With 3 exhibitions at the Newcastle Art Gallery in December 2021 it’s a great place to visit The three exhibits fill the galleries walls until January 30, 2022.
About Being Here
The first exhibit consists of ceramic art work by Angela Valamaneh of the Jam Factory. Titles “About Being Here” displays works from her developing style of the late 1990s until present.
Natural Histories #FUntitled CeramicInsect/Orchid
Instrumental Cause
The exhibition Instrumental Cause is by guest curator Donna Biles-Fernando featuring portraits from Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection. These examine how different artists work.
The Suspension of Disbelief by Marcus BeilbyInstrumental Cause
The Art of Protest at Newcastle Art Gallery December 2021
The Art of Protest features politically engaged artists past and present responding to disaster and injustice and calling for change, whether from community activism or global social movements.
Covering over 100 years of resistance, it shows how new artists take up the fight each decade. Many areas of protest are covered, from workers’ rights and feminism to climate change.
The Art of Protest TitleMade From Melted Family Ute Lost in the 2019/20 Fires by Fiona LeeI Can’t Breathe by Maddison GibbsPaper Armada by Alex Seaton and Screen Prints by Peter DrewTrial By Fire by Fiona LeeThe Bunker by Fiona LeeBillionaires UnitedThylacine Study No.4 by Joseph McGlennon
Located in the Hunter Valley near Jerrys Plains, The Clydesdale Experience is a fantastic way to spend three hours. Not only do you get to see the horses up close, but you see them work and learn their history, all in the beautiful Hunter Valley.
Visits are by appointment only, which can be done through their website.
Meet the Clydesdales
Greeted by our hosts on arrival, we then met the four Clydesdales that currently call the farm home. While getting up close to the horses, we learned about them and the owners’ history with the breed. For such large animals, they were extremely gentle, although we were reminded to be careful as they are very strong.
Wilfred
Morning Tea
After meeting the Clydesdales, our hosts put on morning tea and coffee. Very nice coffee and homemade scones and cakes, which were delicious! Two of the horses joined us in the shade while our hosts explained all about Clydesdales.
Hunter and Leroy at Morning Tea
Morning Tea
Working the Horses
After morning tea, we went out to the ploughing field where we had a demonstration of what Clydesdales could do. We started with a demonstration of old horse powered machinery, where the horse powers a pump or grain crusher.
We then saw ploughing and were able to take part by guiding the plough. This was great fun, and everyone had a turn.
All of this in the wonderful Hunter Valley with the Wollemi National Park as a back-drop.
Leroy About to Start Work
Barney
Harvey Relaxing After a Hard Day Supervising
What Did We Think of the Clydesdale Experience?
This was an amazing experience, with friendly hosts and wonderful horses making it a great time. If you want to learn about Clydesdales, how they work or just want to get up close to them, this is a great experience. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Located in Maitland opposite St Mary’s Anglican Church, Grossmann House is a heritage-listed former residence and Maitland Girls’ High School premises and now house museum. Built in 1870 by local businessman Isaac Beckett, the house represents the success of his business with Samuel Owen. The adjacent Brough House built by Owen is an identical but mirror image design.
In 1893 the first Maitland Girls’ high School was established when both Brough and Grossmann House were purchased and converted to a school. The name is derived from the first headmistress, Jeanette Grossmann who was principal at the school from 1890-1913.
Managed by the National Trust since the mid-1960s and decorated with artefacts from the 1860s.
With the interior restored to 1870s Victorian Grossmann House is open for tours on Sundays, with tickets available online.
We enjoyed our tour, finding the guides friendly and very knowledgeable on the house, which was great when we asked questions.
Hallway
Decorated with period furniture, the hallway leads to the main living area of the house, but its most interesting feature is the restored gas lights. Although stored to working order, they were not operating during our visit.
Hallway
Gas Light Chandelier
Internal Staircase
Dining Room
Furnished with a set-dining table, the dining room looks just like it would in the 1870s. The decorations are great, although the portraits on the walls are not of the original owners, but contemporary paintings.
Dining Room
Dining Table
Wallpaper
As part of the restoration undertaken by the National Trust, the original wallpaper was recreated from fragments discovered in the house. This has added to the presentation of the house, as it looks authentic.
Reproduced Wallpaper
Ladies’ Sewing Room
Containing the furnishings expected in a ladies’ drawing room, the windows overlook the garden, giving the room a relaxed atmosphere. The wallpaper here is also recreated from fragments found during the restoration.
Chair With Footstool and Window View
Sofa in the Ladies Room
Georgian Crystal Exhibition
Several rooms had an exhibition of Georgian crystal, which although not related to the house, made an interesting addition to the tour.
Georgian Crystal Display
Georgian Crystal Display
Old School Room
One room was furnished as an old school room to show how the building looked during this period. The photo on the wall is of Jeanette Grossmann the first headmistress.
Old School Room
Kitchen
The kitchen contains an old oven and other nineteenth century fittings, which suit the age of the house.
The Oven
Grossmann House Garden
Wet weather during our visit prevented a good look around the gardens, but they look nice and would be great to walk around, if it wasn’t raining.
Back Garden and Laundry Building
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
