Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Exhibition Report by Nicole Ryan



Evaluate, select and present original art works for exhibition: NSWTFAPP601A

On the 11th of October 2011 students from the Diploma of Fine Arts – Stage 1 produced works to be selected and presented to a panel of judges to be considered for the Rated Art Exhibition. I was a part of the naming of the exhibition Rated Art, by considering and putting forth my own ideas and discussing them with others.

The Exhibition Opening for Rated Art was on Friday 28th of October so we had to bump in on Monday 24th to allow enough time to set up and organise the E3 Space at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Prior to the opening week I had the job of collecting money for the alcohol (wine) that was for the enjoyment of the guests attending the opening night. I was supposed to purchase the wine with this money, $10 per student, but Andy Totman, Mary Grainger and Aaron Tooth had contacts of their own and made some good deals on the Tafe’s behalf. We got wine from the CSU winery, Lilly Pilly, Magpies Nest and Aaron Tooth personally donated some Pink and Yellow champagne.

Along with organising the money for the wine, I also had to keep track of what plate of food everyone was bringing along for the opening and I also hustled people to email Jess Sinclair their artist statements. My chosen works for the Rated Art exhibition were – “Thundering Metal” a metal sculpture I made of scrap metal I found around my farm, much of it rusted and then welded into the manipulation of a horse; “If In Doubt” a painting of myself with mixed media; “League of Health and then DEATH!” a general drawing mixed media art challenging diary; “Go Away I’m Hungover” a self-portrait of myself using a scanner; and I had three pieces of drawing with the mouse in Photoshop.

Bumping in on the Monday consisted of us measuring and aesthetically placing art along the walls at eye level, using the spirit level and measuring tape many times. I got a paint brush and a tin of white paint and went around and plugged up pin holes with paint and also painted over smudge marks along the walls. My metal horse sculpture didn’t get taken down to the E3 Space until the Wednesday when Ralph Tikerpae had his sculpture trailer. Rated Art was open on the Thursday before the opening night and then on the Friday I dropped down some of the champagne to the E3 Space and I later went back at 5:20pm to bring my plate of food and to get ready for the Opening and for guests to arrive.

 That night I interacted with guests and took family and friends around the works, discussing and explaining techniques and methods used. If someone wished to buy an artwork they were required to pay a deposit of 20% on the night and during the exhibition showing. On the Monday I was rostered to mind the exhibition with Aaron Tooth, I stayed there the whole day, 10am-3pm and went back on the Wednesday for the morning shift with Jess Grainger. During this time I guided a few guests around the works and explained in detail the process and about the artists.. During bump out on Monday 7th of November, purchasers of their art piece were required to pick up and pay for the rest of their work between 10am-12pm.

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