Dowel Jones celebrates ten years at the National Wool Museum and Frankie O goes on a drawing bender in a vibrant display of 365 drawings at Dudley House.
From ceramics to furniture, arts trails to renaissance, the arts scene is bursting this month with so many exciting exhibitions and events on offer across the Victorian landscape.
Here are our must-see art showcases for the month of July.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Nature Speaks
In the words of naturalist and environmentalist John Muir, “in every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”. With this in mind, volunteer-run, community gallery Foundry Arts Space welcomes its second art prize. As the exhibition suggests, Nature Speaks will celebrate a range of artistic practices as it shines a light on both expressions of nature in art and socially and ecological works that relate to our environment and climate change.
Nature Speaks will be on display at The Foundry Arts Space, Echuca from July 19 through August 18
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Ten Years of Dowel Jones
Made in Geelong and renowned globally, leading design studio Dowel Jones is celebrating ten years of colourful and playful creativity. Founded by Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman in 2014 after graduating from university, early days were spent furnishing local cafes. Today, their works fill rooms around the world. Enjoy Dowel Jones as they transform the Wool Museum gallery into a house filled with furniture, ceramics, lighting and textiles.
Ten Years of Dowel Jones will be on display at the National Wool Museum, Geelong from July 26 through November 24
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Surf Coast Arts Trail
For more than a decade, the Surf Coast Arts Trail has showcased the talents of the Surf Coast Shire while also allowing art lovers to converse with artists. It is little wonder it has been named as one of the top artist hubs in regional Victoria. In all, more than 200 artists and 60 venues are expected to participate, including those in Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Lorne, Anglesea, Bellbrae, Torquay, Jan Juc, Winchelsea and Hinterland.
The Surf Coast Arts Trail will take place across August 3 & 4
Belinda Fox: The Light Crept In
Sometimes all it takes is a flicker of joy to brighten a day and soften life a little. Working in printmaking, painting, drawing, glass, sculpture and collaboration, Melbourne-based artist Belinda Fox strives to help achieve this with The Light Crept In. Take, for example, ceramic vessels in the form of traditional Korean moon jars, made in collaboration with Buninyong-based ceramic artist Neville French, that recognise perfection in the imperfect.
Currently on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Belinda Fox: The Light Crept In will end its run on August 11
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Double Vision – Mapping Dürer in a Time of Crisis
Engraved by German renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer in 1514, Melencolia I has been called the artist’s psychological self-portrait. Here, you will find a suite of etchings by Raymond Arnold and Ian Westacott produced in direct response to this master work. Each artist drew all 18 objects in Dürer’s composition onto A4 copper plates, before transporting them thousands of kilometres to the other, who would then imprint their own image on top the first.
Double Vision will be hosted by Geelong Gallery from August 3 through October 27
One Drawing a Day: Bendigo
While already a qualified art teacher, Frankie O attended the Rome Art Project while in her late thirties in order to recapture her artistic spirit. It worked a treat. Then in 2015, she embarked on her first ambitious ‘One Drawing a Day’ project as a way to rediscover and redefine her drawing skills. This time around, Frankie’s 365-day drawing bender has the subject of Bendigo. Can you pick the city’s landmarks?
One Drawing a Day: Bendigo will be hosted by Dudley House, Bendigo from July 19-30
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Big Ceramic Energy
Who could forget ceramics classes at school? Curated from the SAM collection, at Big Ceramic Energy you will find next level pieces from Australian, First Nations and international contemporary artists whose practices push the boundaries of the medium. From eccentric forms to experimental glazes, the museum’s growing collection features works from Jemmy Orchard, Bankstown Koori Elders Group, Stephen Bowers and more. Acquisitions include those from the Sidney Myer Ceramic Award and Indigenous Ceramic Award.
Big Ceramic Energy will be hosted by Shepparton Art Museum from August 3
Suffuse
From its healing properties to its colourful and bountiful worlds, there is indeed a magic in water. Jane Millington has long been fascinated with the healing nature of our waters. Through her work, Millington hopes to regenerate the viewer’s engagement with the ebb and flow of their lives reflected in the water’s movement. Sophie Legoe, too, is fascinated and inspired by our waters – particularly the magical kingdoms that live beneath. Her recent ceramic work is about memory and play.
Newly arrived, Suffuse will be hosted by The Hive, Ocean Grove until July 28
Visit each gallery website to find out more information on each exhibition.
