Townsville City Galleries Exhibitions |Jan - July 2024

Townsville City Galleries

EXHIBITIONS January – July 2024

Nicky Bidju Pryor Ocean Dance [detail], 2019 Installed: Magnetic Island, Horseshoe Bay Toilet Block

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Townsville City Council acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, Bindal, Gugu Badhun and Nywaigi as the Traditional Owners of this land.

We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders, past, present and all future generations.

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Townsville City Galleries

EXHIBITIONS January – July 2024

COVER: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori (c.1924-2015) Dibirdibi Country [detail], 2010 Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 120 x 120 cm Purchased from Alcaston Gallery, 2023. City of Townsville Art Collection © Estate of Sally Gabori/ Copyright Agency, 2023

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E M AY O R I would like to thank the Townsville City Galleries team for their tireless work in preparing an exciting series of exhibitions for 2024. Without the hard work of the Galleries staff, volunteers and patrons, bringing the best of visual art to the Townsville community and our visitors would not be possible.

Townsville is fortunate to be home to two world-class regional galleries – the Perc Tucker Gallery in the CBD and the Pinnacles Gallery at Riverway.

Both are exciting and welcoming spaces that are much loved by residents and tourists alike.

The schedule of exhibitions contained in this calendar showcases the best of works by talented local artists, as well as by gifted creators from elsewhere in Queensland, Australia and the world. There is truly something for art lovers of all tastes to enjoy.

I encourage everyone to peruse this calendar and pencil in the upcoming exhibits that catch their eye into their own schedules.

Thank you for your ongoing support for Townsville City Galleries and I look forward to seeing you soon at one of our wonderful exhibitions.

Cr Jenny Hill Mayor of Townsville

FOREWORD Welcome to the 2024 exhibitions calendar at Townsville City Galleries! We are excited to present a diverse selection of exhibitions that showcase the talents of both emerging and established artists from North Queensland, Australia, and around the world. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the talented artists, devoted volunteers, and hardworking staff who bring these exhibitions to fruition.

Our exhibitions feature a wide range of mediums, styles, and themes, including traditional painting and sculpture, contemporary installations, and digital art. We believe that our visitors will find something inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining at both Pinnacles Gallery and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. In addition to the exhibitions, we have numerous programs and events planned, such as artist talks, workshops, and tours, which offer visitors the chance to engage with the art on display and gain a deeper understanding of the creative process.

At Townsville City Galleries, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and accessible space for everyone to enjoy art. Our galleries are open to visitors of all ages and backgrounds, and we welcome you to join us in celebrating the upcoming year of exhibitions and programs at Townsville City Galleries.

Best regards, Townsville City Galleries

AT A G L A N C E SIHOT’E NIOGE: WHEN SKIRTS BECOME ARTWORKS

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EASTERN THREADS CURATED BY GAIL MABO

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BRUCE REYNOLDS: HOW SOON IS NOW?

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JOHN NESIRKY: THE RECOLLECTION OF SOUND

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THE PERCIVALS

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Until 11 February 2024

2 February – 14 April 2024 19 April – 9 June 2024

19 April – 9 June 2024

22 June – 1 September 2024

PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY

MARIW MINARAL (SPIRITUAL PATTERNS)

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GOOD GRIEF, DANISH QUAPOOR

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TATE ADAMS: IN BLACK & WHITE

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SEVEN + SEVEN: PRINTMAKING ACROSS UNKNOWN TERRAIN

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Until 3 March 2024

8 March – 28 April 2024 3 May – 7 July 2024

12 July – 15 September 2024

PINNACLES GALLERY

SIHOT’E NIOGE: WHEN SKIRTS BECOME ARTWORKS UNTIL 11 FEBRUARY 2024 PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY Sihot’e Nioge reveals the centrality of nioge, painted, and sihot’e, appliquéd, beaten bark cloths in Omie culture and life from the first Omie man and woman who arrived on the earth until today.

Working from the remote mountain rainforests of Oro Province, not so far from Kokoda, Papua New Guinea, the Omie Tapa artists continue to develop the most colourful and compositionally diverse, bark cloth art in the Pacific region, using all natural products from their vast, rainforest homelands.

Curated by Joan Winter.

Clarence Maire Warina, Dahoru’e Mountains [detail], 2019 Beaten bark cloth and plant pigments, 168 x 64 cm

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MARIW MINARAL ( S P I R I T U A L PAT T E R N S ) UNTIL 3 MARCH 2024 PINNACLES GALLERY Mariw Minaral brings together some of the finest examples of Zendah Kes (Torres Strait Islands) artist Alick Tipoti’s unique and intricate linocut printmaking practice. The exhibition also contains his award-winning sculptural works, contemporary masks and film.

A cultural and environmental artist, Tipoti is highly respected for his work in regenerating cultural knowledge and language. Guided by the traditional cultural practices of his people, Tipoti’s storytelling encompasses traditional cosmology, marine environments and ocean conservation – focusing on what it means to be a sea person.

Alick Tipoti, Kisay Dhangal, 2016 Bronze with mother-of-pearl inlay ANMM Collection Purchased with funds from the Sid Faithfull and Christine Sadler program supporting Contemporary Indigenous Maritime Heritage in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands through the ANM Foundation Overall: 1940 × 2020 × 1020 mm, 280 kg

Produced by

Supported by

This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.

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EASTERN THREADS C U R AT E D BY G A I L M A B O 2 FEBRUARY – 14 APRIL 2024 PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY An exhibition of Torres Strait Islander textiles, prints, and paintings from the City of Townsville Art Collection, curated by Gail Mabo.

We are pleased to present Eastern Threads, an exhibition showcasing cultural practices from the Eastern Torres Strait and islands east of Mer Island. Gail Mabo has selected works for inclusion in the show, focusing on pieces originally sourced by Diane Moon as part of the exhibition Carried Lightly at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in 1988 and more recent acquisitions.

There are 66 artworks from Eastern Torres Strait and 14 from the Western, Inner and Central Torres Strait in the Townsville City Art Collection. The artwork on display celebrates Erub, Mer Fibrecraft, and Tongan Tapa.

The exhibition features works by artists from the permanent collection, including Ais Bero, Jenny Mye, Lucy Thaiday, Ken Thaiday, Alice Hunai, Andrew Passi, George Sambo, Aicey Zaro, and Tommy Pau. Guest curator Gail Mabo.

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Tommy Pau, Sia (Carina Nebula), 2015 [detail] Linocut print on paper, 54.5 x 90.5 cm (plate mark), 71 x 107 cm (sheet) Purchased from Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Arts, 2019. City of Townsville Art Collection.

Accession number: 2019.013 Image courtesy of Townsville City Galleries

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G O O D G R I E F, DANISH QUAPOOR 8 MARCH – 28 APRIL 2024 PINNACLES GALLERY Danish Quapoor is known for his distinctive flat-colour compositions and playful narratives. The artist’s largest body of work to date features his trademark illustrative paintings, wall drawings and ceramics alongside blown glass, textile forms and stop-motion animation. Quapoor reconciles these ostensibly disparate elements of his practice with a cohesive colour palette and a consistent use of repetitive, time-consuming processes.

Conceptually, good grief is an interrogation of personal identity and familial relationships. The artist reflects on his father’s unexpected death in the 2020 peak of COVID-19, and the exasperation of experiences and memories in the wake of that loss. Collectively, the works illuminate and subvert concepts of grief, sexuality, and gender roles within heteronormative regional contexts. These concepts are tempered by layers of humour, wordplay, misdirection and a life-affirming levity in aesthetic and approach.

Danish Quapoor, stubborn forces, 2022 Baling twine on porcelain paperclay with clear gloss glaze, 24.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm Photograph: Daniel Qualischefski

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BRUCE REYNOLDS: HOW SOON IS NOW? 19 APRIL – 9 JUNE 2024 PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY Exploring how we arrived at this point—from the archaic to a language of compressed space—Bruce Reynolds invites us to consider the ancient and the ‘now’ in his work.

His practice has expanded from collage to relief and sculpture over several decades. Recent residencies in Rome focused both studio and architectural works on relief forms that occupy the space between painting and sculpture, between drawing and architecture. He describes it as being both archaic and a fresh place of representation.

How Soon is Now? is a Museums & Galleries Queensland touring exhibition presented in partnership with the artist, Bruce Reynolds. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program; and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Museums & Galleries Queensland is also supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funds through the Australian Cultural Fund.

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Bruce Reynolds Cornice Frieze, 2015-2016, Hydrocal and pigment, 800 x 1120 x 170mm.

Image courtesy of the artist.

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J O H N N E S I R K Y: T H E RECOLLECTION OF SOUND 19 APRIL – 9 JUNE 2024 PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY Memories are triggered by all our senses. We can be transported by a song, a scent, an old photograph; and find distant moments of our lives surround us briefly. It is more poignant when the memory takes you to people lost and places long ago altered.

Early memories of John Nesirky's time in North Queensland are underpinned by the sounds of insects during hot hikes to cool off in a creek or swimming hole. The tropical nighttime soundtrack.

He is fascinated by the endless complex variety. The structures that allow these creatures to sing out leave ears ringing.

John Nesirky Standing Wave 2021 [detail] Image courtesy of the artist

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TAT E A D A M S : IN BLACK & WHITE 3 MAY – 7 JULY 2024 PINNACLES GALLERY Tate Adams’ (1922–2018) artistic career began and ended as a painter. Only a few of his early paintings survive. Connemara Girl was the only painting he kept. The work is typical of the small-scale figurative paintings he produced in Ireland before immigrating to Australia, and speaks of his reverence for Ireland. Adams would live into his nineties, a life of continuous artistic exploration. Largely thought of as a printmaker, Adams taught the first diploma of printmaking in Australia at RMIT. His colleagues and students number among the well-known in Australian art.

Adjusting to the onset of macular degeneration in the latter half of his life, and when living almost reclusively in Townsville, Adams synthesised his artistic knowledge to create large-scale gouaches. In Black & White is a celebration of these large-scale black gouache paintings and the prints that derived from them. Produced towards the end of his life, they express Adams’ delight in exploring his Irish and broader artistic heritage and incorporating his Australian environment.

Tate Adams Maura, 2010 etching, gouache resist sugarlift and aquatint, 70 x 48 cm (sheet) Edition 6/50 Gift of the artist, 2010. City of Townsville Art Collection Accession number: 2010.87

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T H E P E R C I VA L S 22 JUNE – 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY Having begun in 2007, The Percivals is an open competition for artists. While showcasing the outstanding and innovative work currently being produced

by Australian artists, the competitions have also allowed many emerging artists to engage with portraiture and share their expressions of themselves and those close to them.

Michael Lindeman, I…, 2020 Watercolour and acrylic on canvas, 196 x 138 cm Winner of the acquisitive Percival Portrait Painting Prize 2022. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

City of Townsville Art Collection. Accession number: 2022.0137.000.

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SEVEN + SEVEN: PRINTMAKING ACROSS UNKNOWN TERRAIN 12 JULY – 15 SEPTEMBER 2024 PINNACLES GALLERY Seven + Seven: Printmaking Across Unknown Terrain explores visual dialogues and contemporary ideas among 14 artists from Canada and Australia. The resulting exhibition invites audiences to regard not only the vast distances across both these country’s geographical and psychological landscapes, but to also consider how relative perspectives in these two hemispheres examine similar themes of colonialism, extreme weather, consequences of the impact humans have on nature (and ourselves). Through hybrid applications of printmaking and the international diversity the exhibition explores, we might find two different cultures have more in common than we think.

Judy Watson experimental beds 3, 2012 3-plate etching with chine colle 81 x 67.3 cm framed Photo: Carl Warner

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biennial

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NORTH QUEENSLAND ceramic awards

Major Acquisitive Prize $10,000 Exhibition Dates 18 October 2024 – 2 February 2025 Entries Opening Soon More information townsville.qld.gov.au/nqca 26

Sally Walk, A Little Off Centre [detail] 2022 Midfire clay with black slip and clear glaze, 65 x 23 x 30 cm Major acquisitive prize winner, 2022 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards. City of Townsville Art Collection.

Image courtesy of the artist

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FRIENDS OF THE GALLERY Our Friends of the Galleries membership program will keep our members up to date on gallery opportunities and news, as well as offering discounts and advanced bookings on our programs.

Friends of the Galleries can engage in a range of activities that go beyond just visiting and viewing, offering opportunities to engage with local artists, art enthusiasts, volunteers, and supporters of the arts in our region.

Friends of the Galleries benefits include: • Invitations to all opening functions throughout the year • Advance invitations to a range of gallery events including artist talks, workshops, tours and lectures • Monthly eNewsletter to keep up to date on the latest gallery news • Exclusive member events at the gallery • 30% discount on paid events • 10% discount on all items available in our Gallery Shop • 10% discount on Townsville City Council’s Theatre Season at the Townsville Civic Theatre.

Annual memberships run from 1 November - 31 October 2024, and renewals in the future will always fall on 1 November. Our Friends of the Galleries play an important role in our galleries with their ongoing support for our exhibitions, events, and activities, and we look forward to sharing our new and exciting programs with you!

Single membership price is $45, or $30 with a Concession card.

All memberships commence 1 November and run until 31 October the following year.

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Sign up now to become a member!

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GALLERIES ENEWSLETTER Free monthly email updates are available with specific information on exhibitions, workshops, events, and more. Scan the QR code and select Galleries as the eNews you would like to receive.

Sign up now!

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WALKING TRAIL AUGMENTED REALITY EDITION Discover the many amazing street art murals Townsville has to offer by taking a self-guided walking tour of the city using the Street Art Walking Trail: Augmented Reality edition map.

Watch out for augmented reality stickers near the street art murals and use your smartphone to transform the artworks into an augmented reality dreamscape.

Collect your FREE copy of the map available at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery or scan the QR Code.

The city’s street art scene is constantly evolving, so keep your eyes peeled for new works not on this map and follow Townsville City Galleries on social media to stay up to date.

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E D U C AT I O N A L PROGRAMS Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to explore the arts?

Look no further, as Townsville City Galleries offers a wide range of education opportunities and public programs in conjunction with our gallery exhibitions, including educational programs, gallery tours, workshops, launches, and events.

Find out more about what we have on offer

Townsville City Galleries TownsvilleCityGalleries K What's On Townsville

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Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori (c.1924-2015) Dibirdibi Country [detail], 2010 Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 120 x 120 cm Purchased from Alcaston Gallery, 2023. City of Townsville Art Collection © Estate of Sally Gabori/Copyright Agency, 2023

C O N TA C T U S To find out more about our Community Access Spaces, become a gallery volunteer, or sign up to our eNewsletter, you can visit our website, phone the gallery, email or visit one of our galleries and speak to our staff who will be happy to assist.

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Cnr Denham and Flinders Street, Townsville QLD 4810 (07) 4727 9011 galleries@townsville.qld.gov.au

S TAY CONNECTED

Pinnacles Gallery Riverway Arts Centre 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central QLD 4817 (07) 4773 8871 galleries@townsville.qld.gov.au

Townsville City Galleries TownsvilleCityGalleries townsville.qld.gov.au

Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori (c.1924-2015) Dibirdibi Country [detail], 2010 Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 120 x 120 cm Purchased from Alcaston Gallery, 2023.

City of Townsville Art Collection © Estate of Sally Gabori/Copyright Agency, 2023