Past Exhibitions
bright & shinyfor babies and toddlers
19 May 2008 - 8 August 2008 Monday to Friday
bright & shiny was the first exhibition in an innovative program for children four years and under. bright & shiny presented a hands-on art-themed play space that provided very young children with a unique way to experience the Ipswich Art Gallery. Featuring engaging activities and amazing artworks, bright & shiny stimulated the senses and inspired the imagination.
A qualified group leader guided children and their parents/carers in 45 minute sessions. The activities within the sessions were developed by Gallery staff in consultation with early childhood specialists. They included art making, observation activities, storytelling and play.
Construction Site: kids at play
26 November 2007 - 24 February 2008
In Construction Site, children and families could play, build, collaborate, problem-solve, make, demolish, imagine, design and create together.
Construction Site was an interactive art activity for children and families. Build a cubby using foam blocks, or work in a creative team to build a whole city! A digital photo of you and your unique construction could go onto the Gallery wall.
Be your own architect and build your dream cubby!
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| kids building at Construction Site. |
3 + 6: 3 Artists 6 Primary Schools
3 March 2007 - 16 May 2007
This was an exhibition of artwork made by local primary school children, giving us a glimpse of the creativity of young people in our community.
In Term 4, 2006 approximately 150 students from 6 schools worked with 3 different artists to explore the use of recycled materials and found objects, in the visual arts. Classes from each school investigated various units of works which informed the concepts behind the artmaking. From ‘Toys' to ‘Freshwater the units of work were diverse. The processes, concepts and results achieved by these young artists were inspiring.
Participating schools: Brassall State School Fernvale State School, Ipswich West Special School, Karalee State School, Kruger State School, Mount Marrow.
Participating artists: Dona Spencer, Sara Butcher and Velvet Pesu.
3 + 6 was a collaborative project between the Ipswich Art Gallery and the Primary Arts Network Ipswich.
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| Miriama (Age 10) Untitled 2006 Fabric Collage. Courtesy of Fernvale State School |
Creepy Crawlies
18 November 2006 - 28 January 2007
Creepy Crawlies saw the Children's Gallery invaded by creatures that creep and crawl, flutter and fly, scuttle and buzz. The exhibition included artwork by Jeff Thomson, Robyn Stacey, Nell, Simen Johan, Donna Marcus, Christopher Langton and Craig Walsh.
Kids could design a monster bug on computer touch screens, get a bug's eye view exploring 'the drainpipe' (a play area with large crawling tunnels) and make a creepy crawly using exciting art materials.
The exhibition was complimented by entomology based workshops for primary school students and school holiday activities including a free family fun day and a range of hands-on art-making workshops.
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Installation view of Creepy Crawlies showing Weta by Jeff Thomson |
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Installation view of Creepy Crawlies |
Disco Puppy: Interactive Art for Kids
26 November 2005 - 29 January 2006
'Disco Puppy' presented an interactive disco dance floor created by multimedia artists which proved extremely popular with children of all ages. With simple dance movements on the specially designed dance floor, children controlled the moves of three 'cool' animated puppy characters, triggered colourful disco lights and created a groovy disco tune. 'Disco Puppy' incorporated art and music in a humorous and entertaining way and gave children the opportunity to interact with art in their very own disco dance party.
Installation view of 'Disco Puppy'
Disco Puppy' character Pup Daddy
Flying High: an interactive art experience for children
20 November 2004 - 13 February 2005
Featuring a hand-crocheted climbing web created by artist Evelyn Roth and hands on art-making activities, 'Flying High' provided children with an interactive art experience based on the sensation of flying. The exhibition also included artworks exploring themes ranging from dreamscapes to literal depictions of flight. These artworks included Robert Moore's F-111, which depicts the power and elegance of a modern jet aircraft, and works from Nick Olsen's Cityscapes series, which provide a birds-eye view of a modern urban centre.
Installation view of 'Flying High'
Evelyn Roth's 'Flying High' climbing web
Rubbish: recycling as art
21 February - 16 May 2004
Just as a child's imagination can transform a discarded cardboard box into a lunar rocket or a holiday home, artists have transformed rubbish, found materials and everyday objects into captivating artworks. 'Rubbish: recycling as art' presented magical re-imaginings, with artworks made from recycled materials such as old thongs, welded metal objects, kitchen scourers and pencils. The exhibition included a range of contemporary Australian artworks by artists such as John Dahlsen, Chris Trotter, Lesa Hepburn, Lionel Bawden and Scott Redford.
Lionel Bawden's Untitled 2003, City of Ipswich Collection, Ipswich Art Gallery
Flowers 2003 made from dish-washing scourers by Rhonda Crane
The Deep End: an interactive art experience for children
15 November 2003 - 15 February 2004
Suspended over a colourful bed of inflatable sea blossoms and urchins, children embarked on an ocean journey of climbing, tumbling and crawling through a web of crocheted nets. Developed around the underwater theme, the exhibition featured Evelyn Roth's giant interactive artwork, the Coral Sea climbing web.
Canadian born artist Evelyn Roth has been finger crocheting interactive climbing nets, commonly known as Roth Webs, since 1974. Another of Roth's creations, an oversized inflatable shark, accompanied the Coral Sea web. The inflatable shark provided an area for storytelling in which children listened to tales of peril and adventure from the ocean depths.
Installation view of 'The Deep End'
Storytelling in Evelyn Roth's Giant white shark
