Last Days Of Australian Art Series!

Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly Series & Mikala Dwyer closing Sun 19 May Tracey Moffatt closing Sun 26 May

Dancers, a former policeman, an actor and two experts on Sidney Nolan and Ned Kelly, all feature in public events during the final days of the Australian Art Series.

The three contemporary Australian exhibitions opened during the 2002 New Zealand Festival, and are now drawing to a close. "City Gallery Wellington is still the sole venue for these exhibitions, so this will be the last opportunity to see the works of Nolan, Moffatt and Dwyer at first hand for some time," says Paula Savage, Director.

A $10 Two Venue Ticket gives discounted entry to both the Gallery's Australian Art Series and the Henry Moore exhibition at Te Papa.

The Ned Kelly paintings have travelled to New Zealand only once before in the 1960s. The Tracey Moffatt exhibition is a major survey of this acclaimed artist, whose work is in demand throughout the world. City Gallery Wellington has just published the most comprehensive written survey of her work to date, which accompanies the exhibition. The publication features 48 colour reproductions from all her major photoseries, and numerous black and white images ($44.95). Mikala Dwyer's 'seriously playful' exhibition on the ground floor - created especially for City Gallery Wellington - will be dismantled after the closing date.

As the Ned Kelly Series exhibition moves into its final weeks, production on a blockbuster film on the life of the famous outlaw is gathering pace. Ned Kelly, starring Heath Ledger in the title role, is the first project for the new Australian arm of Working Title Films, the British company behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Bridget Jones's Diary. Ned Kelly is immortalised in one of the worlds' first feature films - The Story of the Kelly Gang, made in 1906. This film is screening at the City Gallery during the exhibition, alongside other historic films about the famous outlaw.

FINAL EVENTS:

EVENT: SATURDAY 11 MAY, 2PM - 'NOLAN'S MYTHMAKING PUTTING SOMETHING IN FRONT OF THE LANDSCAPE' Jane Clark, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's Australia presents an exploration of the stories and figures Nolan used to populate his landscape paintings, from Ned Kelly to Mrs Fraser and Burke and Wills.

EVENT: SATURDAY 18 MAY, 2PM - SEQUENZA VII A second chance to see students from the New Zealand School of Dance perform this work by leading Australian composer Graeme Murphy, along with another work created specially for the City Gallery Wellington. Duration: 15-20 mins. The acquisition of Sequenza VII in 2001 by the New Zealand School of Dance was made possible through funding from the Australian High Commission, Qantas Airways Limited and support from Sydney Dance Company and Graeme Murphy.

EVENT: SATURDAY 18 MAY, 3PM - NEW ZEALAND OUTLAWS, A CONVERSATION Does New Zealand have a Ned Kelly? Actor Tim Balme and former policeman Bill Brien first teamed up when Balme was researching for his internationally acclaimed play Jimmy Costello and Brien had a story or two to share about his experience in the manhunt for prison escapee George Wilder. Together again in the shadow of Ned Kelly they give a unique exploration of our own outlaw tradition.

EVENT: SUNDAY 19 MAY, 2PM WEARING NED KELLY'S BEARD: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE KELLY MYTH

How has the Kelly myth travelled down the years? From oral traditions to the Internet, a tour of the mechanisms of cultural myth-making by Dr Charles Ferrall, Senior Lecturer at the School of English, Film and Theatre, Victoria University of Wellington.

PUBLIC TOURS -SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS, 12 NOON Informative guides give a dynamic and accessible 40 minute tour around the current exhibitions, beginning with Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly Series, then Tracey Moffatt and ending downstairs with Mikala Dwyer.

COMPETITION: THE NED KELLY SCHOOLS ART COMPETITION Capital E, Civic Square, 20 April - 19 May Featuring work by junior and intermediate Wellington school students, the competition is on display at Capital E, Civic Square until 19 May. The public has until Saturday 11 May to vote for their favourite artwork. This event has been organised jointly by City Gallery Wellington and Capital E. Admission is free. Open daily 9.30am-5pm.

Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly Series is presented by Ernst & Young, Russell McVeagh and Telecom New Zealand Ltd. Indemnified by the New Zealand Government. Generously supported by The Breeze. Tracey Moffatt is presented by Saatchi & Saatchi. Mikala Dwyer is a City Gallery Wellington Australian Artist's Project, presented by Silverscreen and Oktobor. Open City public programme Principal Sponsor Montana Wines Ltd. City Gallery Wellington is managed by the Wellington Museums Trust with major funding from the Wellington City Council. For more information: T: 04 801 3952 / www.city-gallery.org.nz

ENDS.

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