With plans to begin a Masters qualification in the second semester of 2012 this internship has provided me with an important opportunity to gain practical industry experience within a professional gallery environment.
National Art School Gallery Web Page
http://www.nas.edu.au/experience/NASGallery
During the time I have been at the gallery it has been hosting the Redlands Westpac Art Prize (R.W.A.P.). The R.W.A.P. is a highly regarded contemporary art prize, which has been running annually for sixteen years now. The prize is not open to the public but is made up of a group of Australian and New Zealand artists chosen by a guest curator, this year that curator is artist and educator Dr. Lindy Lee, these established contemporary artists then each nominate an emerging artist to be included in the exhibtion.
The resulting exhibition, which is not restricted in subject matter or medium, is an exciting mix of well known and relatively unknown artists addressing a wide range of subjects through a diverse range of mediums.
This prize is unique and important due to its recognition and active encouragement of the dialogue between different generations of artists. The exhibition is the result of a relationship between the curator, the established artists and the emerging artists, which is reflective of the interaction between consecutive generations of artists within the wider contemporary art world. This direct recognition of the role and importance of mentoring within the art world makes the National Art School a particularly apropriate venue for this prize.
2012
REDLANDS
WESTPACART PRIZE
3 May – 2 August 2012
National Art School Gallery
Joan Ross, BBQ this Sunday (flight paths) 2011, still from video animation, © and courtesy the artist and Gallery Barry Keldoulis
