matt jones - opening night...

glimpses....

 

yep you've got a right to smile Matt! 

what a fab night (no rain!)

 it was happy faces all around the audience 

and a range of emotions in the gorgeous portraits on show

if you're in Bega in the next couple of weeks

drop in 

(buy a ticket in the fsclap raffle and that fantastic 'bunny' could be yours!)

and why not come to the artists talk 

March 28 (around high noon)

now hear this

Matt Jones - Portrait of the artist 

opening at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery 

on Friday 9^th March.

 Matthew Jones,  self portrait as a pleasant young man, watercolour and mixed media on calico.1200 x 1200 cm

The initiative of a group of local individuals, the Far South Coast Living Artist Project was set up as a professional development scholarship, funded from within the community, aimed at providing 12 months mentorship and financial support to an outstanding emerging visual artist living in the Bega Valley Region. The scholarship, which specifically affords the recipient dedicated studio time to develop a body of work, culminates in a public exhibition.

‘Matthew Jones is the third recipient of the prize, and the second to show at the Regional Gallery,’ said BVRG curator Megan Bottari. ‘His work is a wonderful melding of drawing and watercolour. It’s at once familiar and intimate – large canvases with a really satisfyingly deceptive simplicity.’

‘It’s beautiful work, portraiture in the main, with a series of ‘soft-pop’ animal works with a folkloric edge,’ said Ms Bottari.

The exhibition will be launched at 6pm on Friday 9^th March. Guest speaker for the occasion is Andrew Sayers, the Director of the National Museum of Australia.

‘It’s a rather nice dovetail,’ Ms Bottari noted. ‘Before his appointment to the NMA, Mr Sayers was, of course, the long-time Director of the National Portrait Gallery. It’s a bit of a thrill to have him officially open the show.’

Portraits, opens in the evening of Friday 9^th March and runs until April 14^th. Entry free, all welcome.

not long now...

Matt Jones - putting the final touches on work 

for his forthcoming solo exhibition

opening March 9

Bega Valley Regional Gallery

..

and the winner is.....

Well the day arrived when everyone could see what all that fundraising was for - the newest recipient of the far south coast living artist scholarship was announced today at 12 (high) noon at Bega Valley Regional Gallery.....

In a lovely speech Karen O'Cleary from Narek Galleries (and much of the force behind the inception of the fsclap scholarship) congratulated the four finalists - Matthew Jones, Eryca Green, Craig Cameron, and Stan Squire for the quality of their scholarship applications - and pointed out that it's no mean feat being named a finalist in this increasingly prestigious and competitive award!

Karen at the very large lectern.....

And the winner is.......

Matthew Jones - aka Matt, aka Matty, aka Mister Jones
(caught here in the middle of his 'gee thanks' speech)

Matt was a finalist in the previous scholarship round, but this time clinched the prize (to little real surprise - if you've not seen his work, you owe it to yourself to check out his site or his walk-in studio space in Bermagui - fabulous stuff!)

Matt submitted an ambitious and expansive project in his scholarship proposal (more about this in a future post....) that really caught the attention of the judges - Helen Maxwell, Megan Bottari and Andy Townsend - it will be interesting watching his project unfold over 2011-2012.....

the fsclap scholarship threesome - previous scholarship recipients Poppy Benton
and Tanja Riese (now the fsclap president and vice president respectively)
have a group huddle with Matt....

this is what the fsclap committee and volunteers have been working so hard for.... don't they all look so happy! (p.s. I was smiling too - mostly because I'm always on the other end of the camera!)


and to all the supporters of the fsclap - a very big THANK YOU...... you're the biggest part of the this home-grown success story!



.. pics by rhonda ayliffe

all the fun.....

check out the fun at the art auction sunday evening.....

Thanks to all the volunteers for their tireless efforts
and to all those who came to the auction
and went home with a new artistic lovely
in support of the far south coast living artist projects!



** photos courtesy stan gorton

big things and small....

...means there's something for all!

its only a matter of hours until the far south coast living artist projects art auction gets underway..... just enough time to have a last sneak peek at some of the off-the-wall pieces on offer this evening....

Tracey Mitchell Hank

Yuri Wiedenhofer

Simon Bowley

Sharon Cornthwaite

Ivan Gluch

Ann Lightfoot

Anneke Paijmans

Alan Watt

well - I hope you've already made tracks for Bermagui.....

Its almost time for the party to begin!

another sneek peek....

I promised another sneek peek into the delights on offer at the art auction - sunday evening.... and here is a glimpse at some of the works offered by local artists (I've just added that name of the artists - not the artwork title - please see the living artist website for more details - and don't forget - if you can't make it in person to the auction, you can put in an absentee bid on any of the works on offer....)

Sue Chancellor

Rick Andersen

Rhonda Ayliffe

Prue Acton

Matt Jones

Lorna Crane

Kim Falkenmire

Helen Morris

Eryca Green

Craig Cameron

Carmen Ky

.... oh and lest you think that all that's on offer is wall art - well come back here tomorrow to have a peek at some of the 3D works....