Hervey Bay Regional Gallery reopens with two new art exhibitions
Fraser Coast residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience two new art exhibitions themed around native flowers and organic forms when the refurbished Hervey Bay Regional Gallery officially open its doors on Saturday (16 April).
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour and Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari were today given a sneak peek of the refurbished gallery and the newly installed exhibitions ‘Jam Factory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About Being Here’ and ‘Wildflowering by Design (Wild/flower Women IV)’.
Cr Seymour said the Fraser Coast had a colourful and vibrant cultural life, and a revitalised Hervey Bay Regional Gallery would help enhance and celebrate the region’s heritage and culture.
“The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery has been reinvigorated as a destination gallery, featuring national touring exhibitions alongside our internally curated shows, focussing on hyper-local themes with a universal relevance for residents and visitors to our region,” he said.
“As a result of the refurbishment, we now have the space to host large, significant exhibitions, a better storage area and an air conditioning and climate control system suitable to host these events.
“We thank the Queensland Government for providing funds to Council through the COVID Works for Queensland Program to assist us to deliver this important project for the community.”
Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari said the project received $400,000 from the COVID Works for Queensland program and 6 jobs were supported.
“The refurbished Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is a fine example of community infrastructure projects being backed by the Queensland Government,” he said.
“These projects support a strong economic response and further highlights the success of the Works for Queensland and COVID Works for Queensland programs.
“The Fraser Coast Regional Council has been allocated almost $65 million for community infrastructure projects through these job-creating programs.”
Cr Seymour said the JAM Factory Icon exhibition featuring Angela Valamenesh was an exploration into the interconnectedness of life on earth – between human, animal, and plant beings.
“Angela’s drawings, ceramic objects, and watercolours are the result of an incredible depth of research, referencing complex scientific, historic, and philosophical ideas,” he said.
“Angela’s imagery stems from micro- and macro- biology, historical anatomical and botanical illustrations, natural history collections, and rare books.”
Cr Seymour said the ‘Wildflowering By Design’ exhibition featured artists from the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg regions exploring women’s connection to nature through art and design.
“The artists involved have taken a fresh look at our botanical and wildflower heritage, engaged with local landscapes, and extended their practice to create new, re-imagined works, and a dynamic exhibition experience,” he said.
The exhibition, which was previously on display at the Bundaberg Regional Gallery, includes artists Julie Appo & the WildCrafters, Nicole Jakins, Marlies Oakley, Shelley Pisani, Edith Rewa, Cara-Ann Simpson, Marni Stuart, Emma Thorp, Annette Tyson and Cate Verney.
The installation at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery also features work by Butchulla women and others connected to the region: Karen Hall, Rose Barrowcliffe, Nai-Nai Bird, Francis Blair, Jan Williams and Joolie Gibbs.
The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery will relaunch with a family-friendly open day this Saturday 16 April from 10am to 2pm at 166 Old Maryborough Road.
Activities on the day will include tours, free face painting, artist talks, food stalls, children’s creative workshops, the launch of a public art trail and the opportunity to experience the Butchulla Seasonal Garden.
More information is available on the Gallery’s website at www.herveybayregionalgallery.com
Additional background
The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery has been in operation since May 1997. It was moved to its current site in December 2012 and was closed in late February 2020 for refurbishment and repairs.
The Queensland Government provided $400,000 from the COVID Works for Queensland program towards the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s $2.7 million gallery refurbishment project with the remainder of the funding coming from an insurance reimbursement and Council.
The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery building works have included:
- A new air conditioning and climate control system;
- Airlocks to ensure the efficiency of the climate control system;
- A storage area built to national collection standards;
- Upgraded loading and delivery services and exhibition preparation areas;
- Two gallery spaces to replace the former Discovery Sphere and theatrette; and
- Installation of services to cater for a coffee shop and larger retail area.
CAPTION: Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Director Ashleigh Whatling and State Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari are ready for a sneak peak inside the refurbished gallery.