About the exhibition

The magnificent landscapes of the Flinders Ranges are well known to most South Australians and increasingly to national and international visitors. This distinct region  has inspired a remarkable diversity of works of art which continue to influence our perception and love of this land.

The oldest surviving art forms are the rock engravings and paintings found throughout the Flinders Ranges, produced over many thousands of years by the Aboriginal inhabitants to record their stories and traditions. Since the earliest settlement, colonial artists have travelled to this remote region - firstly as recorders, such as the surveyor E.C. Frome, and S.T. Gill who accompanied the ill-fated Horrocks expedition in 1846.

By the beginning of the twentieth century the area was beginning to be viewed as an, albeit rugged, holiday destination, as seen in the exquisite photographs taken by H.H.Tilbrook. But it is undoubtedly South Australia's most famous artist, Hans Heysen, who brought this region to the attention of the Australian public. His inspiring panoramas of the drought-ravaged landscape, the sweeping hills, the ancient river red gums captured the imagination of thousands.

As this area became better known and increasingly accessible, more artists made the journey to see these spectacular landscapes including Horace Trenerry, Harold Cazneaux, Jeffrey Smart, James Cant, Barrie Goddard and German artist Nikolaus Lang. Contemporary artists who live in the region include Antony Hamilton and Aboriginal artists Regina McKenzie and Sam Lester, while Sally Smart's childhood in Quorn re-emerges in her art installations.

Arid Arcadia is the Art Gallery of South Australia's exhibition to celebrate the Year of the Outback in 2002.

Admission charges

PUBLIC PROGRAM

Guided Tours

Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday at 1 pm
Meet at the entrance to the exhibition. Entry charges apply - see above

Private Tours
Get a group together of ten people or more and have your own private tour.
Telephone 8207 7075 or 8207 7090 to be put in touch with the Gallery Guide Booking Officer

Hans Heysen, Australia, 1877-1968
In the Arkaba Country, 1942, Arkaba, Flinders Ranges
watercolour on paper, 24.0 x 40.4 cm
Sir Malcolm Barclay Harvey Bequest 1970
Art Gallery of South Australia   © copyright

Talks, & Lectures

Talks by the Curator

Tuesday 10 September at 12.45 pm
Alisa Bunbury, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs will speak on Horace Trenerry, In the Aroona Valley 1930 in Arid Arcadia.
Free with exhibition entry

Saturday 14 September at 1 pm
Majesty, Myth & Mystery
Alisa Bunbury, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs and curator of Arid Arcadia presents a free public lecture on the exhibition. Auditorium

Artist's Talks

Saturday 28 September at 12 noon & 2.30 pm
South Australian artist Sally Smart presents two talks on the development of her work and career.
12 noon: Floor talk in the exhibition. Free with exhibition entry
2.30 pm: Free talk and slide presentation in the Auditorium

In the Public Eye

Regina McKenzie, Australia, born 1965 Wilpena Pound story, 2002, Hawker, Flinders Ranges synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 87.4 x 125.5 cm Collection of the artist   © copyright

Special Events

Friday 25 October
Regional Bus Trip
Residents of Port Augusta, Port Pirie and environs are invited to join the ARTBUS for a special trip to the Art Gallery of South Australia to view Arid Arcadia. Enjoy great company, free entry, guided tours of the exhibition, morning tea and lunch for $45 all inclusive. Further details available from the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery (ph: 8633 8723) or Country Arts SA (ph: 8642 4557).
Direct bookings: call Megan 8207 7005 at the Art Gallery

Events for families and children

Sunday 22 September at 12 noon – 3 pm
Family Drop-in Days
Bring the children and enjoy free art and craft activities, live performances, Eye Spy tours for kids and special tours designed for family groups. This event is held on the fourth Sunday of each month. Free

Sunday 27 October 11 am – 3 pm
Family Fun Day
We are preparing to bring you what promises to be our biggest and best family day yet! Enjoy the art & craft activities, live music, performances and tours and Aboriginal story telling and performance by Regina McKenzie and Buck McKenzie. Be early for our much anticipated Art Gallery sample bags! Also see our new exhibitions Arid Arcadia: Art of the Flinders Ranges and Art of Arnhem Land 1940s-1970s, with free entry on the day. Mark it on the calendar now!

Sunday 8 & 22 September at 3 pm
Eye Spy Club
The Eye Spy Detectives lead children on wonderful, mysterious and fun explorations of paintings, sculpture, prints and photographs in the Gallery. For a one off membership fee of $2, children aged 5-10 years become life long members of the Club. Meet the Detectives at the North Terrace entrance at 3 pm

Members' Events

Friday 22 September at 2.30 pm
Stavros Pippos: Flinders Focus
Stavros Pippos, renowned and passionate photographer of the Flinders Ranges presents a short tour of the exhibition followed by an illustrated lecture on his work and photographic techniques.
Tickets; $15, non-members $24 including coffee and biscotti.
Bookings: call Karina on 8207 7050

Saturday 28 September   2 – 4 pm
A Passion for Painting
Unlock some of the mysteries of oil painting (and enhance your understanding of the medium) with a hands-on workshop with Marg Easson including a closer look at works in the Gallery, followed by a session trying out some the techniques discussed such as glaze, impasto and scumble.
Tickets: $36, non-members $50. All materials provided. Only 15 places available.
Bookings: call Karina on 8207 7050

October 25, 26, 27, 28
October in the Flinders
Members and friends are invited to join us for a spectacular four day trip to our beloved Flinders Ranges. You will enjoy special indigenous guided tours of local rock art and carving sites, storytelling, a visit to Hans Heysen's favourite painting locations, some great local tucker, great company and beautiful spring weather! You will need to bring your walking shoes to reach some rarely seen locations and sites. Alisa Bunbury, Curator of Arid Arcadia: Art of the Flinders Ranges, will also accompany the tour, keeping us totally informed and inspired by the extraordinary significance and beauty of the region.
Numbers are limited, enquiries and bookings: call Jo Parkes on 8207 7578

Education

School group booking information

Arid Arcadia is an excellent resource for school groups undertaking studies in Society and Environment, Visual Arts and research projects linked to the Year of the Outback

Admission: $20 per class size group (no charge for teachers and adult helpers)
Country schools and listed Disadvantaged Government Schools admitted free

Bookings are required for all school group visits to the Gallery and to Arid Arcadia
30 minute introductory floor talks provided by Education Officer or Education Guides available.
Telephone: 8207 7033 (best contact time 3.30 – 5 pm school days) or fax: 82077070

Teachers Preview

Monday 2 September  5.15 – 7 pm
Arid Arcadia Teachers Preview
Alisa Bunbury, Associate Curator Prints Drawings and Photographs and curator of Arid Arcadia will introduce the exhibition. Bookings by fax only: 82077070

Interpretation program

Education notes
Click here to access education notes for Arid Arcadia as a microsoft word document
or as a pdf document

Arcadian Encounters
Education Guides present introductory sessions for primary school groups. This involves students in actively viewing and discussing key works as well extending knowledge of Indigenous and non-Indigenous art traditions associated with the Flinders Ranges region.
Duration: 30 minutes. Year levels: primary. Session cost: FREE (exhibition entry fee applies). Bookings required

Unpacking Arcadia
Education Officer-conducted floor lectures for secondary student groups. These sessions involve students in analysing key works to explore themes and issues related to; the role of art and artists in recording and interpreting history, Australian identity, Aboriginal perspectives, landscape and historical genre art.
Duration 30 – 40 minutes. Year levels: secondary – senior secondary. Session cost: FREE (exhibition entry fee applies). Booking required

Feature Films

The Gallery will screen a selection of feature films that include footage of the Flinders Ranges.
Art Gallery Auditorium. Free

Saturday 19 October at 12 noon & 2 pm
Bitter Springs
Set in 1900, a pastoralist comes into conflict with Aborigines who have an established relationship with the land. (1950) 86 mins. Classification G

Saturday 26 October at 12 noon & 2 pm
Robbery Under Arms
Two farming brothers join the notorious gentleman outlaw Captain Starlight. (1957) 96 mins. Classification PG

Saturday 2 November at 12 noon & 2 pm
Rabbit Proof Fence
In 1931 three Aboriginal girls are removed from their families to a camp fifteen hundred miles away. Escaping, the girls embark on a harrowing journey homeward following the rabbit proof fence. Based on a true story (2002) 97 mins. Classification: PG
100 places only for each screening. Bookings essential: call 8207 7065

Free screenings

During the exhibition there will be regular screenings of the following documentaries from 11 am in gallery 25

Land of Ancient Grandeur
Explores the ancient beauty of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. (1989) 30 mins.
Classification G
courtesy of SA Video and Film Collection

Heysen on Heysen
A very personal and searching study of the work and philosophy of the great South Australian painter, Sir Hans Heysen. (1977) 15 mins. Classification G
courtesy of SA Video and Film Collection

Peach’s Australia: Flinders Ranges
Bill Peach travels the Flinders Ranges and recounts the history of the area. (1975-76) 30 mins.
Classification G
courtesy Australian Broadcasting Commission

Enquiries: call Cate on 82077035

To see what other events and activities are on at the Gallery,
click here to go to the Calendar of Events

S.T. Gill, Australia, 1818-1880 Mt Brown from camp looking NNE, August 20th c. 1846, Adelaide watercolour on paper, 18.0 x 31.2 cm National Library of Australia  © copyright

At the Bookshop

Catalogue
An illustrated catalogue written by curator, Alisa Bunbury, accompanies the exhibition and is available from the Gallery Bookshop. (Friends of the Gallery, full-time students and school orders receive a 10% discount on all items not marked nett.)
The Bookshop is open from 10 am until 4.45 pm every day except Christmas Day.

Merchandise
A range of postcards, greeting cards and publications on the art and artists featured in the Arid Arcadia exhibition such as Hans Heysen and S T Gill are available from the Gallery Bookshop.

For more information about the Gallery Bookshop, click here or telephone: (08) 8207 7029 Fax (08) 8207 7069

Sponsors