September 3, 2020
Kingaroy Art Gallery’s big open day on Saturday has been cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, but the Kingaroy Arts Team is keen to let everyone know you can still drop by on any weekday to check out the three new September shows.
And they are definitely worth seeing!
southburnett.com.au paid a visit on Thursday to take a look at the new exhibitions.
The quirkiest has to be the “Three Well Known Australians” painting and associated displays in the front gallery.
Sydney artist Martin Shaw painted the colourful work back in 1982 but has refused to say since then who the three figures are.
Instead, visitors are invited to guess the identities. The suggestions are recorded and bound up in files.
And as the exhibition has been touring Australia constantly since 1983, there are thousands of ideas now recorded.
Martin describes his art project as a multi-year social commentary.
A collection of the year books, showing people’s guesses, accompanies the painting on its journeys, tracking changes in Australia’s cultural landscape over the years and providing a unique portrait of the country.
Also on display are framed letters from famous Australians, including sportspeople and politicians. A letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, detailing his three guesses, takes pride of place.
This is the first time “Three Well Known Australians” has visited the South Burnett.
It came to Kingaroy after being shown in Dalby; then it will be off to Rockhampton and Mackay.
In the main gallery, local artist Niketa Law has 20 paintings on show, all completed within the past 12 months.
Some are already bearing red dots, meaning they’ve been sold!
“Beyond The Dots” is Niketa’s second exhibition at the gallery and looks set to be as popular as her first back in 2018.
A special part is a hi-vis vest featuring some of her artwork.
Construction company Roberts Pizzarotti ran a competition to design the vest and Niketa’s artwork – which describes the history of the company – won.
She was flown to Sydney last year to collect the prize, which was presented by company representatives and AFL legend Adam Goodes.
In the back gallery, the South Burnett Gem and Fossicking Club Inc has a display cabinet filled with its club members’ “Findings and Grindings”.
This exhibition features a colourful collection of gemstones, crystals and minerals.
Kingaroy Art Gallery is open Mondays to Fridays from 10:00am-4:00pm
- Related article: Niketa’s Coming Back To Gallery
