The heart of Griffith's art community will receive a jump start after a year of cancellations, with an impressive new year's program to launch early February.
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Griffith Regional Art Gallery's 2021 program Restart will see Australia's most celebrated and controversial Archibald Prize come to town among other exciting exhibits.
"Last year we had to cancel quite a bit of our program due to COVID-19, so we are hoping to restart life as we previously knew it with lots of dynamic exhibitions and public programs," Ray Wholohan, Griffith Regional Gallery's co-ordinator said.
A dynamic mix of national and local art will fill the gallery walls with exhibits from National Geographic and Neridah Stockley as well as this year's community exhibition titled 'Rethinking the Winter Solstice'.
However, it's the inclusion of the 2020 Archibald Prize to the gallery's program that has Mr Wholohan particularly excited for the year ahead.
"The Archibald Prize is without doubt the most famous art prize in Australia and it's probably the most divisive also," he said.
A black tie event will kick off the Archibalds in May with Griffith Gallery hosting guided tours of the exhibit, a community portrait competition, history of the Archibalds lecture and kids art trail activities to coincide.
Mr Wholohan says the depth of community based programs and exhibitions really sets this year's program apart from previous years with Griffith sculptor Hape Kiddle's collection Custodian opening the year.
Restart launches Friday February 5 with the approximately 30 piece collection of Mr Kiddles's hand-sculpted wooden pieces, something Mr Wholohan is particularly excited for patrons to experience and engage with.
"Hape is a well known local artist here in Griffith. He has been practising for well over 10 years and he is really a master artist," Mr Wholohan said.
"The exquisite craftmanship, skill and dexterity as a sculptor using wood is just design prowess and just beautiful.
"I would say he is the most refined and elegant sculptural artist in the Riverina without doubt so we are lucky to start the program with him."
Visit the Griffith Art Gallery Facebook page for more detailed information about the Restart launch event.
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Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
