Message From Director: Anne McGravie-Wright

Image by A. McGravie-Wright

I am very excited to announce that a year on from establishing the Art Advocates & Collectors group we continue to accept many new and enthusiastic members to our women only group. I thought I would mark our 1 year on anniversary with a brief over view of our Aims and also a few of our most recent successful events.

Art Advocates & Collectors, AA&C takes you behind the scenes and to the heart of what is happening now in contemporary art practice. Share an inspiring journey through events aimed at increasing exposure to modern art practices.

AA&C Membership will be open to discerning art lovers, advocates and collectors who wish to expand their art knowledge and to support contemporary art practice in Melbourne and beyond.

In December 2019, the AA&C group were inspired by our ‘walk through’ of the NGV’s brilliant paired-exhibition ‘Crossing Lines.’ It was the first museum exhibition where the art works of Keith Haring & Jean-Michel Basquiat focused on the intersections between the two artists’ practices, ideas and lives. Afterwards we all shared lunch and an animated discussion of this thought provoking exhibition. We all agreed it was the perfect waqy to finish our first year of AA&C art adventures.
Last month, our first event for 2020 held in February, was another exciting AA&C day out in the city of Melbourne – it was ‘A Day In Windsor.’ First we went on a visit to the MARS Gallery , 7 James St. Windsor. Director of MARS gallery, Andy Dinan greeted us and gave us the interesting background story of her impressive purpose-built art gallery which they designed to a high level environmental standard. Their roof top gallery was especially cool.

Ms.Dinan inspired us with the background story of her passion, establishing/running the MARS Gallery. Originally known as Melbourne Art Rooms now MARS, has specialized in exhibiting, promoting and building the careers of contemporary Australian artists. MARS also runs a consultancy known as ADA which assists clients to develop an integrated public art strategy.

MARS first show for the year, is an interesting photographic show by Ethiopian born artist Atong Atem. After a tour of the building we were given a private viewing of the works on display by Atong Atem. We were given a passionate introduction to her art practice and time to ask questions about the nature of this promising artists developing work. www.marsgallery.com.au

Image: Self portrait Atong Atem.

Image: Kaye Baker ‘Pulse’

After a lively lunch break full of discussion amongst the group we then walked to the new FINKELSTEIN Gallery also in Windsor.

We went to hear an introduction by Director, Lisa Feihly about her new Gallery which is focused on promoting female artists; a first for an Australian Gallery. The exhibition she opened her year with is the talented KATE BAKER. She is a Sydney based artist whose work merges photography, film & print technologies with the mediums of stained glass and metal fabrication – erasing traditional divisions between them. Her most impressive piece ‘Pulse’ is a creative merging of moving and projected images immersive video & sound installation. We were genuinely mesmerized by her work.

FINKELSTEIN Gallery is tucked away in an industrial basement space off of High St, Prahran. It is dedicated to ‘fostering a welcoming environment that encourages broader and deeper engagement with contemporary art. All in all the opinion was unanimous … another very inspiring day for the AA&C group. www.finkelsteingallery.com

Falling in love with the photographic vision of Flor Garduño
August 21, 2020

Spotlight on Artist Simone Leigh – Black Lives Matter
June 10, 2020

ART IMAGINED and INTERPRETING ART AS REAL
May 10, 2020

How Do We Define an Art Collector in the Contemporary World
February 18, 2020

Avec Pleasure loves highlighting the works of the talented and inspired artists who are working with new approaches to contemporary art practice.

I have known MERRICK BELYEA for almost twenty years and this month I am highlighting the wonderful body of works ‘ANTHROPOCENE LANDSCAPES’ which he is about to shown in Sydney at the MAY Gallery. I strongly recommend a visit to this show while it is up. You won’t be disappointed. His work is both poetic and insightful.

Avec Pleasure presents Merrick Belyea

‘Merrick Belyea’s paintings are deeply focused on the curious human appetite for destruction. Environmental concerns are central to his recent paintings, referring to a potential for devastation, pointing to a future of mechanical scarification of the landscape. Paring back the veneer of previously prepared paint layers reveal the detritus of process and the fragility of surface.’

Merrick Belyea focuses on the curiously human appetite for destruction in his work. Environmental concerns are central to recent paintings that refer to a potential for devastation and offer a portent to future mechanical scarification of the landscape. Paring back the veneer of previously prepared paint layers reveal the detritus of process and the fragility of surface.’

11 - 29 March 2020. MAY SPACE, Waterloo, Sydney (Opening drinks Saturday 14 March, 3-5pm) www.mayspace.com.au. If you are interested in finding out more please send us an email at: [email protected]