Mother’s Day weekend in Moree will be a feast for all senses, with The Moree Gallery showcasing a stellar line-up of artists to mark the start of the Moree on a Plate Food and Wine Festival.
Following Covid’s disruption, the gallery will once again host an evening ‘drinks with the artist’ - with nine renowned and emerging national talents participating in the upcoming exhibition, An Easel by the Door.
Sarah Bishop, Sally Browne, Margaret Dix, Sally Falkiner Kirsty Gautheron, Matt James, Kirsty McIntyre, Sue Rowsell and Edwina Stanham are all included in the impressive line-up of talent, and the exhibition opens 10am, Friday May 7.
"Drinks with the artists’ will be being held at the gallery from 5.30 to 7.30, at which Margaret Dix, Sally Falkiner and Sue Rowsell will be in attendance.
The exhibition will kick-off what will be one of the district’s most exciting weekends of the year, with the community hosting the renowned Moree on a Plate Food and Wine Festival on Saturday, May 8, followed by a Mother’s Day luncheon at the Moree Town and Country Club on Sunday the 9th.
The Moree Gallery owner, Gig Moses, said she was thrilled to be opening such an iconic weekend for the district, and was looking forward to the community showcasing Moree’s wealth of talent, and opportunity, across the whole weekend.
“It’s a big weekend for our town, and we’ve all waited far too long for a fun weekend out, and this exhibition opening will give art lovers a fabulous taste of some really beautiful pieces from across Australia.”
Whilst the majority of the artists featured in her upcoming exhibition are no strangers to the gallery, such as Sarah Bishop’s striking landscapes, Sally Browne’s mesmerising still life scenes and Sally Falkiner’s stunning natural reflections, others are new to the gallery.
Edwina Stanham is new to the gallery, and is thrilled by the opportunity.
“Having visited The Moree Gallery a few years ago, and having followed Gig on Instagram for several years, I never imagined I would be invited to exhibit there! I’m very excited to be part of the upcoming exhibition with what looks like a great group."
The body of work Edwina will be exhibiting is a collection of acrylic works each with a link to the theme of the relationship between humans and animals and the landscape.
“Having grown up in the country, and always surrounded by animals, I am inspired by the human/animal bond, and my works are a slightly whimsical and lyrical reflection of this,” she said.
“The landscapes are created from memories of different Australian landscapes I have visited or lived in, and the view of the countryside from the car when travelling.”
Kirsty Gautheron is another artist equally excited.
“I am thrilled to be exhibiting with such a vibrant and dynamic gallery. Having grown up in rural NSW, it means a lot to be exhibiting with Moree Gallery.”
She said her body of work had been created especially for the exhibition – vignettes of special moments in time.
“The subjects chosen are representations of my current passions and they present views that may be seen from an easel by the door.”
And next door at Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) there will be further opportunity to explore Moree’s art scene, with the regional art gallery hosting 'Lionel's Place: Lionel Lindsay from the Maitland Regional Art Gallery', with an opening on the same evening.
Acting Director, Kate Tuart, described the weekend as one course after another of what Moree has to offer.
'With the latest in contemporary Australian art next door at the Moree Gallery, it's a wonderful contrast to have BAMM showcasing works spanning from 1910 until 1950 by a man hailed by some as the most internationally successful Australian printmaker of all-time. Many may know of Norman and Lionel Lindsay, two artists and brothers, and it is an honour to have an array of over 130 etchings, wood engravings and watercolours by Lionel.'
The exhibition opens Friday 7th May 2021 at 6pm with drinks until 7:30pm. BAMM will be open across the weekend, 10am-1pm Saturday and Sunday.
Local indigenous art gallery, Yaama Ganu Gallery, in association with Tjala Arts APY Land SA will also present a new show to coincide with Moree on a Plate entitled Minyama Tjuta (Many Women), also opening 9am Friday, May 7, giving visitors an opportunity to view new exhibitions across all the local galleries during the day.
Toby Osmond of Yaama Ganu said the body of work was a selection of Tjala’s emerging to established female painters.
"The big, bold and colourful paintings from the Senior, Mitakiki Womens Collaborative are featured and supported by Tjala’s mid-career artists with paintings in glowing warm tones by Freda Brady, Sandra Ken, Muna Kulyuru and Janie Kulyuru."
Aligned with the many women theme is a new work by the young womens collaborative and strong individual works by Tjala’s emerging and early career artists - Maureen Douglas, Marissa Munti, Angela Burton and Joylene Presely.
All works will be online at www.yaamaganu.com.au and for all enquiries contact toby.osmond@aes.org.au
And the weekend will wind down at Moree's Town and Country Club on Sunday, May 9 with a special 'Mother's Day Lunch', catered by Moree on a Plate celebrity chefs, Kate Goodhew and Toby Osmond. Grab mum or a special woman in your life and some friends and come for a relaxing long lunch amongst the lush club surrounds, tickets are limited so call the club on (02) 6752 1430
The Moree Gallery Exhibition Opens 10.00am Friday 7th May 2021, with the Moree on a Plate festivities officially opening at 'Drinks with the Artists', from 5.30 -7.30pm. To RSVP phone 0427529116 and the exhibition will also be online www.moreegallery.com.au and those interested can register for a VIP preview catalogue info@moreegallery.com.au
“Our whole region has such a broad appreciation for culture and the arts, despite our rural postcode, so it’s marvellous to have this opportunity to showcase a range of some of Australia’s most exciting talents, during such a wonderful weekend for the region,” Gig said.