“Let’s Talk About Text”

Growing Pains Initiative

Bring your reading glasses because "Let's Talk About Text" might have you feeling like you're reading a novel. By the end though all these artists will have you thinking differently about text, type, and words. Whether it is the main feature or a subtle element in a composition, text brings another dimension to artwork and we're excited to showcase artists utilising this graphic element.

Join us for the opening Sept 22, 1-3pm

More Growing Pains Initiative

This project is supported by Burrinja and Yarra Ranges Council.

Masters of Aboriginal Contemporary Art #2    
Minnie Pwerle : Beginnings 

Celebrating the work of one of the world’s great painters. 

Minnie Pwerle (1919-2006) grew up at Utopia, a former cattle station 300 km northeast from Alice Springs (also known as Urupuntja), home to the Anmatjerre language group. The story of her life was one of struggle and endurance. In 1999, at the age of 80, she took up painting and soon gained national recognition. The use of bold brushstrokes and bold, vibrant colours became her trademark, as did paintings of small bush melons and women’s body-painting designs.  
The exhibition surveys Minnie’s Pwerle’s oeuvre and features a series of unseen paintings including the very first ones she produced in 1999.
    
"Paintings of striking expressionistic quality.” – Burrinja Curator JD Mittmann

Texture & Line - Part 2: Figurative Abstraction1980s Abstraction from Charles Nodrum Gallery

Burrinja proudly presents a suit of abstract paintings from the collection of Charles Nodrum Gallery in Richmond. Charles Nodrum begun collecting Australian art in the 1970s when he worked at Joseph Brown Gallery in Melbourne. In 1984 he opened his own gallery, and through careful trading over the next 30 years, it has grown significantly in number and breadth. 

A special focus of the collection is abstract painting, from which this exhibition stems. Of the 1980s works in Charles Nodrum's collection, a stylistic line can be drawn between flat, precise geometric work and textured, painterly expressionistic work. This exhibition will present significant paintings in both styles and in two parts in order to explore these two divergent types of abstraction. Featured artists in Part 2 include James Gleeson, Victor Majzner, Paul Partos, David Rankin, Stanislaus Rapotec, Michael Taylor, Jan Senbergs, Aida Tomescu, John Walker. 

Faces & Forms - Alyson May

Burrinja Kids Stay and Play free family activity by local artists 

Faces and Forms aims to engage audiences of all ages in the observation of shape and structure of contemporary art.  In a society of increased visual language, it is important for the human eye to perceive and the brain to connote meaning from abstract forms.

In the Faces and Forms interactive installation children, and adults, can draw their own self-portrait or that of a friend on the perspex picture frames. Portraiture conveys humanities role in the world.  Visitors will experience the excitement of observing and drawing the lines and shapes that make up a portrait.

Each activity provides the opportunity to observe and reconstruct portraiture and amazing local art work.

More about Burrinja Kids - Stay and Play

The Upwey Archies

Bringing together the creative voices and vision of our community, this project is a celebration of the people of Upwey.

Inspired by the Archibald Prize and ‘Not The Archies’, the Upwey Archies is a community portrait project.

This is your chance to create an original artwork celebrating someone special to you or to the hills, and be in the running for six awards with mystery prizes like theatre tickets and meals in Upwey. 

The Upwey Township Group, in partnership with Burrinja, are thrilled to present The Upwey Archies 2018. 

The Upwey Archies is an exhibition of portraits featured in the windows of Upwey Traders until 13 November.

For more information email Toni at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone Burrinja on 9754 8723

Black Mist Burnt Country

Testing the Bomb. Maralinga and Australian Art

In the 1950s Australia became the nuclear testing ground for the British Government. A total of 12 atomic tests were conducted. Sixty years after the events Black Mist Burnt Country revisits the history of the test program at Maralinga, Emu Field and Monte Bello Island, through works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists across the mediums of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, music and new media spanning seven decades.  An award winning Burrinja national touring exhibition.    

“Powerful, though-provoking, moving - a must-see.” - 2017 Audience member