Medieval history, modern statements, child’s play or a rich feast – it’s all in a day’s work at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
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Prized possessions: 2016 Archibald Prize
Should house paints be the go-to medium for portraits? Are Bananas in Pyjamas really people? Is the Packing Room Prize the kiss of death? The annual Archibald Prize for portraiture is always a hot topic in and out of the art world. With $100,000 in winnings and now in its 95th year, Australia’s favourite prize for portraiture was established in 1916 by JF Archibald, founder of the Bulletin magazine. The premier prize is awarded to a portrait of a person Archibald decreed should be ‘distinguished in art, letters, science or politics,’ (hence the controversy over the Bananas) and painted in Australia in the previous 12 months. In its orbit, the Packing Room Prize is chosen by the Gallery staff and visitors to the exhibition who nominate the People’s Choice Award, while 2013 saw the first Young Archie competition for artists between 5 and 18. This year’s Archibald Prize winner is a hyper-real portrait of iconic Australian Barry Humphries by Melbourne artist Louise Hearman, with all the finalists on display until October 9. More information.
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Dark arts: Art After Hours
A midweek culture hit? An impressive first date venue? A spot for a quick drink amidst inspiring surrounds? On Wednesday nights, the Gallery comes alive for its Art After Hours series, with the galleries open until 10pm. Expect music, celebrities, ideas and imagination with a regular series of themed talks referencing the collections and special exhibitions. The flavour changes each month or every few weeks, from Mexican mariachi bands to late night laughs featuring Australia’s finest comedians. There are also free guided tours and a specially curated film series featuring rare classics, documentaries and experimental films. The bar and restaurant are open till 9pm, and for absolute ease of access, a courtesy bus runs between the Gallery and Martin Place every 15 minutes.
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Small treasures: kids at the Gallery
Both curious and creative, kids and art galleries go together like Turner and ships. On selected Sundays, families are invited to drop in to free artmaking classes, with inspiration (as well as artmaking materials) supplied by the galleries’ works. Sessions may focus on landscapes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art or even Mexican fiestas, tapping into permanent and visiting exhibitions. Tots are also in the spotlight for a series of artmaking tours targeted at 3-5 year olds, casting a sharp eye on nature, tea time or the simply world around us. The hugely popular Kids Clubs are divided into workshops for kids aged 5-8 and 9-13, and meet each month in the Art Gallery Society’s members lounge for a child’s view on the world, from portraiture to holidays, insects to architecture. Classes for older children focus on medium and technique. Kids can also get crafty with artist-led workshops that are designed for kids and accompanying adults to work together or follow children’s art trails in the Gallery or online, interpreting, drawing and writing about the art in front of them. All year round, admission is free for children under five, and family discount tickets are available for paid exhibitions. More information.
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Crowd pleasers and curators’ pleasures
The Art Gallery of NSW’s collection spans Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian and contemporary art. A consistent crowd favourite is landscape painter Elioth Gruner’s dreamy pastoral scene of cows in pasture, Spring Frost, painted in 1919 in postwar Australia. Take an audio tour of the collection with some of the Gallery’s most senior curators and directors, who name such classics as John Olsen’s Five Bells (1963) and Pablo Picasso Nude in a rocking chair (1956) and the gold leaf and tempera rendering of Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome, John the Baptist, Bernardino and Bartholomew by Sano di Pietro amongst their favourites. More avant-garde favourites include Richard Prince’s Ektacolour photograph Untitled (cowboy) (1980-1989), or Yvonne Koolmatrie’s Eel trap (1997), woven from sedge harvested from the banks of the Murray River. There are also regular daily tours through the Gallery, or you can design your own tour online and download it free.
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Body and soul: CHISWICK at the Gallery
“While history and wine are a wonderful pair, art and wine go hand in hand,” wrote Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. Her motto is inscribed on the bottom of the menus of CHISWICK at the Gallery. The restaurant within the Art Gallery of NSW is headed up by chef-restaurateur Matt Moran, whose stellar line-up includes the waterfront Aria at Sydney’s Opera House. Looking out over the harbour and Woolloomooloo, CHISWICK’s contemporary dining room and bar open for lunch every day, and dinner on Wednesday when the Gallery stays open for Art After Hours. Stroll out of the Gallery and into the restaurant’s kitchen garden – you may even spot the chefs looking for fresh produce that will end up on the plate today. The slow-roasted lamb is grown on the Moran family farm, while the wine list is a flamboyant whirl through the best vineyards in Australia, Italy and France. Accessorise with a home-made strawberry, white balsamic & orange soda or, decadently, order the lychee bellini. If art feeds the soul, CHISWICK feeds the corporeal presence. See chiswickrestaurant.com.au
To see what’s on at Art Gallery of NSW, click here.