Braemar House & Gallery

Braemar House is home to the treasured Braemar Gallery, a Council operated community exhibition space for visual artists.

104 Macquarie Rd, Springwood Thu – Sun, 10 am – 4 pm Free admission

See the Cultural Centre website for the latest on Braemar Gallery exhibitions.

Natalie Sharpe What Lies Beneath 24 Nov – 18 Dec

Sandra Coleman & Adam Wolnicki Captured Moments 27 Oct – 20 Nov

Captured Moments showcases still life pastel works, paintings and photographs which elevate the commonplace world around us into certainty, beauty and immortality. Both artists explore introspection and the appreciation of the beauty of everyday things, however humble and the sheer satisfaction expressed in composition, light and colour.

Catherine Fox Captured Carbon 27 Oct – 20 Nov

Catherine invites the viewer to celebrate the unique beauty of the Australian landscape, the diversity of the native vegetation and its capacity to regenerate. Paintings reference the wide expanses evident in this landscape as well as the many plants thriving within these expanses. Colour and texture have been used in these images from across Australia to evoke the natural varieties of native bushland and the brilliant flashes of colour we love in our native blossoms. This exhibition showcases Natalie’s beautiful and intricate illustrations using a combination of watercolour, pen, ink, paper and board. Her work is centred around engaging in a conversation with her subconscious or intuitive self-implementing a technique called stream of consciousness drawing. Bringing into service her recent studies in shamanic practices, alongside deepening her connection to earth and plants, she illustrates her way around shapes ‘in conversation’ - resulting in quite a fascinating dialogue.

Ellissa Nolan Parrots of the Blue Mountains 24 Nov – 18 Dec

This exhibition is a visual exposé of 16 parrot species living in our World Heritage natural environment. These include black and ganggang cockatoos, lorikeets, corellas, king parrots, rosellas, galahs and red-rumped parrots. Informed by ecological monitoring undertaken by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, this exhibition aims to increase awareness on the vast range of parrot species native to this region.

ELLISSA NOLAN Gang Gang (male) 2021, watercolour on paper, 68 x 68 cm. Mandy Evans A Strange and Familiar Landscape 24 Nov – 18 Dec

Mandy’s paintings explore how the world has changed since COVID-19. Within her imagined, surreal, atmospheric landscapes are recognisable and familiar elements. Some include figures, in protective wear, perhaps against the pandemic or fire/spacesuits. Emphasising our common struggle and humanity, these figures also possess an unknown quality; they could be from outer space - aliens! Since Covid our innate connection to nature and its uncontrollability has been illuminated. Representative of the changes we have experienced and imposed on the environment, these landscapes and the figures within may be a new archetype, symbolising alienation, isolation, dislocation and on the other hand, support, help and change.

Braemar End of Year Exhibition Braemar House & Gallery 22 Dec 2022 – 15 Jan 2023

Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub 20 Dec 2022 – 30 Jan 2023

Braemar Gallery presents the annual exhibition of works by Braemar Gallery volunteers. Bringing over 40 dedicated volunteers together, they share their stories, reflect on their year and how it has impacted the artists imagination and output.

Rhonnie Toole, Sally Gersbach and Tanya Taggart Everyday Connections 19 Jan – 12 Feb

A connection of friendship and creativity has brought Sally, Rhonnie and Tanya together. Their connection was the spark that ignited the idea for this exhibition. They began to explore the importance of everyday interactions with family, friends, objects and place in forming strong connections in life. Sometimes memories are triggered, humorous or sad, other times visceral reactions are felt. It is through their art they respond to each individual experience. Experimentation with colours, imagery, medium and texture aids to tell their story. Jennie Deane LOOKOUT 16 Feb – 12 Mar

LOOKOUT encapsulates Jennie’s exploration and rediscovery of the natural landscape of the Blue Mountains from the time of pandemic lockdowns. In the period of the exhibition’s creation, Jennie visited many lookouts, documenting through sketching and photographing the scenery around her. This practice has continued on from the pandemic, reconnecting her with the landscape she has chosen as her home. Through a broad range of mediums, Jennie encourages the viewer to join her in discovering or reconnecting with their own backyard.

Deidre Mellis Life Patterns 19 Jan – 12 Feb Louise Fox and Cathie Cox The Art of Foraging 16 Feb – 12 Mar

Deirdre’s artworks represent her personal response to nature from a design perspective. Her paintings start with simple curves which grow and gain momentum as lines, shapes and colours are juxtaposed to express elements in nature. Each painting has different challenges which make for an exciting process and unknown end result. Her art making often draws on animal and plant life and the wonderful lines and shapes found in our environment. Whether using abstraction or semi-abstraction, her passion is movement and colour and the exploration of vibrant patterns in nature. Our environment has an abundance of natural forms. They inspire wonder delight and playful inventiveness. Foraging for fragments of the natural world, locally and beyond, is an absorbing activity for Louise and Cathie. Their process proceeds from discovery to collection, leading to storage and often culminates with the expression of some part of the objects’ significance through their art. Among the items collected, both native and exotic, are leaves, weeds, seeds, pods, discarded fragments and lifeless insects. These feature as tools for mark-making, dye sources for eco printing, as sculptures or images created naturalistically or in a fanciful form.

ADMISSION: Adults: $5.50 Australian concession card holders: $3.20 InSight Members: Free Children under 16: Free

Your admission ticket allows entry to our permanent exhibition Into the Blue and the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery

We thank the dedicated volunteers at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre who provide valuable support to staff and visitors.

OPENING HOURS: Monday – Friday: 10 am – 5 pm Saturday + Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm Closed public holidays

The Gallery Café opens 9.30 am weekdays. Café closed public holidays

BLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTRE: Level 1, 30 Parke St Katoomba 02 4780 5410 info@bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au

InSight Magazine is proudly designed and printed in the Blue Mountains.