Framed – Within the Windows of Lewers House

3 July – 8 August 2010

An exhibition of photographs of site specific artworks, created in response to the Gallery’s collection of Australian abstract art. Includes nine budding artists currently from Nepean Art and Design Centre.

Photoworks by Advanced Diploma of Fine Art students from TAFE NSW- Western Sydney Institute

This exhibition responds to the site and history of Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest and has been produced by students of the Advanced Diploma of Fine Art, from TAFE NSW- Western Sydney Institute, Nepean College.

The exhibition is part of the Advanced Diploma professional practice program and exemplifies the Gallery’s commitment to artist development and community engagement. It has also been a valuable opportunity for local fine art students to interact with their Regional Gallery, explore its history and Collection as well as gain professional practice experience and exposure for their work.

Importantly, the project offered students the opportunity to engage with areas of Australian Modernism and Abstraction via the work, history, Collection and former home of artists Gerald and Margo Lewers. Thus the curatorial framework was both specific in terms of focus and location; whilst at the same time expansive in vision and opportunity – like the windows of Lewers House.

Initially, students were given briefings by Gallery staff (including mandatory site and Collection visits). They were then invited to develop site specific proposals, and were required to present these to Gallery executive staff for ‘face to face’ curatorial and logistical assessment. Once approval had been given each artist then returned to the studio to produce an artwork designed to be framed, physically and metaphorically – for a single day – within the window of Lewers House. The installed works were then documented, and further re-figured into a photo based artwork for exhibition.

The works currently on display are the resulting large photographic artworks created by the students. As such, these photographs re-interpret and respond to the site-specific works that were initially framed within the windows of Lewers House.

It was Margo Lewers’ wish that her former home be given to the people of Penrith for the enjoyment and development of art and art education. This exhibition honours that wish by involving developing and emerging local artists in exploring the legacy, experimentation and work of Gerald and Margo Lewers.