Exhibition of immersive drawings opens at Tweed Regional Gallery

30 January 2020

Artist will host drawing workshop and talk

Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre will present Blue Mountains-based artist Catherine O’Donnell’s extraordinary installation ‘Fibro Façade’ from Friday 31 January.

The installation is comprised of a series of meticulously-executed, large-scale charcoal drawings depicting elements from common fibro housing. The drawings are all connected by an architectural tape outline to complete the installation.

O’Donnell exhibits widely and is represented in public and private collections, both locally and internationally. Exhibitions and residencies have taken her across Australia, Paris, Rome, Venice and London. Exhibition highlights include Close to Home: Dobell Australia Drawing Biennale, the Kedumba Drawing Award, the Albury Art Prize and the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing.

This work was commissioned by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and was originally included in the 2018 solo exhibition titled 2168: Estate of Tomorrow, curated by Lizzy Marshall.

Curator Ms Marshall said of this extraordinary work: “Catherine O’Donnell’s draughtsmanship skills are some of the finest this country has even seen. Rather than create static replications of sites, she imbues her houses with a pathos and resonance which reveals her talents as a storyteller”.

The artist has also created a narrative within the individual elements of the installation. O’Donnell leaves the screen door ajar, pulls back the curtain, opens the window and shows the uneven lines of the venetian blinds to reveal that her renderings are equally about the occupants as they are about the structures that they call home.

O’Donnell says of her own work: “I draw what I regard to be beautiful or interesting in order to highlight the power of the ordinary, commonplace architecture of the urban landscape. At first glance, these qualities may not be evident…but to me, these buildings are so much more that the physical embodiment of post-war utopian ideals. They have been, and still are, homes for many people.”

On Saturday 8 February from 10am to 4pm, Catherine O’Donnell will host a tonal drawing workshop at the Gallery. Come along and learn classical drawing techniques from this award-winning artist. Suitable for those with some drawing experience. Cost is $85. Bookings are essential: www.trybooking.com/BGYCX.

On Sunday 9 February from 2pm to 3pm join us for a Meet the Artist event, where Catherine O’Donnell will provide insights into her practice and the exhibition ‘Fibro Façade’. Stay afterwards for an informal chat and refreshments in the Gallery foyer.

The exhibition continues until Sunday 28 June 2020.

Downloads

Photo 1(JPG, 72KB)

Caption: 'Fibro Façade' install image, MAY SPACE at Sydney Contemporary, 2018. Courtesy the artist and MAY SPACE, Sydney.

Photo 2(JPG, 107KB)

Caption: Catherine O’Donnell, ‘Urban perspective – large window’ 2017/18, charcoal on paper, 98.5 × 135.2cm. Image courtesy the artist and MAY SPACE, Sydney