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.