An exhibition exploring the vast Australian landscape to start at MAC

Published on 06 July 2016

In March this year, central Victorian artist Michael Needham put a call out to the local community for information about the artist Fredrick Miller Needham, who was his great, great grandfather. 

An exhibition titled Landscape with Grave: Inherited Loss and Representation will open at Mildura Arts Centre this month. The exhibition will explore the Australian landscape through Michael’s ancestral ties to the pioneer artist Frederick Miller Needham.

Frederick Miller Needham (1840-1910), is most well-known for his illustrations in The Australian Irrigation Colonies (first published in 1888), a book commissioned by the Chaffey brothers, which became a major endorsement for establishing the settlement towns of Mildura and Renmark.

Arts and Culture Portfolio Councillor Jill Joslyn said the exhibition has allowed Michael to explore and reinterpret the concept of landscape through drawings and new sculptural work.  Alongside these works are original paintings by F.M. Needham, selected works from Mildura Arts Centre Collection and loaned works from Olivewood, Renmark, National Trust South Australia.

“There is some amazing contemporary and historical works in this exhibition which are important to our history and heritage of our local region and I really urge people to come along to the exhibition opening on Thursday 7 July at 6pm,” Cr Joslyn said.

In addition to the opening, Michael Needham will also a free a public talk at 2pm on Saturday 9 July where he will discuss the exhibition, his processes, themes and approaches to sculpture as well as insights into his family and cultural ties with the local region.

The exhibition will run until Sunday 28 August 2016.

Anyone with information or works by Frederick Miller Needham is still encouraged to get in contact with the Gallery and Heritage team at Mildura Arts Centre on (03) 5018 8330 or by email at gallery@mildura.vic.gov.au.

ENDS

Media enquiries
Rebecca Wells
(03) 5018 8195
Rebecca.wells@mildura.vic.gov.au

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