Maitland Regional Art Gallery Celebrates Creativity with Major Exhibition: Upriver Downriver

- Upriver Downriver installation view featuring the work of artists Ken O’Regan, Una Rey, Lottie Consalvo and Brett McMahon.

Upriver Downriver will be exhibited at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from 10 June to 13 August 2023.

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The Mayan, the Coquun, The Hunter. This river has shaped one of the most important regions in Australia, and along its mighty length, we have a large community of artists connected both geographically and creatively.

Upriver Downriver, a major exhibition at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, is an opportunity to showcase the creative energy along the banks of the mighty river that flows from a small brook in the Mount Royal Range through Wonnarua Country of the Upper Hunter and Maitland, and down to the Port of Newcastle.

Experience the work of some of the region's most established and award winning artists alongside the new, young and emerging creatives who continue in the tradition of adding and building upon the artistic vibrancy that this area is championed for.

Gallery Director Gerry Bobsien says, ‘This major exhibition will take over all our gallery spaces, filling the building to the brim with Hunter based talent. It's an extraordinary exhibition that demonstrates not only the artistic strength of the region, but also how artists in this community are intertwined and connected, both geographically and creatively.’

Featuring works from the Maitland Regional Art Gallery collection alongside newly commissioned works by local artists Graeme Wilson and Bronte Naylor, Upriver Downriver reflects on the diversity and vitality of the art being made in the region today.

For the Gallery's Senior Curator Kim Blunt, this is an exciting project, working with many artists who all have very different approaches to their work.

‘It is thrilling to see how different ideas and consistent themes emerged from artists working up and down the river. Artists have long been champions of place with so many stories of community, character and our environment emerging through art,' Ms Blunt said.

Upriver Downriver is a free exhibition and there will be a launch event on Friday 23 June, from 5.30pm at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. The event is Auslan sign interpreted, and the Gallery is wheelchair accessible.

All are welcome to attend the free launch event, tickets can be booked by visiting mait.city/UpriverDownriver