About the Art Gallery

Blue Poles Contemporary Art Gallery is situated in the beautiful hinterland village of Byabarra, some 35-40 minutes drive inland from Port Macquarie.

Admission to our exhibitions is FREE.

New Art Exhibition "introducing ... " Now On

‘introducing… ’ showcases exciting works from two new talents Wendy Friend and Robert Mitchell who join our successful stable of NSW north coast artists: Elizabeth Haddad, Nigel Gillespie, Françoise Sauvère, Scott Jackson, glass artist Karen McPhee and wood sculptor Mick Jones, who have put together a fresh and exciting show of world class new works.

These new contemporary art works are all influenced by and reflect our Australian culture and heritage and run the gamut of expressions on economic, social and environmental issues.

The diversity of styles on show encompass life drawing, abstract, landscape, as well as avant-garde existential angst. A variety of media is on display, from oil pastels through to oils. A must see for all students and lovers of art alike. All works are for sale.

OPEN: Thursday to Sunday
10 am - 4 pm

This vibrant, colourful, eclectic even avant garde show is a must see. All art works are for sale. In addition, limited edition framed and unframed prints as well as miniature oil paintings from Scott Jackson are available.

Blue Poles currently presents 6 - 8 exhibitions annually which mostly feature NSW North Coast contemporary artists.
 

Blue Poles' history: Built by Frith and Alan Peters, Blue Poles Contemporary Art Gallery has presented art exhibitions for over a decade for the appreciation and enjoyment of the community. The cathedral ceiling, northern light, white walls and polished wooden floor is an ideal and beautiful space in which to view exhibitions.

In addition to the art gallery, Blue Poles offers luxurious accommodation, superb cuisine and sublime views: it is simply an unforgettable experience, bringing art and people together in a glorious setting.

Contemporary Artwork on Display

Thematic or group exhibitions span the gamut including paintings and drawings in all media on various grounds; sculpture; photography, glass art as well as ceramic and wire art.

Opening Hours

Thursday to Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm, except Christmas Day & Good Friday
 

Artist Biographies

Wendy Friend is a versatile local artist able to use various media to express her interpretations of subjects.

She spent a number of years exploring the complexities and subtleties of watercolours, honing her skills and developing her unique style.

A chance encounter with acrylics has seen a shift in focus and fervour as she explores this medium. Her simplification of form and exaggeration of curves while capturing the essence of the scene, adds appeal to images from the natural environment.

Friend also enjoys experimenting with textural qualities of oils and creates light filled atmospheric paintings in this medium.


Robert Mitchell studied art for three years at East Sydney’s Art School, then worked at St. George College of TAFE Art School for seven years.

The artist has participated in numerous exhibitions and particularly enjoys entering competitions. His latest success was the 2009 Manning Prize. His works are mainly in oil, charcoal and pastels.

The gift of being able to draw & paint is nothing without a lot of hard work. Mitchell believes the mental and physical process of producing a good piece of art can be very taxing knowing each work has to be better, if not just as appealing as the last. It’s like a never ending loop… a competition against oneself. One he will play for as long as he is able.


Françoise Sauvère was Born in Sénégal, Dakar. Sauvère spent her early childhood on the Indonesian island of Java and France, prior to migration to Australia at age 12.

She studied colour, etching, printing and drawing at the Assenza Meleschule in Basel. The endless fascination of colour and the play of light motivates her to look at nature with more attention, immersing herself in the visible.

Her continual source of inspiration is the varied and contrasted lands of Europe and Australia. Subtle representations of nature can be discerned in Sauvère’s work, which allows the viewer to perceive the world in another manner.


Scott Jackson exhibits widely. He has been an artist for 20 years, full time for the past six years. He works mainly in oils and acrylics, with the odd watercolour.

He enjoys using painting knives and brushes as well as underpainting colours and textures for the interesting effects to come through to the upper layers of paint through the use of "sgraffito".

He was invited to exhibit at the Florence Biennale, Florence Italy in 2007, and was accepted to exhibit for 2009. Jackson feels lucky to have the bush, beach and sea nearby as inspiration for creating paintings. Born in Brisbane, he lives on the mid north coast.


Elizabeth Haddad studied fine arts and ceramics at Meadowbank TAFE in the 80s and since then has exhibited extensively, winning many awards along the way.

She has an extensive knowledge of art movements and a strong background in life drawing as well as in the application of line form and colour.

Painting is both a joy and a frustration for Haddad; frustration when she’s not able to paint or achieve a desired result; but a joy when she does.

Her inspiration comes from the natural world both conscious and unconscious. Her interpretation of a contemporary world is not necessarily constrained by reality. Haddad lives in Diamond Beach.


Karen McPhee - Glass Artist - believes glass, a multi functional material, not only works as a vehicle to reveal, but as a medium that affords the quality of light.

With sheet glass as her canvas, she explores the medium’s inherent qualities of transparency, translucency and opacity through her technical approach and application.

McPhee’s observation of the Australian natural environment, the effect of light and movement, and the subtle intricacies detailing texture and colour, is investigated in her work in appreciation of the visual impact and rugged character of this land of dramatic contrasts.


Nigel Gillespie is primarily influenced by the broad, open spaces of the Australian rural landscape, juxtaposed with its nooks and crannies.

The visual impact of the landscape’s geometry is Gillespie's inspiration, while his emotive response draws in a collage of associated memories and ideas relative to the work.

The natural landscape is a catalyst, he says: ‘a vehicle which takes me down the runway. Painting is for me the fulfillment, contentment and satisfaction of leaving the tarmac… my aim is to lessen the distance of the runway and to fly more often.’


Colleen Farlow is inspired by the wonder of nature and intrigued by its complexity; her works span the media gamut.

She engages energetic composition and form with a palette of dynamic hues, rich in texture and colour, depicting through metaphor and allegory her fascination of the human condition.

Farlow’s works embody a heritage of vitality, colour and empathy ... a visual interpretation of the musical rhythm she feels of the imprint of Africa, her birthplace.

In her youth she studied then later worked in performance arts before venturing into fine arts. She studied ceramics and fine arts first at Hornsby then Wagga Wagga TAFE and Charles Sturt University. Her works encompass painting, drawing, hand built primitive fired ceramics, sculpture and printmaking.


Mick Jones - Wood Sculptor - lived in Byabarra for some 15 years. He came from the Central Coast where he worked in the metal trades; early this year the family relocated back there.

His love of the bush led naturally to the love of revealing the unique colours and intrinsic and distinctive character of Australian native timbers, through painstaking hand carving and polishing. Employing burls in his work allows for the use of some incredibly fine old wood without compromising or jeopardising the trees themselves.

Jones' exquisite Burl carvings and tables are a delight to see and feel. His creative genes run in the family.