June, 2010
Another month has flown by and here we are now into the New Financial Year.
I’m not quite sure whether I should be elated or depressed!!
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate June however. I now have some images from my European trip.
I won’t bore you with the many, many tourist pics but there are a few special ones I’d like to share with you.
One of the places I most wanted to visit whilst in Paris was the Musée du quai Branly. It opened in 2006 and is dedicated to indigenous art and craft. The picture on the left I took standing outside the museum looking up at the ceilings of the 3 floors of offices – they were all painted
by Australian artists and look stunning. The ceiling of the museum gift shop was painted by the very famous Maningrida artist, John Mawurndjul. The supporting beam at the back has been painted to look like a memorial pole – very effective.
Danny and I traveled by train to Villers-Bretonneux site of one of the most important battles on the Somme during WW1. We visited the war memorial to see where Danny’s Grandfather had fought as a sixteen year old.
In the First World War, on 24 April 1918, the small town of Villers-Bretonneux was the site of the world's first battle between two tank forces: three British Mark IVs against three German A7Vs. The Germans took the town, but that night and the next day it was recaptured by 4th and 5th Division of the AIF at a cost of over twelve hundred Australian lives. The people of Villers-Bretonneux remain indebted to Australia for this feat.
And on the way home Danny enjoyed a scintillating conversation with a couple of sculptures outside the Singapore Art Museum.
One of bim bam’s favourite people, Nicole Gex from France, provided us with the use of her charming apartment in Paris whilst we were there and Danny and I thank her for her warm hospitality. Nicole has sent us a photo of one of her bim bam paintings now proudly hanging in her home.
On Saturday 5 June I attended the presentation of the 2010 NPWS Aboriginal Art Awards at the Lismore Regional Gallery. Apart from the beautiful art on display I really enjoyed the Bushfood sensations provided by “GunnaWannaBe”.
Mirra-Winni Gaze of Brunswick Heads (pictured left) received Open 1st Prize $3,000 with her work The Fish Trap and the Pot, made from woven grasses and a clay pot. Mirra-Winni said the work is 'Dedicated to the stolen generations. To all the little children taken from their parents. To the mothers and fathers. The pot represents strength and purity. The fish trap represents an ancient way of life living close to nature'.
The $1,000 Collaborative Award for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists working together, was won by Karla Dickens (pictured right) and Ishta Wilson, both of Lismore. 'Mother Of All no.12' is an Epson print on paper which is part of a series on which the two women have collaborated
in investigating boundaries of the sacred.
And then it was off to Darwin for more work for another two weeks.
This trip I stayed at one of Darwin’s newest hotels, The Medina,
set amongst the marvelous Darwin Port redevelopment.
What impressed me most about the hotel was the extensive
use of indigenous art and craft throughout the foyer, walkways and restaurants.
And just last weekend saw the launch of the artsCape Biennial 2010. The artsCape Biennial is an exhibition of environmental sculpture situated within the beautiful beachside parklands in the heart of Byron Bay – just up the road from bim bam!!. A free 16 day outdoor sculpture event, artsCape promotes the visual arts and cultural development in the Northern Rivers region of Australia. And having seen the sculptures I would strongly recommend that you visit soon as it finishes on 11 July.
Danny is pictured above with invited Japanese artist Keizo Ushio.
Collaborative artists Dominique Sutton and Sasha Reid are pictured on right with their work “Melt”.
In July’s Newsletter I’ll chat about the new Art Royalty Scheme and proposed changes to Self Managed Superannuation Funds which will impact on investing in art.
April and May 2010
April and May were interesting/busy months at bim bam byron bay – hence the combined Newsletter! Half of April was spent in Darwin and the majority of May I was overseas visiting the most marvelous art galleries.
A beautiful group of students visiting Australia from Denmark called in for a chat about Indigenous Art. Martin, Lasse and Christian are pictured holding the paintings they bought.
Ian and Claire Edwards called into the gallery. This charming couple from Gymea Bay, NSW, were enjoying their honeymoon in Byron Bay. They purchased a very special painting by Makinti Napanangka to remember the occasion.
One of Bim Bam’s favourite customers, Dr Geoff Strutton, from Brisbane acquired a fabulous painting by Gloria Petyarre which measures 190x205cms. Fortunately Bim Bam uses an expert transport company, Artwork Transport, and Geoff was grateful for the assistance they provided in locating it within his home which was no easy feat.
The photo shows the painting as it hangs – from floor to ceiling!!
Simon and Claire Raeburn were visiting Australia from Devon, UK, when the Icelandic volcano decided to erupt. It delayed their return home but gave them an opportunity to visit the gallery.
They are pictured with the painting by Janet Nakamarra “Water Dreaming” which they purchased.
Sudrishti and Varaja from Sydney bought a painting each – Sudrishti is holding her painting by Mary Morton and Varaja holds his Nora Petyarre.
Both are very involved in the Sydney Buddhist Centre – Varaja is the chairman of the Centre.
Late in April I traveled to Darwin and bought many wonderful new paintings for the gallery. They included works by Galys Tasman, Lorna Brwon Napanangka, Lilly Hargraves Nungarrayi and several others. The images will on the web site shortly.
Where we can Bim Bam is happy to install paintings for its customers.
In March Yolanda and Randall Carter bought this impressive painting by Steve Wilson for their marvelous home on the banks of the Brisbane River.
With the assistance of my daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Rocky Muzzi, who reside in Brisbane, I was able to install the painting for Yolanda while Randall was away.
The painting is actually secured to a panel which slides to the left to reveal the home entertainment system – very creative!
One of our favourite bim bam byron bay customers, Elizabeth Crawford,
purchased a magnificent painting by Minnie Pwerle some time ago (she is pictured with her painting).
Elizabeth recently travelled to the USA for an extended family visit.
Prior to her departure she purchased two more paintings.
One by Anna Pitjara (on the left)and the other by Katherine Nakamarra
(the daughter of the very great Walangkura Napanangka).
 
The latter painting I had only just bought on my last trip! The paintings are now winging their way to Massachusetts. |
