A snapshot of life by local photographers makes up “Retrospective” – the latest exhibition to be featured at the Charlton Courthouse Gallery.

The former judicial building, now turned art-space, is gaining traction as an intimate creative hub where the artistic output of local practitioners is being cultivated and shared.

Last weekend’s opening saw 19 photographers’ work profiled, along with a supplementary display of items by 7 additional artists.

The exhibition – a joint venture between the Gallery, which co-sponsors the Charlton Cultural Magazine’s photography competition – and the Charlton Neighbourhood House, features photos from the first ten editions of the magazine’s photography competitions, along with images which have accompanied some of the publication’s stories.

Opportunity
Event co-ordinator, Carolyn Olive said the exhibition provided an ideal opportunity to reflect on the astonishing images which entrants had contributed over the past couple of years.

“There are 33 framed photos in this show” said Carolyn, “and there is so much to look at in each image.” 

While the scope of work includes seasonal topics, landscape views from both the urban and rural areas have also made their mark, with a stunning work entitled “Sunset” by Bianca Boehmke featured as the signature promotional image for the exhibition. 

Native wildlife such as the close-ups of a snake, an echidna walking on the roadway and a portrait shot of a kookaburra bring the natural to within touching distance for the viewer, especially for audiences who would not normally have access to such close exposure in real life.  

Images from the magazine’s recent photography competition, “Monochrome”, have also added impact to the display with the contrasts of light and shade forming almost abstract patterns in the photos, and the visions of local views changed through the absence of colour.

The enlargement of the digital images, which were printed on the Gallery’s large format printer, have heightened the intricate details and textures through the clarity of reproduction.

Funding
“The Gallery received funding from the Bendigo Bank for the large-scale printer, which prints up to A1 size,” said Carolyn. 

“We also received funding from the Bank for 30 large photo frames, so with the two things combined we now have the capacity to reproduce larger images at a much more economical price.”

Re-use of the frames and more affordable printing means more opportunities for the Gallery to consider presenting exhibitions, thereby increasing the exposure of artists’ work and expanding the creative offerings for the local and surrounding populations.

Supplementing the photography were displays of work by local artists using mediums ranging from paintings to handcraft, as well as sculptural constructions and items made from found objects.

Participating artists include: Cheryl Kemp (craft/dolls), Chris Wyatt and Darren Mills (painting), Kate Giakimis (painting and basket making) and Joe Durie, Joel Theisz and Andre Sardone (sculpture).

Photographers featured in the exhibition are: Brigitta Beaty, Bianca Boehmke, Jayne Burton, Kaylene Cossar, Xanthe Fitzpatrick, Demi Guy, Bailey Hooper-Dixon, Maree Hooper, Julie Jenkins, Amy Lamport, Jess McGurk, Les McKee, Carolyn Olive, Jenny Pollard, Win Scott, Craig Smith, Lachlan Start, Laura Van Boven and Sue Webster.

For opening times of “Retrospective” at the Charlton Courthouse Gallery see: https://www.facebook.com/courthousegallery3525/?_rdr