Evolutionary Exhibition

The next generation of Australian artists are on-show at the USQ Arts Gallery and the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.

The annual GraduArt exhibition this year showcases the work of twenty-two artists; Sarah Bolous, Warwick Bom, Sally Charlton, Emmeline Clancy-Wilson, Fiona Cockfield, Sally Colpoys, Will Cripps, Kaitlyn Crist, Cass Edney, Barbara Gibbings, Angela Grabasch, Tegan Holyoake, Ali Lawson, Rhi Liesch, Jesica Martyn, Kelly-Marie McEwan, Anna McMahon, Daniel Qualischefski, Candice Rix, Annabel Simmonds, Tamara Werne and Nicole Wood.

Visitors to the galleries will see explorations in painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, spatial construction and ceramics by USQ’s graduating third-year Visual Arts students.

Their works explore a variety of concepts including pain through repetition, popular culture, mass production intersecting with the hand made, the cracks within socially prescribed gender roles, transience and the spaces between nature and architecture.

USQ Lecturer in Visual Arts, Alexis Tacey has worked with the students to curate the exhibition.

'It is extremely rewarding to see such diverse artwork come together after three years of intensive study,” Ms Tacey said.

'From modest beginnings, the students have evolved into artists who are now producing sophisticated and well resolved artwork.

'At USQ they have learnt about developing concepts and underpinning them with skills and processes necessary to strengthen their practice.’

Next year holds a multitude of opportunities for the graduates; perhaps a forth year of studies, Honours or a degree in education to become art teachers while others will become practicing artists.

'In several years time, I am sure we will be reading about some of these students in critical reviews in art journals as they exhibit nationally and internationally.'

ReFlex GraduArt 2009 runs across two venues; Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery from 30 October to 22 November and USQ Arts Gallery from 13 November to 13 December.

The exhibition will be officially opened on Friday 13 November at 6pm in the USQ Arts Gallery, with Ann-Maree Reaney, artist and former USQ Senior Lecturer in Sculpture, as guest speaker.