Tuesday, December 1, 2009

December... already!

We seemed to have missed out on spring this year in Canowindra. It has been quite warm, to put it mildly, for a few months now.

Our end of year celebration is on the 12th of December. A BBQ any-time after 6pm. All welcome, even virtually. There will be music and sausages... and fun.

NEW! Our online shop is now up and running! Take a look. David Isbester's prints make excellent gifts for art-lovers and are selling very well.

Also you can now become a fan of the River Bank Gallery on Facebook, and you can follow us on twitter too. Just for fun!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

'The Hunting of the Rare-Bit' and 'Cicada'

These are invites to two amazing exhibitions we are having on the 6th June. 'The Hunting of the Rare-Bit' is a collaborative exhibition of paintings, prints and drawings by brilliant Canowindra Artist Heather Vallance with furniture pieces, designed and hand-crafted, by her partner, the equally brilliant, Peter Lowe.

We also have the pleasure of presenting to you the recent works of the talented Rosalie Burns who's first solo show 'Cicada' will open later in the night. These are two excellent exhibitions. So come along, bring friends if you wish and have a fun night and see some wonderful art works at the River Bank Gallery, Canowindra. Hope to see you here.



I'd also like to let you know about my new web site www.davidisbester.com . Please visit and let me know what you think. Also the River Bank Gallery web site is improving all the time so visit us at www.riverbankgallery.com.au .

Monday, May 25, 2009

Truely the Anzac Spirit.

The 'Spirit of ANZAC' Peoples Choice Exhibition was won by Katalin Nagy.

The exhibition was a fund raiser for the Canowindra Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (CMHA) who hoped to raise enough money to buy some important equipment for the Hospital. The exhibition was a big success with about half the funds raised.

Katalin was presented with the prize of $1000 by the president of the Canowindra RSL and many of the Ladies from the CMHA were there to congratulate her.

However, after graciously accepting the honor of winning the competition, Katalin presented the CMHA with the prize money. This act of generosity took all by surprise and there was hardly a dry eye in the room, it suddenly hit home to all present the real nature of the Spirit of ANZAC. This was an emotional moment that I will never forget. The CMHA Ladies were now so much closer to achieving their goal.

Congratulations Katalin, firstly for your wonderful painting that captured the 'Spirit of ANZAC' and also for your beautiful actions which embodied that spirit.

On the night of the 100 Mile Dinner, Steve from Newcrest Mines visited the River Bank Gallery and on learning what we were raising money for, suggested we put something in writing to Newcrest. The CMHA did so and we have just heard that Cadia Valley Mines have approved the funding for the rest of the money for the project. Thanks Steve. Wow!

Catherine and I are so happy about this and we would like to congratulate the CMHA and Jenny Weaver for their vision, grit and determination in achieving this for the community. It is people like you that are the Spirit of ANZAC. It has been such pleasure working with you all.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

'Remnants' Works by Fran Ifould and Emily Jackett


The opening of 'Remnants' was a very enjoyable evening with a very friendly crowd enjoying and celebrating the work of these two emerging artists. The Artworks are both direct and intimate. I get a great sense of their inquiry into the potential of the mediums they use and into the world around them. The artworks themselves contain remnants of this process which I found interesting.

Fran Ifould and Emily Jackett at the Opening of their Exhibition. Photo by Katie Blackwood.

Emily's photos speak for themselves.


Fran's work incorporates the use of a variety of media ranging from dyes extracted from local vegetation from the place that the work relates to. To found object used to complete the handmade books she shows in 'Remnants'

This one of Fran Ifould's books opened to the first page.
The cover of the book is a rusty vent.


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Dinner With the Neighbours

It's now one week after Canowindra's main street became alive with the magic of The 100 Mile Dinner. Here are some photos of the evening. Outside the River Bank Gallery the excitement began at 3pm when the street was closed off at each end.


By the time sun went down Gaskill Street had transformed with two long tables, Beautifully set with candles, small olive branches etc. The band set up and lanterns stretched across the road.



The scene was set... where's the crowd?


Without any sudden change the area filled with people. Lots of people. Kind of like waiting for the bath to fill and you think about doing something while you wait but decide not to because running the bath is doing something and then somehow you are distracted and have to make a lunge for the tap before it overflows.
You could feel the atmosphere charging steadily and before long there was that loud drone you hear when a large crowd assembles with lots of wine and a live jazz band playing at a celebratory volume.

It was all happening. With Pizza bread from a wood fired stove, the clink of friendly glasses and cheerful voices drifting in and out of focus.

This video shows some of the wonderful live music and atmosphere.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

100-Mile Dinner.


Tonight, Canowindra will be hosting a 100-Mile Dinner as part of Orange FOOD Week.

Over 300 tickets have been sold and most people attending the banquet will be visiting Canowindra for the first time.

The atmosphere here is going to be fantastic. Canowinda's main street with its historic buildings, country town charm and creative vitality will mix so well with the beautiful food and wine of the region. The Foodies are going to have a great experience.

The cool thing is that this is all happening just in front of the River Bank Gallery. So much fun so close to home. Oh well, I'll Survive. See the Google Street View. There will be a band playing Jazz in our front yard.

We will be open and are hoping that visitors will come in and enjoy having a look around the River Bank Gallery. There are two very good exhibitions on at the moment -'Somewhere Else' by Lucy Buttenshaw and the 'Spirit of ANZAC' Peoples Choice Exhibition. As well as works by many local artists of the region.

A Visual Feast! Bon appetit. For more info about the River Bank Gallery visit our website www.riverbankgallery.com.au/ .

I'll let you know how it goes.