Golden oldies Four artists who were new and exciting in the 1960s and early 1970s are still going strong

After shifting in the 1970s from Sydney to the bush near Yass, where she is still going strong, Dawson reverted to the brilliant draughtsmanship and paint-craft that had won her a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Though Manet's luscious The melon, c. 1880, in the NGV, provides ancestry, her monumental still life, Scribble Rock cauliflower, 1993-97, was another paraphrase of the composition of Milky Way, and crumpled plastic sheeting energises the background to the white vegetable in the same way that flying drapery energises the pale nudity of Tintoretto's reclining goddess. As a young artist Dawson of course was interested in new art and its opticalities, but her enquiring mind soon focused more on biology and other sciences, including astronomy. Though only briefly characteristic of the time, she is an outstanding survivor from the 1960s. ...more

NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize 2013 finalists announced! Congratulations Viola Dominello and Ashley Frost

The winner of the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize 2013 will be announced on Wednesday 8 May 2013.

Congratulations to SDFA artists Viola Dominello and Ashley Frost, who have had their works selected for this prestigious prize. Dominello's Forty Baskets Beach - (dogs and dinghy's) and Frost's Bondi 5 x 5 can be seen in the exhibition of finalists' work, currently being held at NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney. The exhibition will continue until the morning of Friday 31 May 2013.

Look Again The work of Janet Dawson in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia

For many years I have had a quote from the publisher Michael Heyward pinned on my wall. It says: 'can we read well enough to discover the fiction to which we aspire?'

Recently I found reason again to ponder these words, while contemplating the extensive collection of works held in the National Gallery of Australia by Janet Dawson (b. 1935) who lives and works near Binalong, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Over a series of visits to the NGA, viewing this work that represents almost a lifetime of endeavour, I couldn't help but wonder: 'Can we see well enough to be receptive to its depths?'

Bon Voyage Sarah!

Stella Downer Fine Art was sad to say "goodbye for now" to our star Gallery Manager, Sarah Vandepeer. Sarah has set off for London, where she will be spending two months working in the Impressionist and Modern Art Department at Christie's auction house as the recipient of a University of Sydney Scholarship. ...more

'The Bell Ringers Ball' performance Ampere Quartet + Steffan Ianigro

The Bell Ringers Ball is an interactive installation by John Wright, Tim Hankinson, Nic Aplin and Steffan Ianigro exploring the acoustic and visual properties inherent in industrial objects. Viewers are encouraged to interact with them and there will be pop up performances throughout the exhibition.

Filomena Coppola 'Chasing the Disappeared'

Filomena Coppola has a major exhibition opening at Tweed River Art Gallery from 20 April - 8 September 2013. This includes a major work, an 8 meter long drawing with a pattern of Tasmanian tiger pelt which symbolises the passing of the first generation of Italian immigrants who came to Australia during the 1950's. Read on to see a video of Filomena discussing this work.  ...more