Archive for the ‘Wot happened on this day’ Category
11 November: Jan and Mark’s exhibition opening
A wildly exciting exhibition was opened last night featuring the first art photography exhibition by AIPP members Jan Ramsay and Mark Schoeman. The show is presented on the premises of Flute Fine Foods @ 380 Cavendish Road Coorparoo in Brisbane.
In the opening address I made the following comments:
Jan and Mark, as professional photographers and AIPP members, have stumbled upon the ultimate promotional activity in the the form of the art photography exhibition. They have created a convivial environment within the Flute Gallery, they have presented their photographic interests as fine art images of high key flowers (Jan) and female nudes (Mark), they have assembled an eclectic bunch of people and lubricated the conversation with fine wines and good food. Tonight friendships will be made or re-affirmed – participants will propose, make love and feel the joy of living. They will then want their engagements to be photographed, weddings recorded, babies and kids to be documented … The cycle goes on and on.
This evening we are all part of that strategy – So look at the art, be inspired. Consider your options for the future need for a photographer – Or – even just enjoy the moment, the present company and the art works presented here that come from the creative urges of these two remarkable people!
Congratulations Jan and Mark.
Words+portrait photo: Doug Spowart
11 November: Visit to Noreen Grahame + Gallery
It has been a while since the flood but Noreen has reopened with a new show featuring a selection of the etchings of Euan Macleod from 2004~2009.*
Noreen spoke of how she responded to the early signs of the imminent flood and began packing her extensive collection of art on the Sunday, days before the reality of the inundation was to hit Brisbane. She spoke of people in her area not being aware of what may happen.
With help from family and others including Anne Kirker and Helen Cole she was able to clear the building of artworks, furniture and framing equipment. The contents were stored in the homes of friends and family until, months later and after refurbishment of the gallery, she was able to return.
She commented on the fantastic support she had received including the fundraising auction that was organised by friends.
Noreen engaged both of us in conversation and, as usual when the conversation turned to things artists’ books, she disappeared and came back with examples of the works we were discussing from her collection. It was just like old times …
Congratulations on your achievement Noreen – Welcome back.
Words+pic: Doug Spowart
*Euan Macleod’s show continues until 26 November. A companion exhibition of Macleod’s painting works is on show at the Victor Mace Fine Art Gallery in Milton.
11 November: Service for Helen Cooper
Today we interred Vicky’s mum’s ashes in a service conducted at Stuartholme College of the Sacred Heart. Vicky’s father Reg was the first lay burser for the school and held that position for over ten years. When he passed away permission was granted for his ashes to be buried in the school’s cemetary. On this day we placed Helen’s ashes alongside Regs’ grave.
The service was conducted by Graham Woodward and attended by family members and Sister Rita Carroll. It will certainly add something special to Remembrance Day in the future for us all.
I made a personal video featuring excerpts of the service.
Words+pics+video: Doug Spowart
10 November: Tim Handfield Kodak Seminar, Brisbane
Tim Handfield has a great deal of experience in the world of art photography in Australia as well as the technology of digital imaging. Apart from this seminar series his works are currently on show at the Monash Gallery of Art in the exhibition Skin Deep.
As a teacher I found this seminar extremely valuable. Tim confirmed many concepts and strategies that I employ in my work with students, but more importantly he extended my knowledge by the ideas and techniques he passed on and demonstrated. Of particular interest was a set of prints that Tim had prepared that were made on Kodak type C and inkjet papers (shown in the picture above). Despite the images being generated through wet Kodak processes and Epson inkjet pigments, they look amazingly similar. Kodak’s baryta and canvas inkjet papers looked great – I want to do some work with them.
Tim’s presentation was punctuated by a wide range of questions for the 12 attendees. He was able to respond to these questions in ways that matched the audiences’ skill levels and, in doing so, extended our collective understanding of the topic. Accompanying the seminar was a detailed workbook with example images supplied on a CD for participants.
Words and image: Doug Spowart
4~6 November Escape to Girraween National Park
Wildfowers are the origins of the word ‘Girraween’ and wildflowers there were during our visit.
VIEW IMAGES OF THE FLOWERS @ OUR <alongthetrack.wordpress.com> BLOG
23-28 October: A week of exhibition openings
Three exhibitions and six bodies of great work made by Art Photography students from the Diploma of Photoimaging @ SQIT were opened this week at venues across the Darling Downs.
SHOW 1: INSPIRING WOMEN ~ Shanea Rossiter @ Warwick Regional Art Gallery
The exhibition features portraits of women who have inspired Shanea. The exhibition supported a fundraiser for the Queensland Cancer Council, in particular Breast Cancer. Shanea’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, she told of her story as part of her opening address.
See for more details : http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/story/2011/10/20/images-tell-tale-of-strength.
.
SHOW 2: Group Show ~ Cowboys (by Cynthia McBride), Faeries (by Jodi Watt), Phone boxes (Tracey St Johnwood) and Collage (Lorelei Clarke) @ Futures Gallery, SQIT.
The exhibition by these four photographers was opened by artist Adrianne Prague. In the opening address Adrienne spoke of the challenges for photography to be considered art. She drew on her knowledge of the history of art including the artist Joshua Reynolds.
.
SHOW 3: 2011 CANNONBALL RUN (Charity Ride) by Lindsey Collier @ Pittsworth Regional Art Gallery.
This exhibition consists of a documentary series that Lindsey made of the dirt bike charity ride fro Bribie Island in Queensland to the Barossa Valley via Uluru. The ride supported the DEBRA Charity and raised $34,000. The exhibition featured framed images, a limited edition book and video fusion presentations of the event.
.
NEWS STORY: http://www.cannonballride.com.au/joomla/index.php/media/54-media-stories/106-pittsworth-sentinel-
A PICTURE GALLERY: http://www.behance.net/gallery/2011-Cannonball-Charity-Ride/1915715
.
All photos by Doug Spowart
22 October – Through the Chronicle Lens Exhibition
When you’re a news photographer there’s a tendency to think of the types of subjects you want to photograph will be wars, celebrity, massive events and international sports. But what of the reality if you find yourself as a photographer on a regional newspaper on the other side of the Great divide? Do you wake up every morning wishing you were in the big city and the big time?
An exhibition of news images celebrating the 150th anniversary of Toowoomba’s Chronicle newspaper may provide some answers. Like where are the big stories – the ones that matter? What I would submit to you is that great photo opportunities exist everywhere and great photographers can find the amazing story in any situation. This exhibition bares testimony to this proposition. The Chronicle’s photographers, and there haven’t been too many of them over the last 30 years, toil in the daily grind of regional news. Their editor’s assignment briefs include the Chihuahua ‘Taco’ at the RSPCA, the buxom topless waitress at the Five Ways Hotel and Louise at the Crows Nest Op Shop – not the exotic stuff of the dailies. The exhibition shows the range of opportunities and how these lensmen and lenswoman Bev, carry out their duties.
I found the images on show spoke of the photographer not only doing their job for the newspaper, but also doing something for the community by receiving and recording their stories. It is perhaps in this that the true value of the regional news photographer.
SEE Link for the Chronicle Story
http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/10/19/exhibition-captures-150-years-through-the-lens/
NEV WINS WALKLEY AWARD
Great images that the world will notice do come to the regional photographers. Nev Madsen we to work on Tuesday January 11 thanking it just another day – However by day’s end Toowoomba was inundated by flash flooding an lives were being jeopardized. Nev found himself as witness to the life and death drama of frantic attempts to save people caught up in the swirling waters. He made his pictures of the dreadful moment and they were published world-wide.
Recently he was awarded a Walkley Award for Best Community and Regional Photography – Congratulations Nev.
SEE THE CHRONICLE STORY http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/10/14/chonicle-photographer-bags-walkley/
20 October – The end of the Roid Exhibition Opening
.
Wayne Radford’s last portrait was of Victoria and myself. The Type 59 Polaroid sheet film had sat in the bottom of the box for over 5 years beyond the expiry date and the mark of time left as a humidity smear of magenta in a reduced D-max. It’s a great image — and a fitting end to the ‘Roid’.
.
Bye Bye POLAROID …






























