Bayside Gallery past exhibitions 2020

Bayside Local - Journeys & Discoveries

29 January to 8 March 2020

Overlooking a crowded room at a gallery exhibition.

Showcasing the strength, diversity and commitment of local artists, each year Bayside Local is selected by Bayside Gallery curators from submissions based on a general theme. This year’s theme, ‘journeys and discoveries’, encourages artists to think broadly about revelatory moments in their lives.

Target: Bayside art and design graduates

29 January to 8 March 2020

A young person is painted in black and white swirls camouflaged against the same patterned backdrop.

Memphis Neagle, Addiction 2019, 42 x 58.5 cm. Courtesy the artist and Firbank Grammar.

Target celebrates the skill and diversity of Bayside’s talented 2019 VCE Art & Design Graduates.
Participating schools included Brighton Grammar School, Brighton Secondary College, Firbank Grammar School, Sandringham College, St Leonard’s College and Star of the Sea College.

Fiona McMonagle: Classy

14 March to 10 May 2020

Artist Fiona McMonagle in front of her exhibition at Bayside Gallery

Melbourne-based artist Fiona McMonagle is well-known for her watercolours that probe the darker side of pedestrian life in the suburbs. Featuring watercolour, oil painting and animation works that span the last decade plus a series of new paintings, this major exhibition focuses on notions of class within Australian society, and recollections of suburban youth subculture.

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown the exhibition was featured online. Visit Classy here

Greenworld

18 July to 13 December 2020

Five suspended circular wreaths made from green organic matter resembling long grass, aligned to create a cylinder.

The exhibition Greenworld came at a time when, as city dwellers in lockdown, our appreciation for the green and open spaces of our parks, creeks and rivers, and the shoreline of the bay, strengthened.

Access to these pockets of nature close to home became more meaningful and life affirming for people than ever before. Baysiders have an incredible array of places to escape to, even for a moment. This exhibition reflects on the power of nature to offer relief, sustenance and inspiration during times of intense interiority.

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown the exhibition was featured online. Visit Greenworld here

Changing Faces exhibition

Changing Faces: Reframing Women in Local Democracy celebrates the contribution women make to the municipality of Bayside and encourages women to get involved in local democracy.

Download the catalogue

changing_faces_cat_1905_v4_final (1).pdf

Funded by VicHealth under the Gender Equality and the Arts grants program, this powerful project celebrates 171 amazing local women who have been nominated by the community in recognition of their contribution and leadership.

Portraits of former Mayors that usually adorn Bayside City Council Chambers have been temporarily replaced with portraits of women who contribute to Bayside.

In Bayside City Council’s 161 year history, only 15 female mayors have been elected, and this project aims to highlight the historic under-representation of females on Council, both in the past and present.

Individual portrait of participants wearing fake moustaches and beards

Bayside City Council worked with renowned photographic artist Ponch Hawkes, whose works have been featured in the National Gallery of Australia.

Hawkes challenged the participants to wear fake moustaches and beards to humorously disrupt Bayside City Council’s gender narrative and highlight the stereotype of men being more capable leaders in politics and at work.

Rows of aqua chairs in Council Chambers with black and white portrait photographs on the walls

Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed

6 Black and White portraits of women wearing fake facial hair as part of the exhibition

Interior of Council Chambers including last row of chairs and portraits of former mayors installed

Interior of Council Chambers including a four chairs and portraits of former mayors installed

Portraits of former female mayors installed at Council Chamber and empty chairs

Mayoral chair with black and white former female mayors portraits installed

Portrait of Ponch Hawkes photographer wearing glasses and an aqua top

Ponche Hawke taking a photograph of a sitter

Ponche Hawke applying moustache to sitter

Photographer applying fake moustache to women as part of the exhibition

Black and White photos on Interior at Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed

Some participants wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition

Some women wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for Changing Faces exhibition

Women wearing fake facial hair in her portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition

Individual portrait of young women in school uniform wearing a fake moustache

Solo portrait for Changing Faces exhibition

Portrait of Sanja Bollard by Ponch Hawkes

Interior Council Chambers with aqua chairs around small tables and chairs and portraits on the walls

Interior of Council Chambers with aqua chairs and portraits on the wall

Mayor of Bayside City Council, Cr Clarke Martin, said: “This exhibition is provocative, controversial and will stimulate debate. I encourage these conversations because it shines a light on the historic inequity in our local democracy.

"Something needs to change. We have a wealth of talent in Bayside and we need to show women and girls that they can be decision and policy makers. Local government elections are coming up in October 2020 and I hope this exhibition can be a catalyst for gender equity in Bayside.”

Meet our participants

Interview with Ponch Hawkes and interviewer Tai Snaith from Council Chambers in Brighton. Ponch talks about the exhibition and other recent works. The talk also featured a live Q&A session for viewers.

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