Cool Art July
Cool Art July turns up the heat this winter, with a free film screening of the amazing documentary 'River' as well as artist workshops and drop-in experiences to suit every age and ability. There's watercolour painting by our very own on our river banks, workshops in the early photographic cyanotype process, charcoal stencil workshop, zine making, and much, much more!
Everyone is welcome, bookings essential. The Gallery is wheelchair accessible.
Read on to explore the program and book.
Members receive a 10% discount. Please contact the Gallery for your promo code!
This program is sponsored by our Members and Cleverpatch.
FOR EVERYONE
River Film Screening
FREE
5:30 pm – 6:45 pm
Friday 7 July
Runtime: 75 mins
Director: Jennifer Peedom
Cast: Willem Dafoe
Throughout history, rivers have shaped our landscapes and our journeys; flowed through our cultures and dreams. RIVER takes its audience on a journey through space and time; spanning six continents, and drawing on extraordinary contemporary cinematography, including satellite filming, the film shows rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before. Its union of image, music and sparse, poetic script create a film that is both dream-like and powerful, honouring the wildness of rivers but also recognising their vulnerability.
RIVER is the sequel to the 2017 hit documentary MOUNTAIN, reuniting the creative team of director Jennifer Peedom, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, narrator Willem Dafoe and writer Robert Macfarlane.
Dog Beach Collage
DROP IN FREE
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00pm
Be inspired by Michael Bell’s playful art work Dog Beach and create your own art work to take home.
Subject to availability
For Kids 8 – 12 years
Photograms with Cyanotype
8 – 12 YEARS
Tuesday 4 July 10:30am – 12:00 pm
*$25 members receive an 10% discount
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. It’s safe, simple and easy to use, all that’s needed is chemistry and sunlight.Participants will create their own photograms using precoated photosensitive paper and learn about the cyanotype process. Bring along small objects to use in creating your very own photograms.
• Wear old clothes or BYO apron
• Bring along small objects to fit A5 and A4 paper and smaller for example a doily, small flowers, jewellery or small toys.
• We will be outside in the sun for some of the workshop, weather permitting, bring a hat and sunscreen.
Zine workshop 8 – 12 years
Wednesday 5 July 10:30am – 12:00pm
Friday 7 July 10:30am – 1:00pm
Zine workshop 8 – 12 years
*$10
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Join Bastian Fox Phelan – writer, zinemaker and curator of the upcoming Eco Zine project – in this fun, hands-on zine making workshop.
Zines are DIY magazines, made using paper, scissors, and the humble photocopier. In this workshop we will focus on your thoughts and feelings about nature and the local environment, sustainability, and climate change. Bastian will run through the basics of zine making and show you how to make a mini zine as well as an A5 booklet zine. This workshop is for anyone with an interest in writing, drawing, collage, storytelling, DIY, and all things creative.
Participants will be invited to submit their zines to the exhibition that opens on the 9th of September at MRAG.
BOOK Wednesday 5 July 10:30 – 12:00
BOOK Friday 7 July 10:30 – 12:00
Explore the Power of Charcoal with artist Shona Trescott 8 – 12 years
Friday 14 July 10:30 – 12:00pm
8-12 years
*$25 per person, members recieve 10% discount
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Discover the medium of charcoal and delve into the wonders of nature through an immersive hands-on workshop. Join us for a unique artistic experience that will ignite your creativity and deepen your connection to the natural world. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to explore one of the most ancient artistic mediums and create their own individual artworks using charcoal stenciling techniques. Led by artist Shonah Trescott, the workshop will guide participants through the step-by-step process of selecting a natural element or landscape that resonates with them, creating stencils, and transferring them onto paper. Hear stories from the artist of how art can connect us and ignite our curiosity and empathy towards the natural world
BOOK for Friday 14 July 10:30 – 12:00pm
BOOK FOR Friday, 14 July 2023, 1:30 pm
Young Architect Holiday Workshop 8 – 16 years
Thursday 13 July 10:00am – 3:00pm
Working with artist Jen Denzin and an Architect from EJE Architects you will learn about the architectural features of our historical building and use it as inspiration to create collaborative installation artwork.
Teens
Zine Workshop 13 – 18 years
Wednesday 5 July 1:30 – 3:30
*$10
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Join Bastian Fox Phelan – writer, zinemaker and curator of the upcoming Eco Zine project – in this fun, hands-on zine making workshop.
Zines are DIY magazines, made using paper, scissors, and the humble photocopier. In this workshop we will focus on your thoughts and feelings about nature and the local environment, sustainability, and climate change. Bastian will run through the basics of zine making and show you how to make a mini zine as well as an A5 booklet zine. This workshop is for anyone with an interest in writing, drawing, collage, storytelling, DIY, and all things creative.
Participants will be invited to submit their zines to the exhibition that opens on the 9th of September at MRAG.
BOOK FOR Wednesday 5 July 1:30pm – 3:30pm
BOOK FOR Friday 7 july 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Photograms with Cyanotype 13 – 18 years
Thursday 6 July 10:30am – 12:00 pm
13- 18 years
*$25 members receive an 10% discount
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. It’s safe, simple and easy to use, all that’s needed is chemistry and sunlight.Participants will create their own photograms using precoated photosensitive paper and learn about the cyanotype process. Bring along small objects to use in creating your very own photograms.
• Wear old clothes or BYO apron
• Bring along small objects to fit A5 and A4 paper and smaller for example a doily, small flowers, jewellery or small toys.
• We will be outside in the sun for some of the workshop, weather permitting, bring a hat and sunscreen
River Landscape in Watercolour, En plein air workshop 12 – 18 years
Tuesday 11 July 10:30am – 12:30pm 12 – 18 years
Thursday 13 July 10:30am – 12:30pm 12 – 18 years
*$25 per person
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Learn to capture the colours shapes and atmosphere of the Hunter River in watercolour with artist Ileana Clarke while sittting on the banks of the river .
Ileana Clarke is an artist, painter, illustrator and teacher who enjoys creating in painting and drawing. Ileana has a wealth of experience teaching watercolour painting to people of all ages.
The group will meet at the gallery and will be walking approximately 10 minutes to the river on a mainly flat path. If weather is not favourable, painting will be in the gallery workshop space with reference photographs.
You will need to bring along :
Hat
Sunscreen
Water Bottle
Materials provided
BOOK FOR TUESDAY 11 July 10:30am – 12:30pm
BOOK FOR Thursday 13 July 10:30 am – 12:30pm
KIDS AND FAMILIES
FREE ART SUNDAY
Every Sunday, 10.30am and 11.45am
Workshop | Free | Bookings essential
Ages 3 – 8 years recommended
Come along to Free Art Sunday, our weekly program connecting children and families with art through hands-on activities facilitated by our friendly Art Tutors, and with something unique every week inspired by what’s on display.
There will be no Art Sunday on April 9th.
Book Now +FREE DROP-IN ACTIVITIES
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am until 5pm
Self-directed | All ages | Free
UP DOWN ART TRAIL
Come and explore the Upriver Downriver exhibition with the Up Down Art Trail, available at our front desk. Good luck little explorers!
CODE BREAKERS
We’ll get you looking up, down and all around the gallery these school holidays with a Code Breaker art trails. Pick-up a clipboard from the front desk and wander through the gallery exploring the art on display whilst hunting for clues to crack the code!
*Plus booking fee **Contact the gallery for members discount code
For ADULTS 16 YEARS PLUS
Clay Workshop for adults 16 years + with Artist Holly Macdonald
Cost $80:00 MRAG | Members receive a 10% discount | For people 16 years plus with all levels of experience and abilities welcome.
Members to get your discount code check your monthly newsletter or contact the gallery on 49349859 or email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au
Enjoy exploring mark making in clay with ceramic artist Holly Macdonald and create your own unique vessel.
Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to explore the different marks, textures and patterns one can make in clay using the hands and body only. Starting with everyday actions we do with our hands (scrolling, typing etc) and the impressions they make when applied to clay, these gestures will be used to develop textured clay slabs, which we will use to construct vessels.
Each participant will produce a medium-sized slab-built vessel animated with their own gestural fingerprints and a greater sense of the relationship with their hands and body’s movements working instinctively with the clay.
Each participant’s work will be taken away to be fired and returned to MRAG for collection.
Wear clothing you are happy to get dirty or bring your own apron.
