Wide-ranging exhibit opens
EVAN Hollis’ vision for visitors to this year’s Downlands Art Exhibition is to have people experience “the entire gamut of media, subject matter, as best we can on the scale we have”.
Now in its 33rd year, the 2019 exhibition boasts more than 1000 catalogued items ranging in value from $1 to $150,000 for the most expensive piece - Night (Starlight Line) by award-winning Australian artist Tim Storrier.
Walking around the exhibition yesterday afternoon ahead of the gala opening, curator Evan Hollis was tired, but happy.
Tired, because he and his volunteers have put in some serious hours to put the show together.
Happy, because he feels people are getting on-board with the concept of the exhibition.
“People are really taking this show seriously,” he said.
“The quality of the work (this year), though – I haven’t had to be so selective as I’ve been in the past.
“In the past, I’ve been quite ruthless and left quite a number of works out the back because they just didn’t fit into the show. There are a couple this year – there always will be... but people are getting the idea.
“We’ve been pushing it to get it to... a certain (quality) level and maintain that and I think we’re there.
“I think the level of this show is where I’m comfortable with. I don’t want to push it any further because then it’ll become too exclusive.”
Accordingly, Mr Hollis feels a sense of accomplishment with this year’s exhibition.
“I’ve reached a goal with this one. You walk in and it feels like it. I’m about to fall down because I’ve just done the sets on (the Toowoomba Choral Society production of) My Fair Lady as well and I have not slept properly for I don’t know how long, but it’s been worth it.”
The exhibition is broken up into a series of “rooms”, which Mr Hollis said were like “little mini exhibitions in themselves”. To help people understand the many and varied traditional and contemporary artworks on display, this year’s exhibition comes with a technological twist.
QR codes accompanying the art pieces will allow viewers to easily open notes on the piece they are looking at through their mobile phones.
The Downlands Art Exhibition is open from today until September 28, and tickets are available on the door.
Entry for adults costs $7.50 and concession tickets are $5. School-aged students enter free.