Thursday, December 22, 2011

Summer School

The Newcastle Art SUMMER school is on 16th -19 January.
Lots of options for courses including printmaking, digital photography, life painting etc.
The links to enrolling are on the website or you can call Donna on 49290351.
 
 

Monday, December 19, 2011

Ford Grant finalists exhibition installed today

Lisa Kirkpatrick, Lynette Bridges and Mark St Clair install the 2011 Ford Grant recipient Sophie Toupins' paintings.

In the very first across course collaborative effort The Ford Grant finalist exhibition was installed today by students across two courses disciplines. The future of Newcastle Art School will see more exhibitions being hung, managed and curated this way. Our new team of Certificate IV Museum Practices students assisted final year Diploma of Fine Arts students in the first official Front Room Gallery collaborative install.


This group exhibition will open from late January when TAFE commences in 2012 for public viewing or by appointment.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Ceramics courses at Newcastle Art School in 2012

Studio based ceramics course information sessions at Newcastle Art School in 2012 on 23rd of January 5.30- 6.30pm. Come and meet the ceramics team and discuss the courses on offer. Further information and registration 4929 0345.



Thursday, December 15, 2011

Once upon a time there was ‘Happily Ever After’



Catherine Kirkpatrick Happily Ever After (detail) digital print on paper, 28 x 22 cm






Linda Swinfield and Susan Hampton Too Kind Series digital print, lithography, paper and laser cut plywood, variable



Manly Library is to host of an exhibition of handmade ‘artists’ books’ and ‘zines’ on fairy tale themes, titled ‘Happily Ever After: alternative destinies in contemporary feminist narrative’

(3 December 2011 – 29 January 2012 at Manly Library, Market Lane, Manly).


The touring exhibition, curated by Newcastle artists Caelli Jo Booker and Helen Hopcroft, brings together over seventy national and international artists and writers who have created new versions of traditional fairy tales in the form of handmade ‘artists’ books’ and ‘zines’.


This exhibition is at its third venue and will travel possibly further south and maybe overseas in 2012.








Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Morpeth Conservation Studio visit.





Our new team of Museum Practices students visited Morpeth Conservation studio to meet conservator Duncan Harty who shared numerous pearls of wisdom regarding the conservation of paper, works on canvas and much more for almost two hours. It was a productive and very informative site visit.... we will return. You can visit his Morpeth Conservation Studio on Facebook.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Updating Hunter TAFE website

If you have come here directed by http://www.newcastleartschool.com.au/ it is because the Hunter TAFE website is being updated and is yet to get loaded with our course info.

If you are interested in any of our courses please contact us - matthew.tome at tafensw.edu.au or john.g.morris at tafensw.edu.au

We are taking late applications for Diploma of Fine Arts 19145 Full time and Part time and 19146 Advanced Diploma. We are also running Certificate 3 Visual Arts at Ourimbah (ph 4348 4450) and Hunter St (ph4929 0333). Musuem practices is running too - email linda.swinfield at tafensw.edu.au.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Donkey Pay Day

For those Donkey fans..we delivered the money raised from the Workshop Week exhibition -over $1500.
The video shows an area we didn't visit during workshop week, the donkey hospital.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Nicola Bolton at Newcastle Art Space

Nicola Bolton is an Advanced Diploma Painting student who has a beautiful exhibition at the Newcastle Art Space http://newcastleartspace.blogspot.com/



Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Diploma Painting Opening

The exhibition 'Layers' features paintings by the graduating Diploma of Fine Arts students. It is a big exhibition that spills into the main campus. Brian Joyce is opening the exhibition so please join us from 5:30pm in the Front Room Gallery.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Liam Power at Damien Minton Gallery





Liam Power is opening a solo exhibition at Damien Minton Gallery on Tuesday 27th September at 6pm.


Liam won the Ford Grant and exhibited in the Front Room Gallery last year.

The work is based on a similar subject but clearly developing and abstracting. If you can get to 61-63 Great Buckingham St Redfern for the opening then Liam would appreciate the support.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Bright Sparkes

Watch out for a couple of our artists working on Bright Sparkes at Georgetown on this coming Saturday.

Ken O’Regan and Carolyn McKay are facilitating a lantern-making workshop on Saturday 3 September 2011 for Sparke Street residents.

On the following Saturday 10 September, residents will decorate the street-side exterior of their homes with the lanterns, and the section of Sparke Street between Christo Road and Moate Street will be closed to traffic from 5.30 – 7.30 pm for a street party.

The Bright Sparkes concept was the inspiration of community cultural worker, Brian Joyce, coordinated by Carolyn McKay, artist and recent returnee to the town of her birth, assisted by L!vesites and involving many Sparke Sreet residents.

Their blog is http://www.brightsparkeslivingplace.blogspot.com/

Friday, August 26, 2011

Donkey Ringtone

You might think we are going a little crazy here but this link should get you a donkey ringtone.
http://www.box.net/shared/scksvzfmlzha9347g2ze

ABC Live and Newcastle Herald

Those of you following the Donkey exhibition (and other workshop week work) will be pleased to know a great photo of Callan and his sculpture was published in the Newcastle Herald, Thursday 25th August. Sadly they havent posted the pic on their online version of the article http://www.theherald.com.au/blogs/topics/title-pins-the-tale/2269610.aspx

And continuing with the media blitz, the Front Room Gallery is host to 1233 Local ABC Drive Show. They are doing a live broadcast from the gallery and will focus on the creative industries and the local scene. Come down to the gallery for the visual feast that is radio from 3pm today.


Monday, August 22, 2011

Reg Russom Prize

The Reg Russom Prize entries are due this week - a drawing from life.

The details are on the entry form and there is a link on our webpage.

Link to Prize page, or direct to the form.

Good luck.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Working on Site

Other sites we worked on during workshop week include the Figs on Laman St, city and industrial sites and at Glenrock reserve. Workshop week is a great time for gathering imagery and researching.

Donkey Sanctuary - Workshop Week

This last week was workshop week which included site visits and trips.
This video is from the Donkey Sanctuary at Clarencet0wn organised by Michael Bell. Students got to spend the day drawing on site and developing images of the donkeys. There will be diplay of work in the exhibition next week in the Front Room Gallery.


Wednesday, August 03, 2011

... Exhibition  ...Look See 2011... 3 - 21 August ... Opening 5 August  at 6.30pm... READ MORE Watt Space Gallery

Friday, July 29, 2011

Cherry Tree 
in front of the Gallery Friday 29.07.2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011


Images from the exhibition New Gold Mountain curated by Jen Denzin

Images from the exhibition Gate(way)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

... Exhibition  ...Miss Adventure ... 29 July - 14 August  ... Opening 30 July 2-4pm ... READ MORE Back to Back Galleries

Friday, July 22, 2011

... Exhibition  ... ZOO AiR - Twenty artists from the 2011 Artists in Residence Program at Taronga Zoo ... 20 July - 13 August  ... READ MORE University Gallery
... Exhibition  ... Joshua White... David Kurzydlo ... 29 July - 21 August ... Opening 29 July 6-8.30pm ... Forsight Gallery Cooks Hill

Monday, July 18, 2011

... Exhibition  ... Mark Elliot-Ranken ... Bernadette Smith  ... 29 July - 14 August ... Opening 30 July 3pm ... READ MORE Art Systems Wickham
... Exhibition  ... Small works ... Greenway Gallery (Morpeth) 22 July  - 7 August  ... Opening 24 July 2pm ... 

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Opening of the exhibition Vessels by Brooke Stevens 20 July 2011 5.30-7.30pm

  Some changes to the line up of speakers on the 27th of this month. Mark Shorter ( aka Renny Kodgers) will replace Justene Williams. Book now with NAVA as places are filling fast...



Saturday, July 02, 2011

... Exhibition  ...The Nature of Beauty - The Beauty of Nature ... 8 - 24 July ... READ MORE Back to Back Galleries

Thursday, June 30, 2011

... Exhibition  ..  recon[text] ... 1 - 17 July ... READ MORE The Lock-up
... Exhibition  ...Opening ... Malcolm Berry ... 9 July  3-6pm ... READ MORE Art Systems Wickham

Tuesday, June 28, 2011




NAVA (National Association for the Visual Arts) is travelling to Newcastle! The Front Room Gallery and Newcastle Art School are hosting a professional arts practice do it yourself day on Wednesday 27th of July. There are only 100 seats so book in ASAP. This day is open to local NAVA members and TAFE students.


This forum style day will cover marketing skills, self promotion and highlight ways to get shows and get into galleries. See the list of speakers in the attached poster.




Register with NAVA online- the link is on the poster above and we shall see you there.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Andrew Finnies altenate vision of Hansel and Gretal from the witches view of the situation.




Congratulations to everyone involved in the exhibition Happily Ever After. This exhibition travels to Mackay in July and will close here in Newcastle on Sunday 26th of June. The curators Helen Hopcroft and Caelli Jo Brooker have co-ordinated a gargantuan project and are currently applying for more funding to tour the show further afield.... and maybe even to Japan. We will keep our fingers crossed for them.




The list of ex-students and staff in this exhibition include Jane Robinson, Andrew Finnie, Rhonda Partridge, Ileana Clarke, Gianna Fallavolita, Lezlie Tilley, Gillean Shaw and Alisan Smith.



... Exhibition  ...Opening ... Cold Eels and Distant Thoughts ... 7 July  5pm ... READ MORE University Gallery

Friday, June 17, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011



Andre van der Merwe was, I think, the first of our Certificate IV Photoimaging students to be selected for the Emerging Artist Prize. Well done.



A sample of his work can be viewed at http://coalroad.tumblr.com/






Congratulation to all those who were selected for the Emerging Artist Prize at the NAS. The majority of the finalists where Newcastle Art School students or graduates. As listed below..

PAINTING: Joanna O’Toole, Gavin Hurley, Debra Byrnes, Kiritin Norath, Leslie Duffin, Ryan Williams, Lauren Wolfendon, David Kurzyldo, Shelley Cornish, Elizabeth Francis, Grant Vercoe, Nicole Chaffey, Sophie Toupein.WORKS ON PAPER: Sarah Jones, Joanna O’Toole, Rachel Duffin, Andrea Lloyd, Kelsey Fletcher, Jesse Neale, Julie Lee, Lauren Wolfendon, Kerri Smith, Penny Dunstan, David Kurzydlo, Penny Warner-Smith, Robyn McPherson, Nicole Chaffey, Sue Dawes, Jacqui White, Carolyn Phillips, Natasha Steggles, Marleene Ydhag.PHOTO MEDIA: Sarah Norton, Kelsey Fletcher, Eleanor Jane Robinson, Kiritin Norath, Gail Burrows, Andre van der Merwe.SCULPTURE/3D: Maureen Bonomini, Joanna O’Toole, Jesse Neale, Ryan Williams, Lauren Wolfendon.

http://newcastleartspace.blogspot.com/p/neap.html
Detail of Hong Shan 2011 by Jen Dezin, image courtesy of Penny Dunstan
Front Room Gallery
Now showing until 1 July 2011
New Gold Mountain
local artists experience China

Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 10am-2pm

582 Hunter Street Newcastle West NSW 2302 
phone 02 4929 0348
... Exhibition ...Citizen Collectors ... 11 June - 4 Sep ... Newcastle Region Art Gallery READ MORE
... Exhibition ... Opening ... Emily Roberts ... 23 June 6-8pm ... PODspace READ MORE

Friday, June 10, 2011

... Exhibition ... Happily Ever After ... 10 - 26 June ... THE LOCK-UP READ MORE

Friday, June 03, 2011

.. Exhibition ... Andy Devine ... 15 June 2 July ... The University Gallery READ MORE
... Exhibition ... Franks Flat ... 27 May - 17 July ... Maitland Regional Art Gallery READ MORE
... Exhibition ...Bundles by Taryn Raffan ...  1 – 18 June ... PODspace READ MORE
... Exhibition ...  10 Years Ago - Damien Minton Gallery ... until 26 June... Newcastle Art Space READ MORE

Thursday, June 02, 2011

... Competition ... Waste as Art ... deadline ... 24 June ... Waste as Art READ MORE
... Exhibition ... LAVERTY 2 ...  14 May - 14 August 2011... Newcastle Region Art Gallery READ MORE
... Exhibition ... Opening ... 2 June ... 6.30pm ... Wattspace READ MORE

Friday, May 06, 2011

Front Room Gallery - Artist Talk
For more information about Kath Fries in Newcastle visit THE LOCK-UP
The installation at THE LOCK-Up is also featured in an article in the art life.
Or see images of her work on facebook,
or see her blog http://www.kathfries.blogspot.com/ 

 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Graduates Stephanie Cannon and Alison Smith are opening their exhibition at John Paynter Gallery at the Lock Up this Friday.

Stephanie is a sculptor and Alison a printmaker and they both were featured in our recent Ford Finalists exhibition.

The opening is 29th April at 6.oopm and the exhibition is on from 29th April to 15th May.

See the website for more details. http://www.thelockup.info/john-paynter-gallery

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Photoimaging student MADELINE INGS has been selected for Lake Macquarie Gallery's

First Class 10

23 April – 5 June 2011

"The exhibition allows for a fascinating opportunity to see how our young artists view themselves and their world."

Madeline presents an accomplished series of photographs on the theme of teenage angst. Check out her intriguing ghosting technique.

Alumni news: DAVID KURZYDLO (NAS 2010) opens at Sydney's KALEIDOSCOPE GALLERY (Paddington) 14th-27th April.
www.kaleidoscope-gallery.com

Thursday, April 07, 2011


Joanna O'Toole, 2nd year Diploma student was selected for the Montalto Sculpture Prize in Victoria. Pictured is her work "Sou’-Westerly"constructed with mild steel and recycled hardwood 285x150x80cm

The Montalto Sculpture Prize is on 20 Feb through 1 May2011 and details are at www.montalto.com.au She has also been selected for Lorne Sculpture 2011 and her work will be part of Sculpturescape – featuring installation work and will be on site for a week. Details at www.lornesculpture.com


Those who can't travel to Victoria can see some of her work in Hunter St in the shopfront gallery at 539 Hunter St opposite the Newcastle Art School http://www.shopfrontgallerynewcastle.com/


Great work Jo!

Friday, April 01, 2011



A short video of students working on the beach shot by John Morris


A day at the beach.


1st year Diploma Fine Arts students had a day at Merewether beach. We had the Merewether Surf Club booked so that we could meet and chat and view images. Mostly though we drew and sculpted in various forms on the beach. Braddon Snape and Lezlie Tilley took students along the south end past the baths to work with the range of forms on the beach, turning them into small sculptural forms, engaging in a play between the forms and the elements. Peter Lankas and Maizie Turner worked with those drawing on the beach and baths.

The weather blew the water and sky into many tortured shapes and patterns and we had some good discussions about nature patterns, the poetics of natural forms and the meaning we draw from these things.

Critically we all opened our eyes a little more and developed our sensitivity to things that we take for granted or pass quickly by - emphasising the work of the artist to examine and reflect on these things.

John Morris took a few videos of which I will try to post a section. Images and videos taken on the day will be posted in the foyer. I think this is Brad's photo above - apologies if I am wrong.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011



Hi everyone...STUDENT NEWS...I invite all students at Newcastle Art School to send me your info. on any exhibitions, prizes, awards, press mentions or other initiatives that gets your art work "out there". I start off with one of our Year 1 Diploma students Sharon Williams who has found a niche market showing her art works at Psychic Fairs!! This is called self-representation - Sharon is her own boss, paints what she likes, and...sales are 100% to the artist. Not bad...So come on, don't be shy... send me your news @
raichel.legoff@tafensw.edu.au


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Front Room Gallery
NOW OPEN
22 March to 8 April

Abstraction - A selection of student artwork

Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Luminous 1 - 18 March 2011

An exhibition of the work of Newcastle Art School Staff. The staff are practising artists and exhibit widely, win prizes and tour nationally and internationally. This is an opportunity to see a selection of their works together in the Front Room Gallery.


Friday, February 11, 2011

Welcome back for 2011.

The first exhibition of the year in the Front Room Gallery is a selection of work from the finalists of the Ford Grant. They are Stevi Cannon, Brooke Stevens, Jane Robinson, Jesse Neale, Alison Smith and Kaitlyn O'Leary. The exhibition is a strong combinations of drawings, prints, sculptures, photos and paintings from these artists who are graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts.

The exhibition is on until the 25th February.