Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Australia’s longest-running independent printmaking association, Sydney Printmakers, with a special exhibition, To the Edges.
MAG&M has had a long association with Sydney Printmakers, hosting the Hot off the Press exhibition a decade ago to mark its half century.
Mayor Michael Regan said To the Edges celebrates the artists of Sydney Printmakers, its standing in the printmaking community and the role it has played in the history of Australian art more generally.
“Sydney Printmakers and MAG&M are very much part of the northern region of Sydney’s cultural eco-system, so it makes sense to have this exhibition in partnership to recognise the significant work of its members.”
The exhibition’s curator, Katherine Roberts, also senior curator at MAG&M, said To The Edges will feature all new works by printmakers, especially completed for the exhibition.
“For this exhibition project, members were tasked with thinking beyond the familiar, to challenge themselves individually and collectively. They considered the use of traditional media in innovative and unconventional ways, as well as co-opting new media in the development of their works.
“The artists have worked ‘to the edges’ physically and metaphorically, bleeding their prints to the edges of the paper, and/or pushing their materials, ideas and themselves to their limits.
“The resultant collection of works is diverse, up-scaled, multi-dimensional and open our minds and imaginations to the possibilities of the print medium.”
Katherine Roberts said, after 60 years, Sydney Printmakers continues to thrive.
“It continues to demonstrate its currency in the quality and diversity of the work its artists create, and in the collegiate way its members work to share ideas and resources, and to support each other.
“Membership of Sydney Printmakers affords artists the opportunity to exhibit together frequently and widely, to build connections and to nurture friendships. They inspire and learn from each other, and like so many creatives, they display great generosity of spirit. Of its fifty-six current members, forty-seven are showing work in this new exhibition.
“A look through its website links you to the stories of its early pioneers, its national and international projects and its list of significant Australian artists who are current members.”
Public programs
Exhibition Opening
Friday 25 June 2021, 6 - 8pm
by Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA, Emeritus Professor ANU. Numbers limited, RSVP here
Curator & Artists in Conversation
Sunday 4 July, 2 - 3pm
Join Katherine Roberts in conversation with several of the featured artists for an engaging look at their works. Numbers limited, RSVP here
Print Demonstrations
Sunday 18 July, 2 - 3pm
Susan Rushforth (Japanese woodblock printing) and Janet Parker-Smith (collage to print)
Sunday 25 July, 2 – 3pm
Susan Baran (solar plates à la poupée) and Andrew Totman (multiple-plate printing as intaglio and mono type)
Kids' Art Adventures – School Holidays Creative Workshops
Children 5 - 11 years are invited to join the fun through imaginative and creative play! Learn a variety of art making practices through hands-on activities and create your own artworks in response to the exhibitions at Manly Art Gallery & Museum. Presented by artist and educator Susan Baran.
Workshop # I for ages 5 – 11
Tuesday 29 June, 10am – 12noon
Explore the exhibition and learn about the art of printmaking. Create a unique image on your own scratchboard, then roll up the coloured inks on to coloured papers using a bamboo baren to hand print your image. This workshop is safe for children using water based printing inks.
Workshop #II for ages 12-15
Tuesday 29 June, 1 – 3pm
Be inspired by the diverse works in the exhibition, then create your own print. Experiment with different colour inks on different papers to create a range of prints to take home. Guaranteed to be lots of fun.
Bookings essential
Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 8495 6943