Primavera: Young Australian Artists exhibition comes to Wangaratta

The national touring exhibition Primavera: Young Australian Artists comes to the Wangaratta Art Gallery this month. Brought together by Sydney-based curator Talia Smith, the exhibition features work by young and emerging artists, all under the age of 35, including Tiyan Baker (NSW), Christopher Bassi (QLD), Moorina Bonini (VIC), Nikki Lam (VIC), Sarah Poulgrain (QLD) and Truc Truong (SA). Working across video, painting, sculpture, installation and text, the exhibition considers themes of protest, perseverance, identity and history. While the work is predominantly autobiographical, there are broad themes exploring Australian cultural identity that will be intriguing for any visitor. Artist Christopher Bassi’s paintings explore the material culture that represents Torres Strait Islander experiences, particularly ways to tell stories about home and place, while artist Truc Truong creates colourful installations of objects such as toys, fruit and household items that look at childhood and the experience of growing up as a second generation Vietnamese Australian. Curator Talia Smith said what brings these artists together is the way they reckon with the perils of history, education, culture and language to question authoritative structures and systems. They assert that there is more than one way of living and offer impressions of how it might look. Since its inception in 1992 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney, Primavera: Young Australian Artists has played an influential role in the development of contemporary art in Australia, introducing the work and ideas of a generation of artists at an early stage of their careers to a broader public. Over the last three decades, more than 250 artists aged 35 years and under have presented their work in the exhibition at the MCA, with many going on to exhibit nationally and internationally. Every year the selected curator undertakes extensive research, travelling across the country to meet young artists. Wangaratta Art Gallery director Rachel Arndt emphasised how important it is to have touring exhibitions like this come to Wangaratta. "It is a pleasure to host Primavera: Young Australian Artists touring exhibition, which was made possible through the Federal Government’s Visions of Australia program," she said. "This funding allows more Australians to experience and appreciate important Australian art - it’s been said before, art is not just for people in metropolitan cities, it is for all Australians. "This exhibition in particular allows audiences to see the new energy and ideas coming from young artists across the country." Primavera 2023: Young Australian Artists, guest curated by Talia Smith, is touring across the country, proudly supported by Museums & Galleries of NSW, and made possible by the Federal Government’s Visions of Australia program, visiting Wangaratta until 19 October. Talia Smith will open the exhibition on Saturday, 23 August from 4pm at Wangaratta Art Gallery, and free tickets can be booked by visiting www.wangarattaartgallery.com.au. The launch will also celebrate the opening of Us, an exhibition by Gillian Bencke, presented in Gallery 2, with all welcome. * What's on in brief Exhibition by Karen Brown opens this week A new exhibition by resident artist Karen Brown called Beneath Your Feet will open at the Art Gallery on Ovens on Thursday, 21 August. Karen is an Albury based artist who celebrates the uniqueness of eucalyptus leaves in detailed works created using coloured and graphite pencils and acrylic paint. An opening celebration will be held on Saturday, August 23 from 12pm to 2pm with all welcome to view the exhibition and meet the artist. * Happy dogs walk on Sunday The Wangaratta Kennel & Obedience Dog Club conducts a monthly Happy Dogs Walk to promote and encourage dogs to be involved in social interaction with their furry friends in public places. The next walk will be held on Sunday, 24 August commencing at 9.30am from Batchelors Green (Lions Club Park), with dog owners invited to come along for a leisurely three to four kilometre walk on gentle pathways and footpaths (no more than one hour duration), with coffee to follow as available. All are welcome to enjoy the social outing with more information available by calling Ron on 0417 644 877 or Kevin on 0418 221 260. * Musical tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Direct from Las Vegas, blockbuster musical revue OH WHAT A NIGHT! celebrating the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, comes to the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, 21 August at 7.30pm. OH WHAT A NIGHT! is a concert and tribute to the popular band who topped the charts in the 1960s, featuring their original hits as well as Top 10 releases including Frankie Valli’s biggest solo hit from the movie Grease. Performing songs like Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, My Eyes Adored You and more, tickets are available at wpacc.com.au. * Wangaratta Concert Band to perform The Wangaratta Concert Band invites the community to a free concert on Sunday, 14 September at 2pm at the Wangaratta Uniting Church Hall in Rowan Street. Enjoy a lively program of music performed by talented local musicians, with light refreshments provided and all ages welcome to attend. * Royal Australian Air Force Band matinee show The Royal Australian Air Force Band will play at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, 18 September at 1pm. The 40-piece ensemble will present a spectacular variety concert that spans genres, from stirring patriotic anthems to light classics, contemporary hits and jazz. Led by squadron leader Daniel Phillips, the band’s highly skilled musicians will deliver an afternoon of exceptional music, displaying the rich heritage of the Royal Australian Air Force, with tickets $25, available at wpacc.com.au or by calling the box office on 5722 8105. * Ross Noble and his Cranium of Curiosities The one and only Ross Noble will share his Cranium of Curiosities during a hilarious show at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, 4 September at 8pm. Described as the Wizard of Waffle, The Rambler Royale, The Noodlers’ Noodler, he’s back live on stage to tour a tornado of tangents; and what the show will be about is anybody’s guess, but that’s all part of the fun when you look inside his Cranium of Curiosities. Tickets are available now at wpacc.com.au. *

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