18 quilt artists from across Australia will feature in the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, set to open to the public at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery on Thursday 4 March, 2021.
An official opening of the exhibition will be held at 2pm on Saturday 6 March which will include the announcement of the winning entry by Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor.
The exhibition is in its sixth year and is held bi-annually. One quilt will be selected to remain in the Gallery's permanent collection and will also be presented with the winning prize of $3,000.
The quilt will join the Gallery's growing collection of contemporary art quilts that form part of the Gallery's permanent collection.
Central Goldfields Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor said the Golden Textures exhibition is a much anticipated and greatly enjoyed exhibition held every two years.
"We are proud to host this exhibition which attracts artists from around Australia and acknowledges the strong textile tradition of our Shire.
"We are so delighted to be hosting this exhibition and presenting these beautiful objects in our local public Art Gallery."
Central Goldfields Art Gallery exhibition Curator Helen Kaptein said the exhibition brings together a fine range of contemporary quilts.
"The exhibition may surprise some visitors in terms of what they expect a quilt to be.
"Jenny Bacon's work, 'Forest Sunrise' is a three dimensional quilt, while a work by Marie Mitchell titled 'On the brink' has been created using a variety of materials including upcycled tea bags and bridal tulle.
"Noelle Lyon's quilt 'Staring at the wallpaper' depicts a woman in bright clothes, wearing slippers and a mask. This quilt was the artist's response to the experience of being 'quarantined in Melbourne' for 8 months last year."
Local contemporary quilt artist and Maryborough resident Jenny Bacon was the original curator of the Exhibition and is one of the exhibiting artists in this year's award.
She explains that the textile award was based on celebrating the region's long connection with textiles.
"The Maryborough Knitting Mill as a major part of manufacturing here (it began in 1923), during the time the town was the industrial hub of Central Victoria. It was not only a major employer in the town (particularly for women) it also had smaller off-shoots in many towns including Avoca, Beaufort and Newstead and many others."
Jenny Bacon and Helen Kaptein will host a guided tour of the exhibition between 2pm to 2.45pm on Thursday 18 March 2021 - with the event open to the public to attend.
Bookings are required for both the exhibition opening and the guided tour. Booking can be made on line through https://linktr.ee/CGArtGallery or by phoning the Gallery on 5461 6600 or by emailing [email protected]
The exhibition will be on display until 9 May 2021.
Central Goldfields Art Gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free. The Gallery is located at 1 Neill Street, Maryborough.
