Andy Collis
The Human Touch?

Exhibition dates 27 March - 13 April 2013
Exhibition opening Wednesday 27 March at 7pm

The vast majority of portrait galleries and portrait prizes mandate as a condition of entry, that the artist must work directly from the sitter for at least one session in order to paint a legitimate portrait. Many of these conditions are still criteria in the digital 21st century. Yet, in 2012 the National Portrait Gallery, London, seemed to over-ride its own criteria by hanging a portrait of singer Amy Winehouse, painted by Marlene Dumas. The portrait was made after the death of Winehouse whom Dumas had never met and worked from multiple downloaded images from the internet.

Examples abound of many painters who have made portraits (Bacon, Richter, Tuymans), who preferred to work from photography and away from the 'sitter', whom they may or may not know personally - or have never even met.

Is there a discernible difference between portraits made from second-hand imagery and those where the artist has a personal, sometimes intimate relationship with the sitter and has painted directly from them? What does 'working from life' achieve that any other method can not?

This exhibition of paintings and installation pieces about portraiture was produced by Andy Collis as practice-led PhD research, informing responses to questions raised in his thesis titled, "What is the value of the artist/sitter relationship to contemporary portrait painting?"

For any enquiries please contact the Gallery
T 4921 5255  |  E gallery@Newcastle.edu.au
HOURS Wednesday to Saturday 12 – 6pm or by appointment

Industry Scholarships

Industry Scholarship opportunities in Arts Administration at the University Gallery in 2013

Would you like an outstanding student scholarship that includes paid industry placement experience? The University Gallery is offering an undergraduate and a post-graduate scholarship in 2013. The gallery provides a dynamic workplace environment and the successful applicants will have the opportunity to gain experience working in the gallery, museum and art collection.

You are eligible and encouraged to apply for this scholarship if you: identify as Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander, and are currently enrolled in a bachelor degree or are a current post-graduate candidate. Students enrolled in Education will be encouraged to apply and Communications, Business, Fine Art and Arts programs are all suitable disciplines.

You will need to complete and lodge an application form with the Industry Scholarship Office by Friday 5 April 2013.

For further information please download the Undergraduate Flyer (PDF, 549KB), the Post-Graduate Flyer (PDF, 733KB), or contact:
E industry-scholarships@newcastle.edu.au
T 02 4921 8998

These scholarships are kindly sponsored by the Rio Tinto Coal & Allied Aboriginal Development Consultative Community.