ART and footy are both pursuits that elicit a lot of passion and this blend will next month come to life in two new exhibitions at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery.
Home Ground and Beyond the Boundary are set to arrive at the gallery on August 5.
Art Gallery director Ian Tully said the exhibitions would provide an exciting opportunity for visitors to witness the fusion of two beloved passions.
“Visitors will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in a unique experience that celebrates a football culture and creativity through photography, ceramics, painting and prints,” Mr Tully said.
“We will showcase two exhibitions that focus on Australian rules football – Home Ground, including various artists, and Beyond the Boundary by Michael Willson.”
Beyond the Boundary focuses on photography, capturing the action, the heartache and the emotion of the game.
“Michael is chief photographer of the Australian Football League,” Mr Tully said.
“(He is) a highly respected sports photographer, creatively photographing all the action, triumph, heartbreak, blood, sweat and tears – often capturing moments otherwise unseen – from a unique perspective that can only come from an intimate knowledge and love for photography and Australian football.”
Beyond the Boundary would be complemented by the Home Ground exhibition.
“Home Ground invites our home players and supporters, as well as the broader public, to view the game of Australian rules football through a lens quite different to the all-consuming high paced world of weekend footy,” Mr Tully said.
“Through photography, ceramics, paintings and prints, Home Ground will take the viewer behind the scenes and in many cases beyond the glare of the bright lights, to a more contemplative and nuanced interpretation of players and supporters.”
Mr Tully also said the gallery was delighted to be hosting a special launch event with Josh Jenkins, a former AFL player who grew up in Swan Hill, to open the exhibitions on Friday, August 4, from 6pm to 8pm.
For more information, contact the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery on 5036 2430.
