The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc. presented ...
A4 Art Australia 2024 at the Herring Island Gallery
2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 March & 1 April 202\43
Review by Analiese Fort
Firstly we wish to acknowledge the traditional owners past, present and future. South Yarra is on the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples.
Herring Island Gallery is nestled in the Yarra River between South Yarra and Richmond. Access is by punt from Como Landing, Alexander Parade. Guests and other interested travellers can board the Victoria Park's free punt to visit the island and all the parks’ facilities.
The island has a mirage of dense flora and fauna and is the home of many sculptures scattered around for park and art lovers to appreciate. CAS also acknowledges the Friends of Herring Island, for their dedication and love for the upkeep of this unique marvellous space.
The A4 Art Exhibition has been running for the last eleven years by the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria (CAS) at the Herring Island, Melbourne, Victoria. This event ran from 2nd March until 1st April 2024.
President of CAS Robert Lee, Secretary Cressida Fox, volunteer artists and CAS Committee Members had worked tirelessly behind the scenes making each of these events successful, especially in the preparation of individually framing the artists’ works and the set-up of the gallery.
Robert, an extraordinary artist and engineer in his own right, has a remarkable eye for detail and knowledge. He not only facilitated but collectively and diligently supported and encouraged us volunteers to showcase the 588 pieces of A4 2D and 3D artworks.
The A4 Art Exhibition is one of Robert’s passions to make this showcase open to all artists - metropolitan and rural Victoria, and interstate. His original plan for the A4 Art Exhibition was simplicity! He offered artists of all calibre to participate in a space to exhibit their works by eliminating the big postal expense of sending their framed works in. This way CAS provides the frames for the works, free of costs to the artists. All artworks received are scanned, catalogued and numbered accordingly, prior to framing.
The official opening was very well attended by delighted visitors, who enjoyed the art, and mingling over refreshments outside in the sunny courtyard. There were many artwork purchases made, keeping the sales desk constantly busy.
Robert opened the A4 Art Exhibition with a short talk about the gallery's existence. He began stating that Herring Island was named after Sir Edmund Herring, born 1892, died 1982. He was the Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, an Australian soldier, and President of the Scouts. The island was leased by the scouts in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1994, Parks Victoria took control of the island, turning it into a wildlife reserve and recreational park. The Friends of Herring Island have assisted Parks Victoria by re-establishing native vegetation on the island.
This year’s A4 Art Exhibition included works in watercolour, collage, prints, graphite, linocuts, mixed media and small sculptures. Common themes included plants and flowers, outdoor scenes and effects of weather, birds and assorted creatures, and some portraits. My eye was on the ‘Profile of a Lady’ and ‘Young Man in Yellow Shirt’ in oil by Chris Braham, exquisite compositions! In my opinion Chris captures not only the light and dark of the setting using tonal balance and hues to offset the mood but also the brush strokes project the infatuation demeanour of the models.
Another interest was Jude Bridges-Tull’s ceramic and found stone piece, ‘Caressing Breeze’. This conjured up an eerie surreal bodily form suspended by the rock. The position of the head resembled reverence, yet in humility! I sensed a peaceful ambience of the lowered eyes.
Interesting enough, Josephine Dobson’s watercolour ‘Sunset on the Water’ resonated within me a tranquil evening glow of all hues shimmering effortlessly across the skies and waves. The movement questioned a humming orchestral ode of sorts.
The A4 exhibited gave a glimpse of every artist's potential capabilities. To see more of the A4 Art Exhibition, it is online now, at https://www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au/galleries/605-a4art-australia-2024-artworks-gallery
At CAS we wish to thank each and everyone who supported and attended A4 Art Australia at Herring Island 2024. Your continued donations, contributions and purchases is what keeps this and other events happening every year! CAS is a non-for-profit organsation run by artists and for the benefit of artists and those interested in art. For this reason, CAS’ appreciation and gratitude will flourish on bringing showcase after showcase of extraordinary talent. With your help and support by purchasing an artwork, you are not only getting a great artwork but you are showing your support of Australian artists.