The Gympie Regional Gallery heads to New York City

Two new and unique exhibitions are opening today at The Gympie Regional Gallery.

'Roundabout: New York and Gympie' by local charcoal architectural artist Miriam Innes, exhibits works from urban New York and newly created works of iconic Gympie buildings, and is on display until Wednesday, 30 September.

Miriam says that she loves creating works using charcoal as it takes her back to her Irish roots.

“It is not dissimilar to the bog oak we found as children in the peatlands, on the family farm in the west of Ireland."

“The bog oak is found buried beneath the layers of peat for hundreds and thousands of years, and it was my first drawing material which has always had the ability to capture exactly what I've wanted to accomplish in my artwork.”

Miriam recently won the Bendigo Bank Locals Award at this year's Du Rietz Art Awards for her work titled 'Where were you when...', and she said creating the piece was a unique and organic experience.

“This work was an impromptu piece which came from the heart.”

“My family and I had just arrived in Gympie in early March this year, after moving from Abu Dhabi after living there for two years.”

“I remember that first week we arrived we were so excited to go to Mary Street and check it out, but isolation measures had taken effect and the town was so quiet, the shops were shut, the streets were bare and there were no people around.”

“I remember holding my daughter’s hands and we were talking about how beautiful the buildings were.”

“I felt then, that moment in time and history was something which needed to be remembered.”

There are plenty of activities, workshops and artist talks that are taking place throughout the duration of the exhibition. To find out more information, visit www.gympie.qld.gov.au/gallery-whats-on

Also on display is 'Hi Artworks', which celebrates the artistic talents of Gympie region youth and showcases excellence in art across the region's high schools from grades 9 to 12.

This exhibition will be on display until Saturday, 3 October.

Entry to the Gympie Regional Gallery at 39 Nash Street is free, with opening hours from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

For more information, or to make bookings for workshops and themed activities, visit www.gympie.qld.gov.au/gallery or call 5481 0733.