2004  Last weeks!

"... a refreshing, vigorous and challenging exhibition, where safe real estate art has been left out... Australian Culture Now is fresh, spunky and deliciously raw."
Sasha Grishin, Canberra Times

" 2004  Australian Culture Now is bigger than the Biennale of Sydney, with much more of a local pulse and sense of fun."
Michael Fitzgerald, Time

The very popular  2004  Australian Culture Now exhibition of contemporary Australian art at The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, runs until Sunday, 1 August. Entry is only $2, and features a wide variety of art practice...  2004  is a new collaborative venture between the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).  2004  brings together the work of artists, craftspeople, game-designers, networked media creators, architects and moving image-makers who confront rapid change in new and traditional or established media. This national survey of recent work by 130 artists, draws individuals into creative dialogue with each other, with the public, and with the social, political and environmental forces of our culture. Don't miss the opportunity to see these interesting, exciting and at times unusual works...

Until 1 August 2004
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square
$2 admission at NGV (no concessions)
www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2004

Until 12 September 2004
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Online exhibition at: www.acmi.net.au/2004/

Join us at the contemporary art symposium this Sunday!

You are invited to the  2004  symposium this Sunday, 18 July. It runs from, 2-4pm and entry is free. Artists, cultural theorists and writers will come together for a somewhat informal talk on Australian culture now... and will provide a number of alternative, or perhaps oppositional, perspectives on  2004  Australian Culture Now.

Speakers include: artists Philip Brophy, Peter Graham & Janet Korakas; Craig Judd, Education Manager, Biennale of Sydney and Penny Webb, art and craft writer for The Age. Artist Nicholas Folland (the creator of the refrigerated chandelier that has grown icicles as the exhibition has progressed) will speak in the exhibition space ($2 entry).

From 4.30 pm the winner of the John McCaughey Memorial Art Prize will be announced. Drinks will follow. Everyone is welcome, but bookings are essential on 8662-1555.

The Impressionists:
What the critics said

The Impressionists: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay
Until 26 September 2004
NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road
Admission fees apply
www.ngv.vic.gov.au/impressionists

The NGV's current blockbuster of French Impressionist paintings - The Impressionists: Masterpieces from the Musee d'Orsay - at NGV International continues to draw praise and comment from national visual art reviewers. (Admission: adults $20/NGV Members $16/Concession $16/Family $50/NGV Members Family $25. Avoid the queues and pre-book your tickets through Ticketmaster7 on 13 61 00.)

"The installation is dazzling. This is the best exhibition I have seen at the NGV in 30 years."
Jeff Makin, Herald Sun

"The story of Impressionism and the birth of modern art is told in an exhibition of more than 90 paintings..."
Robin Usher, The Age

"For the new-look NGV, The Impressionists exhibition, and the number of people banging down doors to get into it, is a big step in the right direction."
Penny Watson, City Weekly

"It is the crowning achievement of the $168 million gallery re-launch in December."
Simon Plant, Herald Sun and Brisbane Courier Mail

"Seriously, it is one of the best $20 you will spend."
Age reader John Kingston of Clifton Hill in his Letter to the Editor

Remember, you can become an NGV Member and beat the queues at the Information Desk at St Kilda Road. Join NGV members online or in person!

Impressionists After Hours

Each Wednesday, from 4 August until The Impressionists closes on 26 September, the exhibition will be open until 9pm. Take advantage of this evening opportunity. Join us for a glass of wine and a visit to the exhibition after work, before you go to the theatre, or pre-dinner with friends. Students will also be able to get $10 entry on presentation of their student ids.

You've seen the show, now take home the memories

The NGV Shop at St Kilda Road has a superb selection of Impressionist (and other) gifts, products and take-home reminders of this outstanding exhibition. Exquisite books, notepads, fridge magnets, t-shirts, posters, greeting cards, badges, and our acclaimed exhibition catalogue (hard cover and soft cover both available). For further details, visit the NGV Shop online.

Footy comes to the NGV

Footy and art come together in an exciting new project, The Spirit of Football art award, which opens at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia on 6 August. Twenty-two artists have been invited to take part in the exhibition, which offers $40,000 to the winner and the winning work will join the NGV's permanent display. There will also be a People's Choice award and visitors to the exhibition, which runs until the end of September, will be invited to cast their votes.

Artists participating are: Gary James (aka Spook), Vera Moller, Brook Andrew, Jon Campbell, Noel McKenna, Kathy Temin, David Wadelton, Stephen Haley, Danny Moynihan, Destiny Deacon, Gareth Sansom, Greg Creek, Louise Paramor, Ross Watson, Anthony Pelchen, Martin Tighe, Tim McMonagle, Mark Galea, Peggy Napangardi Jones, Ray Thomas, Ex de Medici and Kim Donaldson.

Geoff Slattery Publishing supports the award, and the winner will be announced in a live broadcast on Channel Nine's The Footy Show in August. A quality publication celebrating the award will be available at the NGV Shop and other retail outlets for $19.95.

Pretty tutus for all to see

In early 2003, The Australian Ballet commissioned 17 of Australia's top designers to create their interpretation of a tutu to be worn by a dancer of The Australian Ballet. The TUTU project, celebrating the collective talents of Australia's leaders in fashion, design, and the arts, culminated in a one-off performance at the Sydney Opera House in July 2003. The NGV has extended the life of this innovative project with a special exhibition.

Tutu: Designing for Dance features eight of the tutus from the TUTU project, along with four additions from The Australian Ballet's collection. The oldest tutu on display is from The Australian Ballet's performance of Swan Lake, 1977.

Designers represented include Akira Isogawa, Balarinji, Collette Dinnigan, Dinosaur Designs, Easton Pearson, Scanlan & Theodore, Toni Maticevski and Richard Tyler.

The exhibition opens on 23 July until 9 January 2005 at the Myer Fashion and Textiles Gallery on Level Two of the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

Coming up at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Coming up at NGV International

2004 / Art of Zen / City of Light / From Paris with Love / House Mix / Pins & Needles / re_generation

To subscribe to NGV@RT go to to www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvart. Please forward NGV@RT to friends, family and colleagues who are interested in staying up to date with the NGV's news. The National Gallery of Victoria does not send unsolicited emails, as per the guidelines set out under Australia's Spam Bill 2003. You may unsubscribe to NGV@RT at any time by sending an email to ngvart@ngv.vic.gov.au with the word 'unsubscribe' in the subject line of your email.