BERNADETTE SMITH

Has been a practising artist and art educator for more than a decade. While living in Singapore she was a full time lecturer at Singapore's National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University before returning to Australia in 2000 to lecture in art history theory at Charles Darwin University in Northern Territory. Since 2002 she has been based in her home town of Newcastle.

Ms.Smith has an extensive international exhibition record with work included in collections in Germany, France, Britain, Australia and the USA. While living in Singapore her work was exhibited at Art Forum Gallery, Chijmes Caldwell Gallery, the Australian High Commission and Shell Discovery Art Exhibition. She also lectured full time at Nanyang Technological University before returning to Australia in 2000 to teach Art History Theory at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory. In that year she was the first Australian artist to hold a solo exhibition at Seniwati Gallery of Women Artists in Ubud, Indonesia. In 2003 she was selected for the Mosman Art Prize and was highly commended for painting in the Gosford Art Prize.

Her art practice has included painting, photography and film. Transgressing the boundaries of different media her artwork has challenged nature's exile, globalisation and the postmodern spiritual void. In recent years she has developed a form of painterly abstraction using the power of the unmediated artist gesture and the materiality of impasto paint.

 

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

1988 Master of Fine Art, San Francisco Art Institute, USA

1984 Graduate Diploma Professional Art Studies, City Art Institute, UNSW.

1980 Bachelor Education in Art, CAE, University of Newcastle.

 

COLLECTIONS

Marriott Hotels, Australia.

Arco Experimental Cinema Library, Madrid , Spain.          

Kodak Photography Collection, Sydney.

Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, USA.

Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France.

Photogalerie Kommunale Friedrichshain, Berlin.

State Library of New South Wales, Mitchell Archive, Australia.

Australian National Film Archive.

 

MARK ELLIOT-RANKEN MA

Mark Elliot-Ranken has been working as an artist and arts educator for two decades both within Australia and internationally. His work has been collected by both public and private collectors such as the Earl Lew collection in Singapore, the Prudential collection, USA and IGL Australia. Currently Elliot-Ranken is enrolled as a Ph.D candidate at Newcastle University and is exploring the impact of travel on artists.

The latest series of his work is entitled "Secret Histories" and is based on large gestural abstractions drawn from his own and other artists notably Ian Fairweather's travels in and through the Asia-Pacific region and Australia. Elliot-Ranken is currently based in Newcastle with his family.

EDUCATION

Current; PhD Candidate University of Newcastle

1992; Master of Arts, Northern Territory University

1976; Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney

1977; Post-Graduate diploma of Education, Sydney Teachers College

EMPLOYMENT RECORD

2007-04; Casual Academic, University of Newcastle

2006-04; Wine consultant/salesman Australian Wine Selectors, Newcastle

2004-02; Casual Relief Teacher, NSW Department of Education and Catholic Education System

2001; contract Art/Photography Teacher St Mary's Senior College, Maitland

2000; Contract teacher NT Department of Education, NT Open Education Centre and Kormilda College, Darwin

1999; Aug-Dec. Art and Graphic Design Co-ordinator Canadian International School, Singapore

1997-99; Secondary Art Co-ordinator, Ministry of Education, Singapore

1996; Casual Academic, University of Newcastle

1990-95; Casual Fine Arts Lecturer, Northern Territory University

1968-92; Art Teacher, NT Department of Education (study leave 1990-92)

1984-85; Expressive Arts Teacher/Co-ordinator, Papua New Guinea

1983; Various casual teaching positions, Sydney

1982; Extensive travel in north Australia

1982; Jan-May Project Officer, Epping CYSS

1977-81; Secondary Art Teacher, NSW Department of Education

EXHIBITIONS

2005; two person exhibition, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle

2005 Post-Graduate Exhibition, University of Newcastle

2004; Two person exhibition, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle

2004; Solo exhibition, Rushcutters Bay Gallery, Sydney

2003; Group Exhibition, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle
2003; Exhibited artist Manning River Art Competition
2003; Two group exhibitions, Rushcutters Bay Gallery,
Work exhibited Marie Meizner Gallery, Hill on Hargrave Gallery and Featured artist at RBG exhibition Affordable Art Fair, Studio 48 Gallery, Newcastle
Group Show.
2003; Current Works Exhibition, The Chancellery University of Newcastle
2003; Exhibited artist Maitland Art Competition
2002; Three group exhibitions Studio 48 Gallery, Newcastle
2002; Highly commended Dobell Art Prize, Contemporary section.
2001; Invited to exhibit in Maitland City Gallery Shop Front Gallery, Pendar Place Maitland, 1-30 September.
2000; Represented at the Melbourne International Arts Fair through Art Forum Gallery, Exhibition title; New Asian Artists.
1999; Two person Exhibition, "Destinations" Art Forum Gallery, Singapore
1998; Two person Exhibition, "First Sighting, Second Comings", Art Forum Gallery, Singapore.
1998-1990; Work on exhibition, Holdsworth Gallery Sydney, Perth Galleries, Perth NESSARC Gallery Wollongong, Clever Me Gallery Darwin and Sunstorm Galleries Darwin.
1995; Solo exhibition, Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney.
1994; Two person exhibition project entitled "Never Never, Never Never" with showings in Darwin (24Hour Art Gallery), Alice Springs (Araluen Art Centre) and Sydney (First draft Gallery).
1993-92; Solo Exhibition "Myths of the Sun and the Moon" Araluen Centre, Alice Springs and Sunstorm Galleries, Darwin.
1991; Australia Council sponsored Solo Exhibition, Framed Gallery Darwin.

COLLECTIONS

Babcock and Brown Collection, Sydney
IGL Collection, Sydney
Stamford Bank collection, Singapore
Prudential Collection, USA
Dr. Earl Lu Collection, La Salle SIA, Singapore.
Margorie Chu Collection, Singapore
Contemporary Collection, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT
Contemporary Collection, NTU
Goroka Museum Collection, PNG
Kainantu Lodge Collection, PNG
Collection of the National Art School, PNG.
Numerous Private Collections in Australia and internationally

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2002; HECS grant University of Newcastle
1993; Co-recipient VACB Project Grant, "Never Never, Never Never"
Project.
1992; Co-recipient "Corner Strategy" Project, Australia Council.
1991; Project Grant for Solo Exhibition, VACB.
1991; Post Graduate Assistance Grant, NTU
1990; Exhibition Funding from NTU for Masters Students Project.
1973-76; NSW Teacher's Scholarship.

REVIEWS

2007-01, mentioned in several reviews Newcastle Herald

1999; Photo-essay and critical review, Destinations Exhibition, Straits Times, Singapore
1999; Review Destinations Exhibition, I.S. Arts Magazine Singapore, writer Kae Fong
1998; Reviewed on Singapore Saturday TV for Joint Exhibition First Sighting, Second Comings. Interviewed on "Radio Hut" Singapore for same exhibition.
1998; TV arts Program, The Art Club, CNN for New Generation Artists, as part of Singapore Arts Festival.
1998; Radio interview, FM 99.5 Singapore Arts Program for Chance Encounters Installation.
1995; Magazine essay Art and Australia exhibition profile for Contemporary Territory Exhibition.
1994; Catalogue essays and compilation of "Never Never, Never Never" Project.
1994; Live interview, ABC Radio National for "Never Never, Never Never" Project
1994; Artist profile, Contemporary Territory Catalogue, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT.
1993; Critique of Solo Exhibition at Casuarina Gallery in Eyeline Magazine, writer Dino Hodge
1992; MA thesis entitled "Artists Working in an Isolated Australian Community: A Study of post 1974 visual Arts in Darwin". Copies available through NTU School of Fine Arts and NTU Library.
1992; Arts Review interview ABC Radio National for "Myths of the Sun and Moon" Exhibition.
1992; Contributor to joint Catalogue essay for "Corner Strategy Project"with other participants.
1992; Corner Strategy Reviews in ARMS Magazine, Perth and BROADSHEET Magazine, Adelaide.
1992; Interview with 8Top FM, Darwin for Corner Strategy.
1991; Critique for solo exhibition, Framed Gallery in Eyeline Magazine, writer Liz O'shea
1991; Review, NT News for Framed Gallery Exhibition.
1990; Review, Masters Students Exhibition, NT News.
1990; Interview, 8Top FM for Masters Students Exhibition.

GROUP PROJECTS

2002; Contributing artist "Gemini" & other group Exhibitions Studio 48 Gallery.
2002; Members exhibition, Newcastle Community Art Centre.
1999; Contributing artist group exhibition, Notices Gallery, Singapore.
1999; Invited to present the Australia Day Group Exhibition, 26 January at the Australian High Commission, Singapore.
1998; Installation Project, "Chance Encounters" with Crossover Collaboration Group, Art Forum Gallery (June-July)
1998; Invited Artist, "New Generation Artists" Art Forum Gallery, Singapore (May-June).
1997; Organized and participated in Artists trip for 23 Singapore based artists to NT, Katherine Gorge, Kakadu and Orde River
1994; Selected Artist, "Contemporary Territory" Artists Exhibition, NT Museum of Arts and Sciences.