You are invited to meet with the Colour Society of Australia NSW Division on Saturday July 1 for an in-person gallery walk taking in exhibitions at two galleries in Sydney’s Paddington art precinct. Please arrive at 2.00pm at Australian Galleries, 15 Roylston Street, for an exhibition by Francis Giacco with the artist in attendance to speak and discuss his work. Then at 3.00 pm we will proceed to Wagner Contemporary, Level 1, 2 Hampden Street, for an exhibition by Kerry McInnis including a talk on the artist by Gallery Director Nadine Wagner.
Francis Giacco, Time 2020-23 (detail)
Classically influenced portrait and interior painter Francis Giacco studied architecture at the University of New South Wales in 1973-1976 and later attended the Julian Ashton School and studied painting under Brian Dunlop and David Wilson. He completed additional training in Vienna between 1980 and 1983. Giacco won the 1994 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with his work Homage to John Reichhard and the 1996 Mosman Art Prize. In 2014 he won the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize with a portrait of Charles Blackman. Giacco has held solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and since 1990 his work has been included in both the Doug Moran and Archibald Prize exhibitions numerous times. His work is in the collections of the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, Artbank, and Columbia University, Washington DC.
Since opening in 1956, Australian Galleries has continued to showcase significant contemporary Australian artists and their work with a vibrant monthly exhibition program and an extensive stock gallery. National Director Stuart Purves and his team continue to strengthen and diversify the thriving enterprise started in Melbourne by his parents.
Kerry McInnis Shadow Dingoes, Whiskers Creek oil and oil stick on canvas
Kerry McInnis is a highly acclaimed, award-winning artist. Her work is held by numerous institutions, including, the National Library of Australia, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Bundanon Trust, Australian National University, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Kedumba Art Collection and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet In Shadowlands, the interplay between that which is illuminated and the pockets of dark between invite the visitor and the pilgrim, the dingo and the bird, to seek passage into the landscape.
Wagner Contemporary opened in 2016. The gallery's vision reflects a strong focus on early career artists, including a strong component of female artists, and the gallery’s stockroom boasts a stable of leading contemporary artists. Gallery Director Nadine Wagner is a second-generation gallerist with 25-years experience of gallery management and directorship.
Before or after our event, participants may also like to visit some of the other established galleries that are nearby including Martin Browne Contemporary at 15 Hampden Street, Justin Miller Art at 10A Roylston Street, The Sarah Cottier Gallery at 23 Roylston Street, and Roslyn Oxley9 at 8 Soudan Lane. Please note that there are no cafes in the immediate vicinity of the galleries, so participants should bring with them any refreshments that they require.
We are very grateful to CSA NSW committee member Kerry O'Donnell for organizing this event, and to Australian Galleries and Wagner Contemporary for generously agreeing to be involved and for providing text and images for this notice.
REGISTRATION: This event is free but there is a firm limit of twenty five (25) places. Registration is now open for Colour Society of Australia members and will open for nonmembers on June 18 for any places that remain available. You are very welcome to join the CSA today to register now, to support our activities and get early registration for them over the coming year, and to get access to our growing collection of webinar and conference recordings in the Members' Area on our website. Joining today gets you membership until June 30, 2024: https://coloursociety.org.au/membership
GETTING THERE: Street parking in this area is very limited. If using public transport, Edgecliff Station and various bus services along New South Head Road are an 8-to-10-minute walk from the galleries, and the 389 bus between Bondi and Pyrmont runs along Gurner Street about a 7 minute walk away.
