live at the beach her attention was forever being caught by one or another characterful canine. Meet Bert, St Patrick and Wolfhound - just a few of the many four legged friends she has captured over the years.

They come from a series of three amazing prints Bert, St Patrick and Wolfhound. These look great as a complete set of three, framed in our funky white box frames! You can also request the same edition number. Check out her artist profile here.

Check out her Artist of the month interview

Printed using the highest quality giclee art reproduction printer on 100% cotton rag, these works will last longer than you, they are museum grade archival so rest assured you are buying a great quality product. This is a great way to purchase collectable works at an unbeatable price. All prints are $90 each or $190 framed. If you call the gallery on (02) 6680 8825 we have a special if you purchase the set of four prints framed for an amazing $650 for the set, or $700 delivered to your door.

Check out the most recent additions to our collection.  

The Dynamic Duo Doug Bartlett bring you four brilliant prints of original paintings. Their work has tripled in value in 18 months but these Retrospect Editions enable many of their fans to get a set of four at a price everyone can afford.

They come from a series of four amazing prints; Growing Up, Lucky Friends, The Pants and Tiger Eat Fish. These look great as a complete set of three, framed in our funky white box frames! You can also request the same edition number. Check out their artist profile here.

Check out their artist of the month interview

Click here for a full list of artists and a preview of the show.

The person who has most influenced my art is….
 Bodo Boden a german pop artist

My favourite artist is …
There are many I like, including Sam Fullbrook, Ben Quilty, Stephen Bush

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I have lots of unfinished paintings surrounding me

I usually start my day by…
Getting up and having a cup of coffee…

I am currently reading….
I usually read non-fiction as it requires less emotional investment (I need that for painting). At the moment I am reading “unspeak” by Steven Poole.

The book that changed my life is…
The “art of loving” by Eric Fromm

It makes me smile when…
My kids come home

I get angry about…
my dog, when he doesn’t take himself out when he gets sick

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
To not run into Tom Hanks

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
back to the future-

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Throw a great dinner party

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Dara O’Briain, Helge Schneider, If it were my party, I would serve…
Good home made food. I like cooking for many

The achievement I am most proud of is…
Surviving a day’s work as a data entry clerk without turning into a serial killer


The craziest thing I have ever done was…
Come as a backpacker to Australia when Ivan Milat was not in jail. The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
We all get older, make the best of it. When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
Much loved…..

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…
To go and see the careers counsellor I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
That I can’t sing

My legacy to the world will be…
Something they might have to wait a little longer for

Check out his Artist Profile here....

Check out his Artist Profile here...

Check out her Artist profile here...

http://www.stvdio.com.au/article/1317/step-into-a-stvdio-with-johnny-romeo/

QLD AIPP AWARDS

In the Category of Portrait.

Silver Distinction

Silver Awards

Artists Hilary Herrmann, Katka Adams and Cornelia Burless.

Cornelia Burless, Bree Delian and Hilary Herrmann exchanging before the talk. 

Katka Adams and Bree Delian.

Hilary Herrmann talking.

Cornelia Burless talking.

Once Upon A Time

A harvest of art tales at Newrybar

"On Saturday May 29 Harvest Cafe at Newrybar will be transformed to an intimate art space for an evening of art, discussion , great food, wine, music and more. Presented in conjunction with Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, Once Upon A Time at Harvest Cafe is an introduction to Retrospect's upcoming Once Upon A Time exhibition, in which four local artists who spent their early years in Europe, come together to explore notions of the past."

Once Upon a Time

"This Saturday all your darkest fairy tales come alive with an exhibition at Harvest Cafe in Newrybar. Presented in conjunction with Retrospect Galleries, this latest showing features the works by local artists Katka Adams, Cornelia Burless and Hilary Herrmann, who all spend their early years in Europe."

Retroism time travels to 20th century

"A new exhibition opening this week at Retrospect Galleries takes a trip back in time to the best of the 20th Century. 'Retroism' features works by 12 internationally accomplished artists including renowned US artist Robert Mars, whose multimedia works reflect a longing for a different America - be - fore 'independent aesthetic of the not-so-distant past was replaced by homogenised corporate culture and standardised cityscapes."

Retro and vintage lovers were out in force for the opening of the Retroism exhibition at Retrospect Galleries on Friday May 21.  This stunning show features a mix of assemblage, collage and multi-media works by 12 renowned artists from the US, Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia, who all share a fascination with nostalgic 20^th Century imagery. Congratulations to co-curator, artist Kareem Ritz, who did a fantastic job, working in conjunction with Retrospect’s Bree Delian.  This show has been extended until June 14.

Artist Kareem Risk.

Elise Juin, artist Kareem Risk, Michelle Dawson and Alberto Sanchez.

In order of appearance from left to Right Elise Juin, Kareem Rizk, Kellie O'Dempsey, Michelle Dawson, Alberto Sanchez.

Retroism

A resurgence of retro hits the walls of Retrospect Gallery

"An exhibition will open in Byron Bay next week that chronicles the resurgence of interest in popular nostalgic imagery from 1980s. The Retroism exhibition will feature 12 renowned artists from around the world who work with mixed media to create pieces that narrate the collective desire to live life at a slower pace."

You can read the article here...

View his artist profile here...

View his artist profile here...

View her artist profile here...

Our second Retrospect Party at Harvest for the year features talks by three local artists who all spent their early years in Europe - Katka Adams (Czech Republic), Cornelia Burless (Germany) and Hilary Herrmann (Germany via Kenya).

As an introduction to their upcoming Once Upon A Time exhibition, the trio of women explore how notions of the past continue to shape their lives and art.  Our last Retrospect Party at Harvest was a total sellout, so be quick to get tickets this time around. It’s on from 6.30pm, Saturday May 29. Tickets cost $45, which includes a gorgeous two course meal, glass of mulled wine on arrival, great art, interesting discussion, laid back music and good times. Phone Harvest Café, 6687 2644.

Click here for a preview of the show.

With the stand all set up, Michelle takes a last look around and a few minutes rest before the crowd comes in.

Some of the beautiful works by artist John Cottrell.

Katka Adams' beautiful chickens and still life smalls in pastel.

Ross Tamlin Artworks. People are always amazed that this is not actually corrugated iron.

Great new works by Fiona Kennedy Altoft, delighted children and adults alike.

Admirers of John Cottrell.

Amazing works from Lisa Lee, whose vivid street scapes were a great success.

Michelle Dawson and her stunning Dr Moreau's Kitten.

After a quick re-hang the next morning we are back and ready for business.

Works by Artists Lyndy Delian and Albert Sanchez.

Stunning creations by Jan Van Dijk and Hilary Herrmann

Works by Nikky Morgan-Smith, Nicole Tattersall and Michelle Dawson.

Art connoisseurs from the garden state admiring the beautiful works at our stand.

A successful exhibition, admired by all which would not have been possible without the combined and mighty efforts of  gallery director Bree Delian, Gallery assistant Michelle Dawson, French intern Elise Juin, PR Julie Clark, web assistant Kitty Delian  and of course all our wonderful and talented artists.

View the exhibition here....

View his artist profile and gallery here...

And another fantastic piece for his "Script on Metal" series, unfortunately for some, already sold.

Right now I am…
Freaking out about how much art stuff I have to do before the end of the week, including this questionnaire!

The person who has most influenced my art is…
Eduardo Recife (Misprinted Type).

My favourite artist is…
Eduardo Recife.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I’ve just finished a new piece that I’m really happy with. If  I get on a roll the production of work can almost become perpetual for quite an extended period of time.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
The sun is going down.  Even more so when its dark.

I usually start my day by…
Making a big mug of black tea (dash of milk/no sugar) and warm toast with butter and Vegemite.

The book that changed my life is…
God I Am by Peter O. Erbe.

My favourite album of all time is…
I don’t know if it’s my favourite of all time, but one that has inspired me quite a lot is the soundtrack from Blade Runner (Orchestral version) including the original extended version of Blade Runner Blues by Vangelis. 

My favourite film of all time is…
I can’t name just one, so I’ll name four! The Burbs, in my opinion one of the most classic, quintessential 80’s movies, Back To The Future,  Beetlejuice and Scarface.

When I am working I like to listen to…
80’s soft rock, 60’s & 70’s soul, funk and R&B. Not only do I like this kind of music but it often evokes certain feelings of nostalgia and memories which draws me closer to my work. It absorbs me further into the creative process, making it a truly mixed media experience.
My three most valued possessions are...
My SLR film camera, my growing collection of vintage magazines and 35 rolls of colour and black & white film from my 2008 journey around the world, which are still in the process of being developed! (I got a bit carried away).
If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
To visit each year of the sixties. So many pivotal events took place in this decade. And it also seems to have been one of the most creative, inspiring and liberating periods in history, with so much great music produced in so many genres.

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Get someone to kick me in the head in the hope of jolting any memory of why I wilfully ran for Prime Minister in the first place. Then I’d find the nearest person who was willing to become the next hand puppet for the ruling elite.

The three things in life I could never give up are …
Art, booze and laughter.

My dream dinner party of six would include…
Bill Hicks (alive of course), Christopher Walken, Bill Bailey, Dave Chapelle, Edvard Munch and Ghandi.
If it were my party, I would serve…
I wouldn’t be serving, I’d be too busy getting smashed.
I get angry about…
Finding traces of butter in a jar of Vegemite which are not mine.

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
We live within a three dimensional holographic illusion. But we are infinite beings, pure light. There is no such thing as death, our souls are eternal. We will always experience life in all its forms eternally. Which is why it’s pointless ever worrying about anything or even taking anything in life too seriously.
 My legacy to the world will be…
Hopefully leaving a body of artwork behind that will stand the test of time. Something that is unique enough to be remembered as having inspired or motivated others to be creative and pursue their dreams.

Check out her artist gallery and remaining works here....

Check out her artist profile and new work here...

A crowd of regulars and open-mouthed visitors gathered at Retrospect last Friday night for the opening of our latest show, Jan Van Dijk and Michelle Dawson’s Man Woman Beast. Whilst Jan tried his best to look inconspicuous, Michelle played on the hybrid theme, glamming up with a set of feline ears.  Neither could hide from the accolades for their stunning and highly contrasting works, from Jan’s heavily layered canvases of human-animals, to Michelle’s fine drawings and paintings of mixed animal forms.  Saturday’s drawing sessions in the Gallery also drew fascinated audiences, who loved the opportunity to watch these incredible creative technicians at work.

A full house turned up for Man Woman Beast.

Mix and Match your own beast with Exquisite Corpse inspired make your own beast with heads, torsos and tails by Michelle and Jan.

Pensive thoughts inspired by wicked beasts.

Some interesting combinations.  

Jan Van Dijk with Kylie (of Duck Rifle fame) and James Crookshank and friend.

Artists Emma Walker and Hilary Herrmann congratulate Michelle and her ears on a great show.

Jack Reindeer commands the room.

Artists Hilary Herrmann and Corneila Burless with Gallery Director Bree Delian.

Photographer Charile and friend from the Top Shop enjoy beverages provided by our sponsors Stone and Wood.

Chris Booth with Jan and Kylie.

Man Woman Beast artists Michelle Dawson and Jan Van Dijk admire some strange make your own monster combinations.

Michelle and Jan.

A great night had by all.

Michelle Dawson and Jan Van Dijk did some collaborative drawings on Saturday morning based on the surrealist children's game 'The Exquisite Corpse' where each artist draws a head torso and tail covering over the piece that was done before so no one knows how the beast will look until the moment of unveiling.

Jan working is it a head or tail-

Tail...

The Unveiling...

Kylie is the perfect hostess...

Some finished creatures

Kellie O'Dempsey painting live in Retrospect Galleries front room while Byron Bays fantastic improvisational outfit The Knie jams in front of a mesmerised crowd.

Kellie draws inspiration from the sounds of the double bass.

Kellie's drawing is taking shape as she seeks inspiration from outside the window.

People passing by, stop to enjoy Kellie's fantastic drawing performance.

“All of my work is site-specific”

Kellie explains. “As is my choice of music or performers.”

“At the Tweed I wanted to respond to the incredible views from the Gallery across to Mt Warning, so I decided to create the work on large panels that filled four of the window spaces. Then I invited The KNIE to come on board, and everything else was down to the audience.”

Chooks head to Melbourne art fair

Andy Parks | 22nd April 2010

The night washes away what the day has soaped (detail) by Katka Adams.

"Eleven Northern Rivers artists will be represented at Art Melbourne 2010, one of the largest and most exciting art fairs in the country.

The night washes away what the day has soaped (detail) by Katka Adams.

Eleven Northern Rivers artists will be represented at Art Melbourne 2010, one of the largest and most exciting art fairs in the country.

Among them is Clunes-based artist Katka Adams, who will have 29 of her works on display.

“It’s such a great opportunity because it exposes you to a new audience. There are a lot of art dealers and galleries from Melbourne there, so it’s great exposure,” she said.

Katka has previously had one piece in a group exhibition in Melbourne, but this time she will have 15 still life drawings and her whole chicken series.

“I was doing a series for the Tweed Gallery and I had one picture that had a bed in it and I was trying different things to go on bed... I tried a kitten but that wasn’t working and I saw an image of a rooster and drew it on the bed and it looked great. I sold it straight away and I really enjoyed drawing it,” she said.

From there she drew a Sumatran rooster that won first prize in the North Coast National Tursa Art Prize and has now completed a series of 14 pastel drawings involving various breeds of chickens in various domestic situations.

“I’m fascinated by the different shapes and sizes and colours of the different breeds... They have so much character and people seem to relate to them as humans... The titles all come from proverbs, it’s like passing on little snippets of advice to the next generation,” she said.

Other Northern Rivers artists to be represented at Art Melbourne include John Cottrell, Hilary Hermann, Michelle Dawson, Rodney Black, Shane Martin, Kellie O’Dempsey, Nikky Morgan, Rick Shearman, Alberto Sanchez and Ross Tamlin.

The North Coast entourage is being organised by Bree Delian, Director of Retrospect Galleries in Byron Bay.

“I am incredibly pleased at the standard of works that have submitted by these local artists and suspect that many of the visitors to Arts Melbourne will be similarly impressed,” she said."

You can read the article here...

Northern Rivers artists represented at Art Melbourne

April 21, 2010

"Eleven Northern Rivers artists will be represented at Art Melbourne 2010, one of the largest and most exciting art fairs in the country.

Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, will represent local artists John Cottrell, Katka Adams, Hilary Hermann, Michelle Dawson, Rodney Black, Shane Martin, Kellie O’Dempsey, Nikky Morgan, Rick Shearman, Alberto Sanchez and Ross Tamlin, at this prestigious arts event, which takes place at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, from Thursday April 22 to Sunday April 25.

Bree Delian, Director of Retrospect Galleries, says she is confident that this showcase of North Coast talent will be one of the big hits of this year’s Art Melbourne event.

“I am incredibly pleased at the standard of works that have submitted by these local artists and suspect that many of the visitors to Arts Melbourne will be similarly impressed,” she says.

“Last year we represented six local artists at Art Sydney and had an amazing response, selling works by every single one of them.

“The annual Melbourne and Sydney art fairs are incredibly well-attended and represent a fantastic opportunity for local arts practitioners to gain much broader recognition for their work and develop a following interstate and overseas.”

Among the works being shipped to Melbourne this week are a new series of Kellie O’Dempsey’s stunning movement drawings, some beautiful still lifes by Katka Adams, a selection of Alberto Sanchez’s romantic photo-montage paintings, and a pre-release of new fairytale inspired works from Hilary Herrmann, currently in development for the upcoming Retrospect exhibition, Once Upon a Time.

Delian says a highlight of the Art Melbourne show would have to be local artist Michelle Dawson’s original drawings from the book ‘how WEIRD is that…’, for which she was short-listed for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s 2009 Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.

The 18 small graphite drawings showcase the fascinating hybrid creature-characters featured in the publication, including the intriguing dog-headed possum, marsupial wolf, peregrine cheetah, pig bat and zebra finch.

Michelle will be attending Art Melbourne with Retrospect Galleries and will be giving away a signed copy of the book with each original drawing sold.

You can check out the Art Melbourne show at www.retrospectgalleries.com."

You can read the article here...

PICTURE: Eight of the 11 local artists who will be represented at Art Melbourne – Back row L to R, Michelle Dawson, Alberto Sanchez, John Cottrell, Shane Martin, Hilary Herrmann. Front row, L to R, Katka Adams, Kellie O’Dempsey, Rebecca Kinsey (AKA Dolores Cupcake).

Locals on show at Art Melbourne

"Eleven Northern Rivers’ artists will be represented at Art Melbourne 2010, one of the largest and most exciting art fairs in the country. Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay will be representing local artists John Cottrell, Katka Adams, Hilary Herrmann, Michelle Dawson, Rodney Black, Shane Martin , Kellie O'Dempsey, Nikky Morgan, Rick Shearman, Alberto Sanchez and Ross Tamlin, as this prestigious arts event, which takes place from Thursday, April 22, to Sunday, April 25."

Man woman beast : hybrids

"Man Woman Beast is an exhibition of new works from Bangalow's Michelle Dawson and Brisbane based Jan Van Dijk. Inspired by the fantastical creatures of myth and legend, the pair present a showcase of unexpected existence, from 'Dawson's 'Dr Moreau's Kitten' - with its leopard's head, month's wings and serpent's tail - to Van Dijk 'Jack Reindeer' - an evocative exploration of human animal hybrid forms."

Check out the exhibition here...

Check out their artist profile and new works here...

We also have a fantastic special auction (silent of course) on the last remaining number 99/100 of our set of three limited edition prints and see a video on their work coming to life on the Hoodoo Gurus new album cover Read more...

Kellie O'Dempsey Live Drawing Performance

Painting Knie

"Retrospect Galleries presents local artist Kellie O'Dempsey live and in exhibition over Easter. Join Kellie from 10am Sunday as she creates one of her trademark large scale artworks, during a live drawing performance in conjunction with local musicians, The Knie."

Our recent show, El Mar Mi Alma (The Sea My Soul) introduced us to a host of exciting new talent.  Retrospect is thrilled to welcome former Mambo artist Jeff Raglus,

founding Quicksilver artist Peter Webb,

the legendary Witzig brothers – John and Paul,

and upcoming photographer Ryan Heywood, to our family.

Check out her exhibition here...

Our first Retrospect Party at Harvest for the year, held in conjunction with the exhibition El Mar Mi Alma (The Sea My Soul), was a sellout success, with loads of people turned away who didn’t get in fast enough to book their place. It was great to see Harvest packed full of people, and witness the fantastic response to talks by two of our local artists – former pro surfer turned painter James McMillan and artist photographer Alberto Sanchez, who each shared a bit about their work interspersed with stories about their relationship with the sea.  Also speaking on the night were Tatiana Velasco and Stephen Jones from Rebel Waltz Films, who talked about their incredible experience filming El Mar Mi Alma, the movie, in Chile.  And J’aimee Skippon Volke from Byron Bay Film Festival, who introduced the amazing program of surf and ocean inspired films, she had programmed at the Festival this year.  Thanks to everyone for a great night and especially to all the team at Harvest for their incredible hospitality, delicious cocktails and fabulous menu.  We’ve got three more Retrospect Parties at Harvest coming up in 2010.  Read on for the info and make sure you book your tickets early for these good times ahead.

In order of appearance J’aimee Skippon Volke from Byron Bay Film Festival, Tristan proud owner of the Harvest Cafe, Stephen Jones and Tatiana Velasco from Rebel Waltz Films and artists Alberto Sanchez and James McMillan.

James McMillan talks about Surf, Life and Art..

Retrospect Galleries Director Bree Delian talks to James Mcmillan.

The crowd at Harvest Cafe had a wonderful meal and great conversation with our interest speakers.

Alberto Sanchez had the crowd in stitches with his tales from growing up in Spain without a car and only seeing the ocean for the first time when he was 14 years old. Now he photographs the surf and the ocean with a passion..

J’aimee Skippon Volke from Byron Bay Film Festival, who introduced the amazing program of surf and ocean inspired films, she had programmed at the Festival this year.

Stephen Jones from Rebel Waltz Films, shows raw footage and talks about his incredible experience filming El Mar Mi Alma, the movie, in Chile.

Tristan from Harvest Cafe in front of the artworks by Alberto Sanchez and James McMillan

Smiles everywhere after a great evening...

Check out the exhibition here...

As a special offers to all of our Melbourne based subscribers, we’ve got a limited number of Art Melbourne entry passes to give away. Just email admin@retrospectgalleries.com, with ART MELBOURNE in the subject line and include your contact details, how many tickets you would like (maximum two) and the day requested in the body of the email. We have tickets for the VIP opening night Thursday April 22, and day passes for Friday April 23, Saturday April 24 or Sunday April 25.  First in best dressed.

Check out the works coming to Melbourne online here...

With so many DB fans and only one set available, we’ve decided to put them up for auction and let nature take its course. The winner will also receive a copy of the new Hoodoo Gurus album "Purity of Essence", featuring original artwork created by the Doug Bartlett boys – check out the video, and signed for your pleasure.  

Bidding starts at $500 (the original retail price for the framed set of three prints) and is now open, so email us at admin@retrospectgalleries.com, with DOUG BARTLETT in the subject line and your contact details and bid amount in the body of the email.  The auction closes at 5pm April 16, with the winner to be advised April 17.

Also we've just received some fantastic new Doug Bartlett originals, and they are the first Australian release of any new works since our solo show Global Boom in September 2009. Check out the new pieces and their artist profile here...

Check out her artist profile and new works here...

My favourite artist is…
A movable feast usually including some old stalwarts such as Cy Twombly, Bellini, Velasquez and Colin McCahon. Right now I am very taken with the way John Singer-Sargent can paint a frock.

I usually start my day by…
Thinking about going for a run and then getting up and having crumpets and coffee and doing the cryptic crossword in the sun.

I am currently reading…
Frederick Seidel Poems 1959-2009

The book that changed my life is…
The little golden books my mother bought me without fail every Friday with the shopping. They began a lifetime love affair with books and words that colours my existence and plays a huge part in my creative process.

My favourite film of all time is…
Blade Runner and Queen Margot and Ferris Bueller’s Day off and Ice Storm and An American Friend and Donnie Darko and Let the Right One In and Badlands and Taxi Driver and Nosferatu and and and and and…
(Favourite TV series ever is Deadwood)

When I am working I like to listen to…
Instinct, the piece of work I am engaged with and any other intelligent advise that is trying to get through….

I get angry and desperately sad about…
The careless, often willful annihilation of unique wild creatures,

My three most valued possessions are…
Chester, blanket, my brain

The three things in life I could never give up are …
My imagination…..that’ll do.

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go…
And meet a thylacine in the wild.

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Nikola Tesla, Ted Hughes, Carravaggio, Sir Henry Neville, Anne Boleyn, 

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
To keep learning

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
Inappropriate truths to passers by.

I hope my art...
Keeps searching

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be…
A cheetah

Even the small people were fascinated by Ryan Haywood's totems

The crowd swirls around the room

Someone stands in front of legend surf photographer Dick Hoole's and Luke Taaffe's work.

Alberto Sanchez's hand painted photographs were the hits of the show.

Artist Norval Watson stands in front of Ryan Haywoods totems

Big smiles from Andy who owns the famous surfer coffee hangout The Top Shop

The cool gang Amelia Hallam, web star Kitty Delian, surfers Geoff Maguire and Benjamin Dorez

Michelle Dawson and friend look at works by Dave Homcy and Jeff Raglus

Alberto Sanchez and James McMillan pose for the camera while holding a camera...

Local musician Si and friend stand in front of Ian Bowers and Sean Davies artworks

A fantastic painting of a Ute with surf board by Victorian artist Ian Bowers

Coffee maker extraordinaire from the Top Shop Andy with mates, come to Retrospect Galleries to check out the show

Gallery goers enjoy the vintage limited edition prints from Paul Witzigs  films..

Film Maker Stephen Jones and Kirra Pendergast  with Retrospect Gallery Director Bree Delian

Even babies braced the rain to come to the opening

Local artist Shane Martin enjoys a wine at the show

Moody paintings from Ian Bowers

James McMillan's utopia-esque paintings in the background

Retrospect web assistant Kitty Delian talks to New Zealand surfer Geoff "Jiff" MacGuire

Live music

The new in front of the old- Everyone loved the photographs from the 60's by legend surf photographer John Witzig 

An art lover in front of a wall of Sean Davies photographs

El Mar Mi Alma - The Sea My Soul

Surfing the soul

"Surfing is more than a physical experience for James McMillan. It is also one of the major aesthetics of his life, as well as both his personal and professional raison d'etre.  McMillan, 39, who was placed world No. 7 in competitive surfing and snowboarding in 2001, admits he has lost some of the competitive spirit, and will even 'sacrifice a wave' to watch birds riding the crest of a wave, in order to paint the experience

Birds, he says, are very much of his current body work of work. For his part in the upcoming exhibition, El Mar Mi Alma (The Sea My Soul) in Byron Bay next month, as well as a series of surf-oriented paintings, he is creating a series of plywood cut-outs of surfing birds to hang around the gallery as installations."

El Mar Mi Alma - The Sea my Soul

Sea my Soul

"Friday night at Harvest Cafe Newrybar, you can get a taste of what's coming up in March as part of a local celebration of local surf art and culture, showcasing new and different perspectives on our relationship whit the ocean, through film, photography, painting, drawing and sculpture."

El Mar Mi Alma - The Sea My Soul

Surfing drops in on culture

"Local filmmakers Stephen Jones and Tatiana Velasco will share the story behind their soon to be released surf art movie El Mar Mi Alma (The Sea My Soul) Friday evening, February 26, at a special event at Harvest Café, Newrybar. [...] Jones and Velasco's presentation is part of the launch of a month-long local celebration of international surf art and culture, taking place throughout March, showcasing new and different perspectives on our relationship with the ocean, through film, photography painting, drawing and sculpture.

It starts with the Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF), which has always featured surf films and keeps a strong focus on this specialist genre throughout its 10-day 2010 program, from March 5 to 13.

Then from March 11 to 25, Retrospect Galleries presents El Mar Mi Alma, the exhibition, exploring the global phenomenon of surf art across a multitude of media, from Byron Bay to Chile, the crest to underground.

A preview of the show will be on exhibition at Harvest on February 26, and two local surf artists will talk about the unique influences that have shaped the development of their practice - James McMillan, an Australian former pro surfer turned painter, and Alberto Sanchez, a Spanish artist/photographer/musician, who grew up in Madrid and first saw the ocean when he was aged 14. "

El Mar Mi Alma - The Sea my Soul

" Party to launch a month long series of international surf art and culture will be held at the Harvest Cafe, Newrybar next Friday. The launch will showcase surf art, films and photography, which will be featured in events throughout March, including the Byron Bay Film Festival and an exhibition at Retrospect Galleries in Byron Bay. [...] The art of surfing will also be on show at Retrospect Galleries, when it presents El Mar Mi Alma - The Exhibition, which will explore the global phenomenon of surf art across a multitude of media from artists around the world, including Hawaii, USA, Chile and Australia."

Right now I am…
Listening to the clock tick and watching shadows move across the floor as the sun rises

The person who has most influenced my art is….
My Dad…He painted western scenes, and the next day he sculpted abstract vases. His paintings were photo perfect realism and his vases were total freedom

My favourite artist is …
More than one - My son Blake…He wakes up at 6am and starts drawing tigers on skateboards and horses surfing. I love my sisters’ early paintings of mountains and trees. My son Colby’s awesome self-portraits. My nephew Luke’s street graffiti

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
Usually when I can’t start it. I’ll be riding my bike to the beach and see a combination of amazing colours in nature…I’ll want to paint instantly. I never start paintings when I’m happy. Always when I’m moody.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
Creative – when something dramatic happens in my life. Productive – When there are no other people around and it’s midnight

I usually start my day by…
Waking an hour before I need to get up. I lie in bed and stare out the window thinking about my dreams. I like letting my mind go for a walk

I am currently reading….
The Bible, Juxtapoz and The Surfers Journal. That’s all I ever read

The book that changed my life is…
Scuffy the Tugboat

My favourite album of all time is…
There isn’t one, It changes every few years. ’84 was Led Zeppelin, How the west was won, ’94 was Beastie Boys, Check Your Head, 2004 was Ray Lamontagne, Trouble

My favourite film of all time is…
isn't made yet. It would be my own life. I’d watch it in highlight the day before I die

When I am working I like to listen to…
Birdies chirping

It makes me smile when…
I see my sons happy. When I finish a painting. When I give away money. When Lisa smiles

I get angry about…
Misplacing things. People trying to talk to me when I’m singing