The Charles Darwin University (CDU) Art Collection, in association with the School of Creative Arts and Humanities, is set to present Our Home: Charles Darwin University Art Collection, recent acquisitions.
The exhibition will be opened by Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Garnett, Patron of the CDU Art Collection, on Thursday 19 October at 6pm, at The Gallery in Building 12, Casuarina Campus. It will present exemplary work in a range of media by 51 artists for whom north Australia—in particular the Northern Territory—is ‘home’ for their art.
Curator of the Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Anita Angel, explained that the Art Collection had grown significantly in the last few years through acquisitions made by purchase and donation. The Collection comprises art by emerging and established artists active in the region, or with a connection to North Australia.
“Like many other University art collections, the CDU Art Collection began humbly enough as a ‘teaching collection’ of approximately 100 items, assembled by the Art School and a University Art Acquisitions Committee during the 1980s. Comprising principally works on paper by contemporary Australian artists, its holdings were significantly expanded and strengthened from 1993 onwards by donations of workshop proofs of limited edition prints by the University’s Printmaking Workshop, known today as Northern Editions Printmaking Studio. Private donors and the University Foundation have also generously contributed to the Art Collection’s holdings. Their exceptional benefaction will be the focus of a future exhibition in 2007.
“With the support of the University, in particular Vice Chancellor Helen Garnett, the CDU Art Collection has continued to acquire a strong selection of paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints and drawings, by established and emerging Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, who have a connection to the Northern Territory and adjoining regions, including South East Asia. Although the Art Collection does not have a dedicated exhibition space at this stage, at least 20 per cent of its holdings are currently on display throughout Casuarina and Palmerston Campuses,” she said.
“Our Home will highlight a selection of the best works to enter the Art Collection in the last two years, including work by CDU graduates, staff and other North Australian or Northern Territory-based artists, from the Top End and Central Australia.”
Our Home will be showing from Thursday 19 October to Friday 3 November 2006. The Gallery is open from Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, or by appointment.
For more information contact Anita Angel on 89466 621 or Melissa Newbigging on 8946 6 013.