The Singleton Arts anc Culture Centre presents three new exhibitions. Opening night is Friday 8 September 2023 at 6pm.
ETCHING: REMBRANDT’S LEGACY
Master Printmakers
Etching has always had an alluring, although slightly risky, reputation. For artists the challenge is associated with the high-risk, high-return or demanding nature of the medium, yet paradoxically it remains one of the few non-commercial printmaking mediums known to the general public as a signifier of an original print distinctive from a print as a reproduction of a painting. This exhibition at the Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre aims to evoke, as much as explicitly explain, the mystique surrounding etching as a primary inventive image-making medium, examining its enduring appeal.
The significance of etching in Rembrandt’s career has been recognized in recent times, as evidenced by the major exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria this year. Titled “Rembrandt: True to Life,” that exhibition presents over 100 of his etchings, emphasizing the importance of printmaking as a central aspect of his creative thinking. This revelation, though new to some, has long been acknowledged among printmakers. In fact, William M. Ivins, a renowned authority, once proclaimed Rembrandt as “the patron saint of non-commercial etchers,” a significant tribute given that it was made seventy years ago in less secular times.
This exhibition Etching: Rembrandt’s Legacy brings together selected Rembrandt etchings and prints by his contemporaries to demonstrate the nature of his innovative contributions to the art of etching as an independent medium. Alongside Rembrandt’s works, the exhibition also showcases later historical examples by esteemed master printmakers such as Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Francisco de Goya, Käthe Kollwitz, and Max Beckmann. These works collectively illuminate the enduring attraction of etching for artists and collectors from Rembrandt’s time to the present day.
POTENTIALLY SYMBOLIC OBJECTS
Etchings by Ross Woodrow
Potentially Symbolic Objects places the process of etching in a broader contemporary context where digital images are now predominant, and a shared symbolic vocabulary, outside of popular culture, is elusive. The display of large contemporary etchings of domestic objects by Ross Woodrow includes a single historical example by Piranesi of a richly symbolic imaginary chair and vase created about 250 years ago. This strategy makes obvious the contrasting audience expectations of a subject for an etching, but it also triggers deep resonant connections, offering a glimpse into how etching continues to evolve and resonate within the ever-changing creative landscape.
Potentially Symbolic Objects | Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre
THROUGH RUTH’S EYES
Ruth Latter
Ruth Latter was born in Singleton in 1939 and lived in the area for most of her life. Recognizing the need for an art gallery in Singleton, Ruth joined with Wendy Haywood to open The Country Rose Gallery in 1987. From this time, she began to make artwork herself, studying new techniques in a range of courses and workshops.
Ruth’s early artmaking featured historic buildings, reflecting her interest in local history. She enjoyed still life but her most prevalent subjects were drawn from nature – birds, flowers, mushrooms, and marine life. Her depictions of the natural world became increasingly abstract as her practice developed, and they were often formed through mixed media.
Ruth valued beauty and imagination. She loved the autonomy of artmaking and the way it allowed her the freedom to experiment. Her art works have been appreciated by many and they are represented in private collections across Australia and around the world.
Venue: Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre,
Opening Night: Friday 8 September 2023 | 6pm
Exhibition closes: 19 November 203
Details: Visit https://singletonartsandculturalcentre.com.au/