December 14, 2015
Cherry Coultis, one of the South Burnett’s most respected senior artists, was honoured with more than just a retrospective exhibition of her work at the Kingaroy Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon.
The Kingaroy Arts Team (KAT), who now operate the Gallery and curate the Council’s permanent art collection, announced they had acquired four of Cherry’s artworks.
KAT compere Wayne Brown said the works were the first acquisitions the group had made for the permanent collection and he thought it was appropriate to make the announcement at the official launch of “It’s All Here”, which opened at the Gallery earlier this month.
Cherry Coultis said she’d played no part in assembling the exhibition.
The idea had been suggested to her by friends, she said.
When she agreed, her “four gnomes” (Fran Van Vegchel, Cherry Carroll, Katherine Woodham and Judy Brook) looted her house in Yarraman to put it together.
But she was pleased with the result, and hoped everyone else would be too.
Long-time friend and admirer Dorothy Pratt, who officially opened the exhibition, said she continued to be amazed by how multi-talented, diverse and prolific an artist Cherry was.
“If you ever decide to take NFS (ie ‘Not For Sale’) off some of these, I hope you give me a call first,” she laughed.
The exhibition covers a wide range of media and styles.
Cherry Coultis is probably best known for her work with textiles, and earlier this year was awarded life membership of Queensland Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists Ltd.
The exhibition contains examples of her weaving, silk painting, clothing, felt work, batik, and hand spun and woven items.
It also contains examples of her screen printing and print making including woodcuts, lino cuts, lithographs and etchings, along with paintings in oils, acrylics, watercolours and gouache.
And there are a smattering of items from her private collection as well, including fold-out books and wall hangings.
- “It’s All Here” will remain on display at the Gallery from 10:00am to 4:00pm on weekdays and 10:00am to 2:00pm on weekends and public holidays – except for Christmas Day – until January 6. Admission to view the exhibition is free.
