PLEIN-AIR PAINTING IN EUROPE 1780-1850  PROGRAM
29 SEPT, 6 OCT, 13 OCT 2004

Art After Hours, the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Wednesday evening events program, features three talks based on the exhibition Plein-air painting in Europe 1780 - 1850.

Guest speakers Peter McCallum (29 September), David Dale (6 October) Richard Glover (13 October) will discuss a range of topics relating to open air painting - from �What one hears on the Mountains': Music and landscape in the Romantic era, to the perils of painting outdoors and the art of Italian Alfresco living.

In addition to these talks, Art After Hours comprises many more events including films, jazz in the ArtBar, life drawing and guided tours of exhibitions.

29 SEPTEMBER 6.30pm
Peter McCallum, SMH music critic
'What one hears on the Mountains': Music and landscape in the Romantic era

'The hills are alive with the sound of music' ... and Peter McCallum will take us there. Be swept up in a musical journey that parallels the plein air painters' experience of finding inspiration in the drama of the landscape and painting outdoors. McCallum will take as his cue a tone poem by Franz Liszt, perhaps the most prolific and influential musician of the Romantic era, and include excerpts from various Romantic compositions that beautifully evoke the power of place.

6 OCTOBER 6.30pm
David Dale, writer and foodie.
Alfresco: The Art of Living in Italy

A talk for anyone who's ever bought a terracotta pot or doused a salad in extra-virgin olive oil... Ever since the advent of the aristocratic 'grand tour', the Anglo passion for Italy, and the Italian style of Alfresco living has been in full swing.Today, the Italian idyll is still a very potent force, and who better to commentate on the phenomenon than travel writer, social anthropologist and occasional Italian resident - David Dale.

13 OCTOBER 6.30pm
Richard Glover, ABC 702 Drive Presenter & writer.
The role of the bull-ant in nude picnicking: an Australian response to Manet's frolic in the park.

In a talk that promises to tell the naked truth about the perils of painting outdoors, Richard Glover will take as his launching pad, Edouard Manet's scandalous depiction of unclothed, mixed picnicking, Le D�jeuner sur l'herbe (1863).

As well as celebrity talks, don't miss the other exciting events during Art After Hours.

At 7.15pm, visitors can enjoy a film from the Gallery's free program of cinema curated by Robert Herbert. The September/October program Summer follows themes from the exhibition Plein-air painting in Europe 1780 - 1850. Highlights include Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Eric Rohmer's A Summer's Tale (1996) and Emanuele Crialese�s Respiro (2002).

At 7.30pm, jazz trios from Sydney Conservatorium of Music perform in the Gallery's evening eating venue - ArtBar. They perform a modern selection providing the perfect sound track to the vista of Woolloomooloo Bay and the ArtBar's wine and food menu.

At 7.30pm, you can enjoy a guided tour of temporary exhibitions or alternatively explore the Gallery's permanent collection with floor talks by Gallery curators, educators and conservators at 5.30pm.

On 6 and 15 October at 7pm, in conjunction with the Sydney Morning Herald's good food month, Lisbeth Star will run two 'fruity' and 'fleshy' life drawing sessions. Lisbeth's one hour classes require no previous experience. Cost $25 (includes a glass of wine & some drawing materials). Bookings essential, numbers limited (02) 9225 1740.

ART AFTER HOURS
All events free (Admission charges apply for some exhibitions.)

Wednesday 29 September
5.30pm Gallery talk Jackie Menzies, Head Curator Asian Art in the Asian galleries
6.30pm Guest talk Peter McCallum SMH music critic 'What one hears on the Mountains': Music and landscape in the Romantic era.
7.15pm Film Picnic at Hanging rock (Dir: Peter Weir, 1975)
7.30pm Live jazz trios in the caf�
7.30pm Guided tour of temporary exhibitions.

Wednesday 6 October
5.30pm Gallery talk Henrik Kolenberg, Senior Curator of Australian Prints and Drawings
6.30pm Guest Talk David Dale, writer and foodie. Alfresco: The Art of Living in Italy
7.00pm Life Drawing with Lisbeth Star (bookings required)
7.15pm Film A Summers Tale (Dir: Eric Rohmer 1996)
7.30pm Live jazz trios in the cafe
7.30pm Guided tour of temporary exhibitions

Wednesday 13 October
5.30pm Gallery talk George Alexander, Co-ordinator of Contemporary Programmes.
6.30pm Guest Talk Richard Glover, ABC 702 Drive Presenter & writer. The role of the bull-ant in nude picnicking: an Australian response to Manet's frolic in the park
7.00pm Life Drawing with Lisbeth Star (bookings required)
7.15pm Film Respiro (Dir: Emanuele Crialese 2002)
7.30pm Live jazz trios in the cafe
7.30pm Guided tour of temporary exhibitions

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW
Celestial Silks: Chinese Religious & Court Textiles  Until 24 October
Plein-air painting in Europe 1780 - 1850  Until 31 October
Crossing Country: the alchemy of western Arnhem Land art  25 September - 12 December
James Angus: Truck Corridor  Until 4 October
Dobell Prize for Drawing  Until 17 October
Shoot the Chef!  1 October - 31 October

ART AFTER HOURS
Every Wednesday 5-9pm at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney, 2000
www.artafterhours.com.au
(02) 9225 1744 National toll free 1800 679 278

MEDIA INFORMATON
Margaux Simms, Press Office, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Telephone (02) 9225 1618
Email margauxs@ag.nsw.gov.au

Art After Hours - A JPMorgan Contemporary Project

IMAGE CREDIT: Simon-Joseph-Alexander-Cl�ment Denis, View on the Quirinal Hill, Rome (detail). Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Collection.