AUGUST - Celebrating Margaret Preston: art and life

The Gallery celebrates Australia's most famous female artist Margaret Preston with a range of key speakers, films, guided tours and live music performances during the Gallery's late night Wednesday Art After Hours.

Please note: Art After Hours will not run on Wednesday 31 August

5.30pm GALLERY TALKS
Gallery staff share their expertise on Gallery collections and exhibitions

3 August - Louise Fischer, Administrative Services Supervisor
10 August - Wayne Tunnicliffe, Curator Contemporary Art
17 August - Denise Mimmocchi, assistant curator Margaret Preston: art and life.

6.30pm MARGARET PRESTON GUEST SPEAKERS
From botany to brushstroke, key speakers talk about Margaret Preston's influence on their practice.

3 August - Peter Valder botanist and author
Who discovered our plants?

Peter Valder tells us something of the early appreciation of our extraordinary flora. He reveals many interesting facts about the knowledge we have inherited from the early colony's aborigines, botanists, artists and writers.

Book signing of Peter Valder's books The Garden Plants of China, Gardens in China and Wisteria in the Gallery Bookshop at 7.00pm.

10 August - Tracey Deep, floral sculptor
Australian natives and the art of floral sculpting; Tracey Deep pays homage to Margaret Preston

Tracey Deep's highly creative and sculptural floral designs engage natural and found materials in especially inventive ways. She discusses the beautiful design and sculptural qualities inherent in Australian flora. In association with Sydney Design Week.

17 August - Jenny Kee, artist and designer
Jenny Kee meets Margaret Preston

Margaret Preston's work has been a key inspiration for Jenny Kee. She discusses the development of her art and design and her love of the Australian landscape.

7.15pm LIVE MUSIC IN THE ARTBAR
Enjoy live music performed by members of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the Gallery's ArtBar. Evening meals and wine available.

7.15pm CINEMATIC SYDNEY - PRESTON FILM PROGRAM
At a time when Australians looked to other countries for culture, Margaret Preston's work celebrated the local. This selection of feature films and documentaries is devoted to Preston's city of Sydney. Titles include:

3 August - Caddie Dir: Donald Crombie 1976
10 August - Resonance Dir: Stephen Cummings & Simon Hunt 1991 & Pallisade Dir:Laurie McInnes 1987 & Eternity Dir: Laurence Johnston 1994
17 August - Heatwave Dir: Phil Noyce 1981

7.30pm GUIDED TOURS OF MARGARET PRESTON: ART AND LIFE 
Explore the work of Margaret Preston with one of our informative volunteer guides. Free with exhibition entry.

ART AFTER HOURS - EVERY WEDNESDAY UNTIL 9PM
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney 2000, Australia.
www.artafterhours.com.au or National toll free 1800 679 278

MEDIA INFORMATION
Margaux Simms, Press Office
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Email margauxs@ag.nsw.gov.au
Telephone (02) 9225 1618

Image credit: Margaret Preston Corner of Mosman Bay 1929 (detail) National Gallery of Victoria, purchased with assistance of Westpac Banking Corporation, Founder Benefactor 1997.
Images of speakers:  Peter Valder, Tracey Deep, Tracey Kee. Tracey Kee image  � Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Photo: Geoff Friend