The Byron Shire Echo

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...

The Weekend Australian review 12-13 June 2010

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...

Byron Bay Echo

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."

Courrier Mail 

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. "

Foxtel TV Studio interviews Johnny Romeo. You can his work here...

Retrospect Galleries, in conjunction with artsCape Biennial 2010, presents the artsCape Indoor Sculpture Exhibition, featuring works from more than 40 local and international artists, including renowned Australian sculptor, Bert Flugelman, one of the best-known and most influential sculptors working in the country today, fellow Australian Greg Johns, Syrian Usama Al Nassar and Japanese artist Keizo Ushio.

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...

Retrospect Galleries is excited to offer specially commissioned limited edition fine art prints featuring works by some of our most popular artists. 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. Check out the most recent additions to our collection.  

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

Retrospect Galleries is excited to offer specially commissioned limited edition fine art prints featuring works by some of our most popular artists. We are thrilled to announce the arrival of a new set of Doug Bartlett limited edition prints, that all make a play on the idea of growing up. 

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

When local artist Katka Adams migrated to Australia, she and her mother shared a single suitcase, in it a Czech fairytale book…

Our upcoming exhibition Once Upon A Time, Is a show by four women who all spent their early years overseas. Misa Vojtech (Vancouver Canada) and from Europe - Katka Adams (Czech Republic), Cornelia Burless (Germany), and Hilary Herrmann (Germany via Kenya). These women explore how notions of the past and the innocence of childhood memory continue to shape their lives and art.
From diverse Continental beginnings to life in and around Byron Bay. Four local artists transport you back to their roots, through work that explores light and dark, and the influence of the fairytale.

Opening 6pm Friday June 11
Exhibition runs June 11 to 23

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

One of our feature artists in the Once Upon A Time exhibition, Cornelia Burless grew up in Bavaria, Germany, and came to Australia for a holiday at the age of 18, in 1991.  Like many ‘accidental immigrants’, she ended up staying and has since established a fantastic painting career from her base in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. 

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

Julien's first passion was cinema. He studied at Louis Lumiere School in Paris from 1993 to 1996, to learn cinematography. There, he met Jean-Christophe Sanchez, with whom he created the "Institut Drahomira", a two-headed artistic entity within the frame of which they experiment in various domains like music, cinema, arts, literature.. 

Check out his Artist Profile here....

Mario Wagner, born in 1974, works as an artist and illustrator in San Francisco, USA. His unique illustrations and artworks are commissioned by the most popular magazines like Playboy and the New York Times Magazine. Wagners work is made analog, he uses old magazines, scissors, glue and acrylic, even for his about 6,5 feet large artworks. His work has been shown in numerous German and international exhibitions including the SCOPE.

Check out his Artist Profile here...

Misa was born in Vancouver Canada where she attended Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design majoring in graphic design. After her third year she decided to travel abroad during the summer break with the notion of returning for her final year. But she fell in love with Australia and has been here ever since. Now settled in Byron, she creates porcelain vessels, paintings and illustrating.

Check out her Artist profile here...

Check out Johnny Romeos interview with the Foxtel arts channel below, check out whats on in his busy schedule with details out about his upcoming exhibitions.

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

Congratulations to Byron Bay photographer Alberto Sanchez, who was recently named Runner Up ‘Queensland Portrait Photographer of the Year,’ at the 2010 Queensland Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards. Alberto entered into the annual industry competition and picked up 9 awards including one silver distinction and eight silver awards. He also entered four works in the prestigious AIPP National Awards last weekend and won four awards; one silver with distinction and three silver awards. All of his portraits were taken at the annual MobFest week long workshops and concerts celebrated last October in the Australian desert.

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.