ISSUE 115 | 19 January 2009 | nga.gov.au/events

12 December 2008 – 22 March 2009
nga.gov.au/degas

Avoid the queue — Buy tickets here!
Visiting from interstate? Buy accomodation packages!

Australia’s first ever exhibition of works by French artist Edgar Degas (1834–1917) is now showing at the National Gallery of Australia, and is exclusive to Canberra.

The exhibition includes more than 120 paintings, drawings, sculptures, monotypes, prints, and photographs drawn from 45 collections from all over the world. Works are drawn from prestigious galleries such as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art inNew York and the National gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Degas was an innovator in depicting images of everyday life in Paris. Many of the works exhibited focus on Degas’ favourite subject matter—the ballet, behind-the-scenes views at the opera, the racetrack, café-concerts, laundresses and women bathing, as well as brothels.

Exhibition hours
10.00 am–5.00 pm daily
plus Saturday evening 5.00 – 7.00 pm (13 December 2008 – 14 March 2009)

Admission prices
Adult $20; members/concession $15; children $6*;
family $45; season adult $60
*Children’s prices apply to 6–16 year olds (under 6 free)

(above) Edgar Degas  At the races in the countryside (Carriage at the races) (detail) 1869  oil on canvas  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston  Photograph © 2008 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
part of the Degas exhibition

Degas: master of French art

Frozen motion sculpture workshops
(ages 8–12)
Tuesday 20 January 10.00 am – 12 noon
repeated 2.00–4.00 pm
BOOKED OUT!
Join artist Teffany Thiedeman and make sculptures in warm wax, inspired by the dancers, horses and bathers in the exhibition.
$20; $15 members (includes materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer

Movie night: Moulin Rouge!
35 mm, 2001, M, 127 mins
Tuesday 20 January 5.00–7.30 pm
MEMBERS
In the spirit of Degas: master of French art, enjoy a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! Evening commences with light refreshments.
$10; $5 members | bookings essential | James O Fairfax Theatre

In the frame with Degas painting and pastel
workshop
(ages 8–12)
Thursday 22 January 10.00 am – 12 noon
repeated 2.00–4.00 pm
BOOKED OUT!
Join artist Elisa Crossing and be inspired by Degas to capture a moment using gouache and the beautiful colours of chalk pastels.
$20; $15 members (includes materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer

Degas focus talks — Sunset sessions
Saturday 24 January 4.30 pm
Enjoy free focus talks, live music and performance. Also, sample wines from around the world as part of the program Sunset sessions. Sunset sessions take place every Saturday from 24 January to 14 March.
Free | Members lounge

Wine tastings — Sunset sessions
Saturday 24 January 5.00–7.00 pm
In association with Sunset sessions late night openings, we continue the tradition of exotic wine tastings every Saturday in the Members Lounge.
$5; free for members | Members Lounge

Seven Harp Ensemble — Sunset sessions
Saturday 24 January 5.30 pm
Featuring staff and students from the ANU School of Music, the recently formed Seven Harp Ensemble will play a diverse repertoire, including four newly commissioned Australian works and Degas' letters, a composition by Jim Cotter. The Seven Harp Ensemble includes Alice Giles (Director), Ingrid Bauer, Marie-Cécile Darme, Liena Lacey, Genevieve Lang, Laura Tanata and Tegan Peemoeller.
Free | Exhibition Galleries foyer

Poetry and novel readings from Impressionism to Realism: Paris, the bawdy house of Europe
Saturday 31 January 2.00 pm
Come and listen to local writers reading from poems and novels by Degas’ contemporaries. Degas was an important figure bridging art and literature of the 19th century. Marion Halligan, John Foulcher, John Stokes, Charlotte Clutterbuck and Susan Hampton read a selection of poetry and prose by Degas’ contemporaries.
Free | Small Theatre

(above) Edgar Degas  Three dancers at a dance class  1890s (detail)   oil on cardboard  Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane  Purchased 1959 with funds donated by Major Harold de Vahl Rubin
part of the Degas exhibition

Gallery events

Book me in
(ages 8–12)
Wednesday 21 January 10.00 am – 12 noon
BOOKED OUT!
repeated 2.00–4.00 pm
Join artist and book binder David Hodges to make your own sketchbook inspired by the work of Grace Cossington Smith. Create still-life sketches of household objects and draw works of art about home.
$15; $12 members | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer

Focus on bark painting
Saturday 24 January 11.00 am
Tina Baum and Chantelle Woods, curators, Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Art, present recent acquisitions, including work by Kunwinjku artist Balang (Mick) Kubarkku.
Free | Australian galleries

Focus on bark painting
Saturday 24 January 1.00 pm
Helen Maxwell, private gallery owner, and Gallery object
conservators speak about collecting and caring for paintings on bark.
Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

Summer Sundays art club
Sunday 25 January 3.00–4.30 pm
MEMBERS
Anne O’Hehir, Assistant Curator, Photography, gives a focus talk on the work of Robert Frank, followed by a glass of sparkling wine.
$5; free for members | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and Members Lounge

Become a Gallery member today — visit us at nga.gov.au/members

(above) Imants Tillers Terra Incognita  2005 (detail)  synthetic polymer paint, gouache on 288 canvasboards  National Gallery of Australia, Canberra   Purchased 2006
more detail

Gallery information
Open daily 10 am – 5 pm | nga.gov.au | +61 2 6240 6502

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For bookings email eventbookings@nga.gov.au or call +61 2 6240 6504 or freecall 1800 020 068