One night only – special fundraiser – An Evening with Donald Friend

Exclusive performance by the legendary Terence Clarke AM

On Saturday 25 June, Tweed Regional Gallery will host the legendary theatre director, composer and actor Terence Clarke AM for an exclusive performance of ‘An Evening with Donald Friend’.

This enthralling one-man show captures the essence of Donald Friend, the man and the artist, and reveals incidents of Friend’s exotic and colourful life.

Donald Friend (1915-1989) was a rare artist.  He was a painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, illustrator, decorator and writer.  This play, devised by art historian, publisher and friend of the artist Lou Klepac OAM, narrates stories selected from the 44 extraordinary diaries written by Donald Friend and now held in the National Library’s collection.

Photo: Terence Clarke AM, who will perform his one-man show ‘An Evening with Donald Friend’ at Tweed Regional Gallery. 

The diaries represent the personal vision of an important Australian artist, and also document Australian culture from the 1930s to the 1980s through his eyes.  His writing is humorous, caustic and incisive.

President of the Friends of the Gallery, Lyn Stewart, said: “it’s a coup to welcome this renowned thespian to the Tweed, we are thrilled to be hosting this event and it’s the first time we’ve held a play in the Gallery.”

‘An Evening with Donald Friend’ is being presented to coincide with the exhibition The Mystery of Things: Margaret Olley & David Strachan, on display in the Margaret Olley Art Centre until 7 August 2016.  

Donald Friend was a contemporary and dear friend to both Margaret Olley and David Strachan.

Don’t miss this exclusive event – one night only – presented as a special fundraiser by the Friends of Tweeed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc.

Event:            An Evening with Donald Friend by Terence Clarke AM
When:            Saturday 25 June 2016, 6pm – 8pm
Tickets:         Strictly limited. On sale now. Wed – Sun, 10am – 4.30pm, phone (02) 6670 2790
Cost:              $50 per person, $45 Friend of the Gallery or Gallery Foundation Member

Light refreshments will be served from 6pm until 6.25pm

Courtesy: Tweed Shire Council Newsroom
Wedensday 11 May, 2016.
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See also: Big Volcano Visitor Guide : Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre

In-depth survey maps ocean floor at Kingscliff

Survey data used to monitor beach erosion patterns

Ever wondered how beach erosion is monitored in the Tweed?  It might be more hands-on than you think.

Every six months when ocean conditions are good, Council borrows an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) from the Cudgen Headland Surf Club and meets early on Kingscliff Beach.

Photo: Council officers Mitch Liddell, Steve Sharp and Warren Boyd between check points

After completing a thorough safety check, two Council officers launch the boat.

A surveyor in a wetsuit and fins then wades into the ocean, carrying a prism on a long pole. Meanwhile, a small survey team with instruments takes its position at a fixed point on the beach.

The surveyor in the water wades out on a predetermined line, placing the pole on the ocean floor at set points, allowing the prism to signal back to the survey station on the beach.

The information from each point is recorded, allowing Council to map any changes in sand levels since the last survey.

Photo: Registered Surveyor Mitch Liddell takes a reading of the ocean floor.

Registered Surveyor Mitch Liddell travels out approximately 500 metres, being guided by the officers in the IRB and stopping every 20 to 30 metres to secure the pole and ensure the surveyors onshore can pick up the signal.

“The measurements are used to work out the depth of the sea floor, helping to determine how much sand has moved since the last measurement and how much sand will stay on the beach, according to differences and patterns in previous records,” Mr Liddell said.

Council’s Senior Engineer – Civil Design, Warren Boyd, said the survey is repeated from four fixed positions along Kingscliff Beach and five positions on South Beach.  Provided ocean conditions remain good, the entire survey takes a day to complete.

“Collecting this data helps create a timeline that reveals what is really happening below the waterline,” Mr Boyd said.

“We started monitoring when the erosion was quite severe in 2011 due to swells coming from the east and north-east rather than the south, but we also have historical monitoring dating back to the 1970s to compare today’s levels with.”

Council’s Manager Design, Paul Morgan, said surveying was a key element in nearly every job undertaken.

“Before every project, be it a bridge, road, carpark, waterway or major stormwater system, the survey team examine and record the area and its features to construct a map, plan or description for the next steps,” Mr Morgan said.

“Monitoring and profiling beach erosion  is no different.”

Courtesy: Tweed Shire Council Newsroom
Tuesday 3 May, 2016
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See also: Big Volcano Visitor Map, Big Volcano Towns : Kingscliff

Border Art Prize now on at Tweed Regional Gallery

Entries from both sides of the border reflect region’s vibrant artistic scene

Acclaimed artist Euan Macleod announced the winning works in the 2016 Border Art Prize at the official opening of the exhibition at the Tweed Regional Gallery on Friday 6th May.

The exhibition of 279 of entries is on display at Tweed Regional Gallery (open Wednesday to Sunday) until Sunday 10 July.

Photo: Visitors view the 2016 Border Art Prize at the Tweed Regional Gallery

Euan was impressed by the “variety of media, styles and subjects all handled with enthusiasm and passion”.  As he walked around the exhibition, surrounded by the viewing public, he noted that gallery visitors “were really engaged with the work”.

Mullumbimby artist Robyn Sweaney was awarded the $3,000 first prize in the regional art award for her oil on linen painting Oasis, depicting a house, a subject for which she is well known.  First prize is funded by Tweed Shire Council.

“This beautifully painted work shows an ordered vision which on continued viewing becomes unsettling,” Euan Macleod said.

The Border Art Prize is a joint initiative of Tweed Regional Gallery and Gold Coast City Gallery to support the endeavours of artists living and working in the NSW North Coast and South East Queensland. The award shows both 2D and 3D works covering a wide variety of subjects, as entrants aren’t required to work to a theme.

The Prize attracts a wide variety of styles from both well-known and emerging artists, reflecting the region’s lively artistic community.

Zom Osborne from Federal, near Lismore, won the $1,500 second prize – funded by the Friends of the Gallery – with Swan Sisters, an evocative and detailed acrylic on wood.  Ocean Shores entrant Sean Connors was awarded third prize, also funded by the Friends of the Gallery, for his acrylic painting Dawn’s early light.

The judge noted that all three winners displayed “complete mastery of materials and subject matter, used to evoke a sense of mystery”.

Photo: Detail of Robyn Sweaney’s Oasis, oil on linen

In addition to these awards, local artist and teacher Shirley Kennedy provides funds for Encouragement Awards which she selects in consultation with the Gallery’s Director, Susi Muddiman OAM.

These awards reflect the variety of media in the exhibition with the two $500 awards recognising Unearthed, a large ceramic vessel by Ruth Park of Wollongbar, and Wooyung Valley, a lush oil painting in earth tones by Andrew Hmelnitsky from Casuarina.

The two $250 awards were to drawings by Emma Jewry of Pumpenbil for her mixed media Sitting woman and Laura Tate from Mullumbimby for Mynd.  Shirley commended the exhibition for its good representation of both 2D and 3D works.  She also acknowledged the artists who were not selected for exhibition and urged “never ever give up… persevere and you will break through”.

Around 400 people turned out to attend the opening of this exciting exhibition, which was officially opened by Tweed Shire Councillor Warren Polglase.   Cr Polglase highlighted the parity of entrant numbers from Gold Coast and Tweed Shire demonstrating the importance of the Border Art Prize as a cross-border event.

The exhibition of 279 of entries is on display at Tweed Regional Gallery until Sunday 10 July. The Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm and admission is free.

Courtesy: Tweed Shire Council Newsroom
Friday 6 May, 2016.
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See also: Big Volcano Visitor Guide : Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre and Big Volcano Artists, Designers & Studios guide.