Still Searching
3 May - 16 June 2024
Still Searching
Ron McBurnie
Ron McBurnie, Still Searching for a Gallery, Fortitude Valley, 9pm Friday, 1989, Hard ground etching and aquatint on paper, 73.6 x 50.1cm.
Artist and printmaker Ron McBurnie has an arts practice spanning four decades, much of which has been spent in North Queensland. The hard ground etchings comprising this exhibition are from earlier in his career, predominantly from the late 1980s and early 1990s. The prints are playful commentaries on the idiosyncrasies of art history, society and the everyday. While the scenes and experiences present individual snapshots of time, they collectively expose moments of stillness, searching, humour and ambiguity that will resonate with contemporary viewers.
Most of the Still Searching prints are from Umbrella's stockroom, while selected works are also loaned from the artist's archive. More of Umbrella's prints are available in the gallery shop and online.
Exhibitions launch
6pm Friday 3 May 2024
Full details here.
Ron McBurnie was born in Meanjin (Brisbane), Queensland, and has lived and worked in Gurambilbarra (Townsville) for over three decades, becoming one of Australia’s most respected artists. After studying painting and printmaking at the Queensland College of Art, McBurnie moved to North Queensland and lectured at the Queensland College of TAFE which in 1986 morphed into a University art school at James Cook University (JCU). McBurnie taught at JCU for a number of years and completed a Master of Creative Arts in 2000. He has been an artist–in–residence at various overseas and Australian locations including at Carleton College, Minnesota; Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium; Alayrac, France; ANU, Canberra; National Art School, Sydney; Tanks Art Centre, Cairns; and Artspace Mackay. McBurnie has an extensive exhibition history including more than 30 solo and touring exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions. He has received numerous awards and grants including the Fremantle Print Prize, 1988 and the Australia Council overseas studio grant at the Cite International des Artes, Paris, in 1991. His work is featured in many Australian Regional Gallery collections, most major Australian state galleries and the National Gallery of Australia. He was an exhibiting artist in Umbrella’s landmark touring exhibition Legacy: Reflections on Mabo, which toured nationally 2019-2023, and is currently touring in POSTWORLD.
Also on display during this period
All Exhibitions
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Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Umbrella is a Dealer Member of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
Acknowledgements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, and by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funds through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program.
