Griffith Regional Art Gallery is inviting the public to experience Exposé, a celebration of life drawing.
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Public Programs Officer, Anthea da Silva was eager to show us the studio where some of the gallery’s awe-inspiring artwork is produced, and told us all about the event.
“Exposé is a celebration of the drawings that everyone’s been doing in the regular life drawing sessions,” Ms da Silva said.
A group of about a dozen or so meets regularly at the gallery to learn tricks of the trade, and how to master their skill.
Ms da Silva explains that the classes are about therapy and relaxation for some students.
“It’s like yoga for artists,” she said.
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Ms da Silva encourages participants to challenge themselves, for instance changing tools to the non-dominant hand.
“It gets us out of thinking what we should be doing, or how it’s supposed to look like.”
A kind of unbridled art.
However, Ms da Silva often finds herself discouraging participants from going home and finishing their work there.
“The model is live and here right now – it’s like a performance,” she said.
Ms da Silva said that the life lessons are for everyone.
“From absolute beginners, occasional dabblers, teachers and professionals itching to get out the charcoal, paints, pencils, clay, textas and sticky bits of electrical tape again.
“And, we have a range of fantastic models.”
Most of the models that work for the gallery life drawing classes are backpackers.
“They’re familiar with the process of life drawing – they’re often art students or have jobs in the arts.
Ms da Silva laughed, “They’re not likely to strike a pose then find uncle Silvio walk through the door.”
She remarked that it can be a bit challenging for lots of local people – because of the nudity.
“But, I’d really like people to experience it,” she said.
Ms da Silva said that the gallery will be draped, literally, in artworks created by the students – both aficionados and those new to the art world.
“A lot of the work will be on the wall, like a massive salon hang, with a slideshow projected on curtains.
“The movement of people through the gallery will create a wave effect; the images constantly running.”
The opening of the exhibition will be held on Saturday June 2, with plenty of chilled and bubbly Brut Cuvée provided by sponsors McWilliam’s Family Winemakers.
Ms da Silva said that “a live model will strike dynamic poses for two hours while we share practical drawing tips, erudite art chat, vino and nibbles.”
And, ‘body bags’ – drawings that people have decided they don’t want to display, dissected and placed into bags – will be available for sale.
A free life drawing lesson will be held at 3pm on the day, with the main event itself following afterwards at 6pm.
For more information, please visit the Griffith Regional Art Gallery Facebook pages.
