Two women woo our hearts!

The opening of exhibitions by two very feminine artists, Lara Scolari and Jocelyn Moles was a resounding success. Lara spoke of her work in her inimitable style of waving her arms energetically while speaking brightly of female emotions and passions. Jocelyn also gave a floor talk although from a quieter perspective as is also shown in her work.

One artist is larger than life itself with abundant energy that pours out of her and into the bright bold energetic and large works on display, the other has developed her theme in tiny fragments of iconography and gilt that glow from gold frames in the smaller gallery - both are strong artists who have given a lot of thought to their respective works and painted from the well spring within.

There were over 60 people at the opening and many works were quickly sold on the night which is a testament to how valuable the insights of these two artists are. Some collectors were disappointed as their chosen works sold before they had a chance to get a red dot on them!

The night rolled on into the cafe next door and out into the sculpture garden. It was a heady night, successful for all.

“Occuló” & "Insomnia" - 18 June to 11 July

Lara Scolari and Jocelyn Moles

Two new and emerging artists

Opens Friday 18 June 2010 at 6.30 pm

"Assured" by Lara Scolari

"Insomnia" by Jocelyn Moles

This exhibition by two new and emerging artists will open in Gallery 1 and Gallery 2 on Friday evening with a floor talk from each of the artists. You are invited to join us for the opening.

Further explanation of the works can be found online in our press room.

The opening will be followed with a dinner in Jayes Cafe so should you wish to join the artists for dinner, please book your place by phoning 02 6366 8810.

We look forward to seeing you on the night!

"Of Birds and Things!" by Peter Mortimore and more...... 15 May - 13 June

15 May – 13 June - Peter Mortimore's “Of birds & things”

Often a finishing touch to a painting can involve placing a bird in just the right position.  Be it a white cockatoo on the wing. To place a splash of white against storm clouds.  A bright coloured parrot to add life to an area of a work.  It can also be simply painting silhouettes on the wing to take the loneliness out of an empty sky.

When working in the studio, I constantly have the sounds of sparrows, silvereyes and blue wrens, chattering away in the undergrowth and shrubs in the garden outside.  A glance out of the window always brings an encounter with a bird of some description.

I do wonder whether in our busy lives we are actually aware of their presence.  I started some paintings and drawings of birds last year, so when the invitation was forthcoming to be a part of this exhibition, the theme of birds came to mind.  I actually started painting horses and birds right at the beginning when first showing my work.

This body of work will be made up of works of many mediums, watercolour, acrylic, oil, mixed media collage, pencil/graphite drawings and etchings.

I intend it to be a visual celebration of these creatures who are ever present in our daily lives, whether we are aware of them or not.

Rebecca McGirr  “The Language of Autumn”

Studying art at school, I am constantly bombarded by the language or interpretation of works of art rather than reflecting on its physical presence.

As this exhibition is held in the last month of autumn, autumn became a theme for the exhibition.  Yet while coming up with ideas, even the word Autumn, which in its dictionary meaning is one of the four seasons, has become a symbol or language of its own with an immediate reference to colour.  Winter=cold, Spring=flowers, Summer=sun and heat, but Autumn=a Cascade of colour.

Birds are busy in autumn collecting berries; butterflies are busy finding a mate to reproduce so the young develop through winter to hatch in spring.  Butterflies seem to be far more present in autumn than any time of the year.  Autumn is a vibrant time of the year as life prepares for the bleakness of the winter months.

My work will of course be filed with the colours of autumn, but juxtaposed images of birds, butterflies and other objects of this wonderful season.

I will work in acrylic, oil, mixed media collage and etchings.

My aim is to have every painting possess a life of its own but with the colours blending in like fallen leaves upon the cooling ground. ‘’Autumn is the language of colour, colour is the language of Autumn’’

"PRIVATE COLLECTION" - 16 APRIL AT 6.30 PM

We are very excited at being able to bring to Jayes Gallery, a collection of fine artworks from private collections for sale for one month only and exclusive to our gallery.

This show will be a heart stopper with some works well over 100 years old. Some of the works made their way by ship to Australia when we were just a colony. One work by John Absolon , British watercolourist, painted in the late 1800's would have been brought over by his son, John de Mansield Absolon who took care of the families shipping interests.

Another outstanding piece is a fine example of Ukiyo-e from Japan. This early woodblock on fine Japanese silk paper is over 100 years old.

This work is an early study for a European Master. The signature is hard to make out so it is a bit of a mystery but still a fine work of art and a beautiful example of what can be found still today on that rare occasion that collectors release their works for sale. This work was purchased from a convent at Perthville some 35 years ago by the collector.

Many of the works are in their original frames and haven't been changed so the patina of age is with them. These are stunning works that would make a statement in heritage houses or homes of antique collectors and discerning buyers.

There is more about this show in our Press Room .

"Where the Heart Is" - Exhibition by Josephine Jagger-Manners

Josephine Jagger-Manners is a multi-award winning restaurateur and wife of the celebrated Michael Manners. Having retired as a restaurateur, and from the highly acclaimed Selkirks Restaurant, in 2007, Josephine is now able to pursue a life long desire to paint pictures. Self-taught, Josephine enjoys painting what she sees as snippets of country life and domesticity.

Josephine’s first exhibition at her home in Molong NSW in 2009 was a great success. Viewers responded enthusiastically to her whimsical take on everyday life at home and in the garden. Josephine’s use of colour is always vibrant and reflects her lifestyle. For Josephine at present spending time painting from her home, surrounded by her large and prolific garden, truly is for her “Where the Heart Is!”

Although Josephine is a new artist coming to her passion late in life, she has had a fair grounding in art early. Josephine won a scholarship to attend the selective girl’s school in Hartlepool N E England. Art became her major subject and she achieved 98% for Art/Art History in her GCE Exam (top 1% in Britain). Josephine remembers being influenced at that time by Turner, Cezanne and Gaughin. 


We look forward to meeting you on the day! Libby - Director