ISSUE 116 | 4 February 2009 | nga.gov.au/events

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

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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 in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Wa shington, 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.

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) Eugéne Grasset  The acid thrower c 1896 (detail) National Gallery of Australia, Canberra   Gift of Orde Poynton Esq, AO, CMG, 1993
part of Degas' world: the rage for change
more detail

Degas: master of French art

Cabaret evening
Friday 6 February 5.00 pm
MEMBERS
Enjoy a special program of music inspired by Degas. This night of entertainment commences with an exclusive viewing of the exhibition from 5.00 to 6.00 pm, with a complimentary a glass of champagne before the show. $45; $35 members | bookings essential | Exhibitions galleries and sculpturegarden restaurant

Harp performance — Sunset sessions
Saturday 7 February 5.30 pm
ANU School of Music presents a solo harp performance from Teagan Peemoeller.
Free | Exhibition gallery

Degas: an Australian great
Saturday 7 February 4.30 pm
In association with the major international exhibition Degas: master of French art, in an unlikely coming together of ideas, art and sport, legendary raconteur HG Nelson will deliver a ‘spray’ – Degas: an Australian great.
Mr Nelson’s tongue-in-cheek lectures known as ‘sprays’ have been delivered at a remarkable range of events from cookbook launches, art gallery prize presentations, local government keynote addresses to Lachlan Murdoch’s bucks night. He now turns his focus on Edgar Degas, recasting the artist as a great Australian.
No bookings required, arrive early as seating is limited!
Free | James O Fairfax theatre

Members salon de thé
Sunday 8 February 4.00 pm
MEMBERS
Join us for a tour of the exhibition, followed by a French-style afternoon tea party in the sculpturegarden restaurant.
$45 members and their guests | bookings essential
Exhibition Galleries and sculpturegarden restaurant

Special assisted tour
Thursday 12 Feburary 10.00 am
Tour and viewing of exhibition for people with disabilities, led by voluntary guides.
Free | bookings essential (02) 6240 6519 | meet in Gallery foyer

The drawing of everyday life
Saturday 14 February 9.30 am – 4.45 pm
repeated Sunday 15 February 9.30 am – 4.45 pm
Enjoy a relaxed and informal weekend of drawing people with artist and educator Leanne Crisp. The workshop will begin with an early morning viewing of Degas, and includes lunch in the Sculpture Garden.
$260; $250 members/concession (includes materials) bookings essential | Small Theatre (meet in Gallery foyer)

(above) Edgar Degas  Dancers, pink and green (detail)
c 1890 oil on canvas  Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
HO Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs HO Havemeyer, 1929. Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
part of Degas: master of French art

Degas' world: the rage for change

23 January to 3 May 2009

Degas’ world: the rage for change, is a complementary exhibition to the international blockbuster Degas: master of French art at the National Gallery of Australia. The exhibition showcases Edgar Degas’ contemporaries and the world that they inhabited, a world in the throes of social and economic change.

Featuring prints from the National Gallery of Australia’s very distinguished International Print collection, Degas’ world includes works by some of the late nineteenth century’s most famous artists: Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Mary Cassatt, Paul Signac and Pierre Bonnard among others. These artists also exhibited in the revolutionary Impressionist exhibitions between 1874 and 1886 of which Degas was a key instigator. In addition, some of their most influential precursors, such as Camille Corot and Honoré Daumier, are highlighted.

Curator’s perspective — Degas' world: the rage for change
Tuesday 10 February 12.45 pm
Mark Henshaw, Curator, International Prints, Drawings and Illustrated Books, and exhibition curator, discusses Degas, his contemporaries and the exhibition Degas' world: the rage for change.
Free | Orde Poynton Gallery

Exhibition floortalk — Degas' world: the rage for change
Thursday 12 February 12.45 pm
Jessica Gray, Intern, International Prints, Drawings and
Illustrated Books, discusses Degas, his contemporaries and friends.
Free | Orde Poynton Gallery

(above) Clementine-Hélène Dufau  The sling 1898 (detail) National Gallery of Australia, Canberra  Gift of Orde Poynton Esq, AO, CMG, 1993
part of Degas' world: the rage for change
more detail

Gallery events

Contemporary art focus 2009: Australian artists talks
Thursday 5 February 12.45 pm
Anne Zahalka discusses her work Exotic birds 2006, and Anne Ferran talks about her photograms on display in the Australian galleries.
Free | Australian galleries

Exploring space drawing workshop
Saturday 7 February 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Join Penny Low, artist and Gallery Educator, and explore the effects of tone and light in drawing. Adults of all skill levels welcome.
$50; $45 members/concession (includes morning tea and
materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer

Summer concert in the Sculpture Garden
Saturday 7 February 7.00 pm
Enjoy a wonderful summer evening of entertainment in the
Gallery’s picturesque Sculpture Garden. featuring some of
Australia’s most acclaimed R&B, jazz, blues, fusion and roots musicians:Gail Page backed by Andy Thompson, Parris Macleod, Harry Brus, Mark Kennedy, Dave Longo and Glen Terry. Plus DJ Gosper, the KarismaKatz, Christo Carlsen, Cora James, John Hill and Pu-Yu. Bring a picnic dinner.
Free | Sculpture Garden

Dancing Shiva: Indian dance with Padma Menon
Sunday 15 February 2.00 pm
Padma Menon gives a lecture and performs Indian dances that take us on a journey from the primeval idea of Shiva as Rudra to modern interpretations.
Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

Qantas Lecture 2009 — Axel Rüger, Director, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Wednesday 18 February 6.00 pm
Axel Rüger (born in 1968 in Dortmund, Germany) has been Director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam since April 2006. He has worked in several museums including a seven-year term as Curator of Dutch Paintings 1600–1800 at the National Gallery, London. There, he curated the exhibitions Vermeer and the Delft School (2001) and Aelbert Cuyp (2002). His publications include: Vermeer and painting in Delft (2001) and Art in the making: Rembrandt (with David Bomford and Ashok Roy, 1988, revised edn 2007).
$20; $15 members | bookings essential | James O Fairfax Theatre

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(above) Grace Crowley  Portrait of Lucie Beynis  c 1929 (detail)  oil on canvas on hardboard  Art Gallery of New South Wales  Purchased 1965
part of the travelling exhibition Grace Crowley: being modern

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

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