Grenfell Art Gallery and Community Curtain

The Art gallery opened in the Grenfell Community Hub Building in March 2009. Regular exhibitions are on display with a exhibition schedule available from gallery @ grenfell.org.au

 The Grenfell Art Gallery is a labour of love for local artists. It is staffed completely by volunteers and is open 5 days a week Tuesday – Saturday 10am -4pm. Entry is via a gold coin donation. Exhibitions feature local and regional artists and sculptors. The gallery adds a professional venue for the arts community of Grenfell. The large light towers in the gallery  mean the room is full of natural light  and is  an unexpected delight behind the building’s heritage exterior.

Grenfell is famous as the birthplace of Henry Lawson. The Art Gallery is a focal point of the Grenfell Henry Lawson festival held each June long weekend.

The Gallery is also the new home of the Grenfell Community Curtain which permanently occupies the northern wall of the gallery. The vision for the curtain was ‘a visual representation of  the essence of the Grenfell  community’.

The curtain began its journey  in 1990 and its evolution meandered along until 2000 when the deadline for completion was set- the Centenary of Federation, September 2001. The curtain is 14 feet high comprises five panels each of which is five foot wide. There was a team of 17 volunteers working on the project with funding coming from the Grenfell Dramatic Society. The curtain has been constructed on fire resistant canvas.

The curtain serves as a tourist drawcard as it gives visitors an opportunity to view local sites and past events in the richly textured artwork. The curtain is for the community  and its location ensures that everyone has an opportunity to view and appreciate it. A watercolour of the design hangs in the Weddin Shire Council Chambers and a ceramic version is mounted on the wall of the Grenfell Motel in Main Street.

 Images featured on the curtain include The Caragabal silos, the George Street fires, the Grenfell Court House, the Weddin Shire Council Logo, Iandra castle, The Blue Church on the Cowra Road, St Josephs Church, Uniting Church, The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, The Flour Mill, the Quandialla Railway water tower, the Grenfell Railway Station, the Grenfell Record Office, The Odd Fellows Hall, The Henry Lawson Obelisk, gold mining history complete with Chinese workers, indigenous culture, native flora such as eucalyptus leaves, paper daisies, hardenbergia, autumn leaves, vast bird life including cockatoo, kookaburra, galah, magpie, rosella, blue wren, superb parrot, silver eye and kangaroos and emu.  These are not all of the images on the curtain and you are encouraged to visit the curtain and identify even more featured scenes.

 A book called ‘Painting with Thread’- the story of the curtain is available for purchase from the gallery.

The curtain is accessible to all with wheelchair access and disabled toilets conveniently located. 

The Grenfell Art Gallery is open Tuesdays to Saturdays… 10 am. To 4 pm

 

Grenfell Art Galley
PO BOX 125
Grenfell NSW 2810
6343 1864