Group Shows Part 1

By Andrew Frost

This is the time of year for group shows and there are plenty to choose from. In our first selection we wonder, what exactly is a group show anyway? Paint 12, a gathering of artists Karena Keys, Hyun-Hee Lee and Giles Ryder “…the first of a series of annual exhibitions that will consider contemporary approaches to painting.” In this outing a mixture of approaches from wall works to sculpture-as-painting are covered, giving all and sundry the hope that painting is still alive and well.

Can two artists be a group show? Maybe. Annandale Galleries is staging Master Draughtsman/Master Colourist featuring the work of Jim Dine [draughtsguy] and Sam Francis [colourist bloke], where both the width and quality of the offering is said to be superb, alongside a parallel exhibition Master Visions with a who’s who of 20th century art including the work of Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Frank Stella and Helen Frankenthaler, among others.

What is the upper limit for a ‘group’? when do they become some kind of mob, or crowd? Christmas 2012 at Kerrie Lowe Gallery has the work of ONE HUNDRED artists, including ceramics, painting, prints, sculpture and even jewellery.

Online, Michael Reid presents Pop Tarts: Something Naughty or Nice? the work of duo Rebecca Richards and Nicola Townsend who share “…an obsession for the wicked, quirky, comical and affordable in contemporary art.” Also in the mix is Maz Dixon, Cecilia Fogelberg, Kirsten Fredericks, Dai Li, and Lucie McCann. Rex Irwin is also having an online show in advance of his union with Tim Olsen, featuring a whole range of gallery stalwarts including Peter Booth, Nicholas Harding, Paul Ryan and many more.

Paint 12

Until December

22 Artereal, Rozelle

http://artereal.com.au

Master Draughtsman/Master Colourist

Until December 15

Annandale Galleries, Annandale.

http://www.annandalegalleries.com.au

Christmas 2012

Until December 24

Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Newtown.

http://www.kerrielowe.com

Pop Tarts: Something Naughty or Nice?

Until December 19.

Michael Reid Elizabeth Bay.

http://www.michaelreid.com.au

Christmas Exhibition

Until December 15

Rex Iriwn Art Dealer , Paddington.