Art is subjective and it is constantly pushing boundaries in individuals, communities, and even in the arts space itself, and Gunnedah’s latest art exhibition is doing just that.
“Debatably Avant-Garde is all about challenging and expanding our views,” said Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader, Michael Cornford.
“Art forms are evolving all the time – digital art, graphic design, innovative sculpture and installation art – there are all kinds of ways you can bend the rules and push the boundaries.”
The Debatably Avant-Garde exhibition is the first of its kind for Gunnedah and for Cultural Precinct employee and contributing artist Jade Punch, it has opened up a space for artists who struggle to belong.
“We were finding that creative people in the community were making really beautiful works but feeling like they didn’t belong in a gallery because they weren’t practising watercolour or acrylic. They were practicing modern forms of creativity,” she said.
Featured in the exhibition is a photo frame asking visitors to delve into their imagination, the supposed ‘scraps’ from other artworks, and plenty of bright canvases.
The official opening night saw Council’s vision of ‘art being debated’ come to life, with exhibition organisers excited by the many open discussions had.
“Art is really in the eye of the beholder. It is up to each person to decide what they like, what they don’t like, what they think is art, what they think is not art, so, it’s been really exciting to open up that can and give people a space to discuss that openly,” said Jade.
The exhibition challenges the traditional idea of art, giving space to all artists.
The exhibition is open until Friday, June 30 at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery.