Upcoming Exhibitions

The significance of the Watters family to the arts of the Upper Hunter Region cannot be underestimated. Frank Watters and Max Watters - brothers, artists, collectors, philanthropists and Muswellbrook boys, stand alone in their contributions to the arts of the nation and the generosity of their gift to the Upper Hunter Region and the people of Muswellbrook.

While Max is, of course, the great benefactor of Muswellbrook and of the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Frank along with his fellow Directors of the Watters Gallery in East Sydney, Alex and Geoffrey Legge, have spent the last 54 years at the cutting edge of Australian art supporting and nurturing such important artists as Micky Allan, Vivienne Binns, Mike Brown, James Clifford, Aleksander Danko, John Davis, Betty Gleeson, Ian Howard, Robert Jenyns, Richard Larter, Euan Macleod, Reg Mombassa, John Peart, Oliffe Richmond, Tony Tuckson, Vicki Varvaressos and Ken Whisson along with many more. All the artists named here are represented in the Max Watters Collection along with many more from the Watters Gallery family. Max often purchased these artistsjust as they were commencing on what have become major artistic journeys within the Australian experience and often overseas.

The Max Watters Collection is an Australian National Treasure and to a large degree this is due to that family connection both between two brothers and their shared love of art and between the larger Watters Gallery family of artists of which Max was both an important part and an important collector. I have used the past tense here because this is the final year of the Watters Gallery’s operation. While Max and Frank and Alex and Geoffrey will no doubt continue their love of art, at years end the Watters Gallery will be no more.

This exhibition entitled Watters to Watters celebrates that connection between artist/collector Max Watters and the artworks he collected straight from the horse’s mouth - the Watters Gallery.

Exhibiting 28 October- 23 December

Opening Night
6pm Saturday 27 October 2018. Free entry with
refreshments courtesy of Hollydene Estate Wines,
Hunter Belle Cheese and Pukara Estate.

 

Artwork: Ken Whisson, Brisbane and Stanthorpe
1980 (detail), oil on canvas, 89.5 x 119.5cm Max Watters Collection.

Over the course of five weeks, Pacific Brook Christian School students from Years 3 to 6 studied the art of photography with guest tutor Jess Dugan from Jess Dugan Photography. As part of this collaboration the students experimented with creating land art - art made directly in the landscape by sculpting the land itself or creating structures in the landscape using natural materials. The photography that has emerged from the project in The Art of Creation reveals students’ experiences as well as reflecting school values.

TheVisitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite photograph in The Art of Creation People’s Choice Prize thanks to Jess Dugan Photography, with the winning photographer awardeda camera pack to further pursue their photography!. 

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Exhibiting from 28 October to 23 December 2018.

Opening night
6pm Saturday 27 October 2018. Free entry with
refreshments courtesy of Hollydene Estate Wines,
Hunter Belle Cheese and Pukara Estate.

 

Artwork: Jess Dugan, You Are My Rock
2018.

Held annually, the Muswellbrook Local Art Awards are exclusively designated to artists of the Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter Shires.

Recipients of the prizes have in the past been a wonderful showcase of local big names, undiscovered talent and firsttimers who go on to become regular entrants of the Awards.

The prize sections highlight the breadth and depth of artistic talent in the Upper Hunter Region and are supported by, and in honour of the contributions of, major local art figures and businesses: Esther Bellis, Viola Bromely, Garry Philp, Max Watters OAM, along with Berry & French Pharmacy, Elks Enterprises, Framing Good, Hunter Valley Hydraulink, Hunter Valley Printing and Morgan + English - sponsors of the inaugural MLAA People’s Choice Prize!.

The Adjudicator for the 2018 Awards is Lisa Kirkpatrick, Collection and Exhibitions Officer at Newcastle Gallery.

With such a variety of art forms in competition for a prize pool of now $7,000, it’s no wonder that the Muswellbrook Local Art Awards are a draw card for steadfast loyal locals, who make it the successful and popular art event of the Upper Hunter Region each year.

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Exhibiting from 28 September to 23 December 2018.

Opening night 6pm Saturday 27 October 2018. Free entry with refreshments courtesy of Hollydene Estate Wines, Hunter Belle Cheese and Pukara Estate.

 

Artwork: Rebecca Rath, Springfield, Oakvale Wines
2017,  Winner; Viola Bromley Painting Prize, First Prize, Muswellbrook Local Art Awards 2017.