The team at Orange Regional Gallery is busy installing works by more than 130 local artists for the HERE/NOW exhibition, which will run throughout February.
The HERE/NOW exhibition has been running annually since 2018, featuring artists from across the Central West, and will open on Saturday.
It is one of the most popular on the calendar in terms of the number of artists, the diversity of media and the number of visitors to the show, says Orange Mayor Reg Kidd.
"It's great local artists can have their work shown in our gallery. It has featured so many wonderful exhibitions over the years and this one will be no exception." Cr Kidd said.
LOCAL FLAVOUR: Gallery attendants Mike Allen and John Daly hang paintings in the HERE/NOW exhibition at Orange Regional Gallery.
"For many of these artists, this is the first time they have been showcased in a professional art gallery. Our local artists will have their works shown in the same gallery that regularly shows works by well-known Australian artists such as Grace Cossington Smith, Brett Whiteley, and Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
"I am looking forward to sharing it with friends who will be visiting Orange for the Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival in mid-February."
Entry was open to artists over the age of 16, living in the local government areas of Orange, Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan Shire, Lithgow, Oberon, Parkes and Weddin Shire, with the Gallery asking for new or recent works that have not been exhibited before.
Orange City Council's Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Scott Munro said he was looking forward to seeing the final selection.
"Every year the gallery sets aside space and time to feature our local artists and it's great more than 130 people submitted works," Cr Munro said.
"Many submitted two pieces and our curators have chosen one piece from each artist. We've had several pieces submitted by young and emerging artists, exhibiting for the first time and that is fantastic to see.
"This exhibition provides great exposure and experience for our local artists. We also have a few well-known local artists exhibiting such as Jane Tonks, Jaq Davies and Loretta Blake.
Cr Munro said the exhibition would be broad in artistic range and would include paintings, sculptures, printmaking and photography.
"Given the range there will be plenty to see with something to suit all tastes," he said.
HERE/NOW will be displayed from Saturday 30 January to Sunday 28 February. The Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm daily.
There will not be an opening event due to COVID restrictions.
