Dual Exhibition Opening: Take A Seat & Let Our River Speak

When

Duration

Location

Glasshouse Regional Gallery

Glasshouse Regional Gallery presents

Dual Exhibition Opening: Take A Seat & Let Our River Speak

Join us for morning tea in the Gallery as we celebrate the opening of two exciting new exhibitions - Take A Seat and Let Our River Speak.

This event is free, however, bookings are essential.

The Exhibitions

Take A Seat 

Take A Seat is a collaborative exhibition, meditating on the remnants of an identity, through material objects such as food, clothing, knick knacks, mementos, shoes or furniture.

The exhibition offers the opportunity to reflect on who once owned and changed these objects. With the owner of the objects not currently present, the objects left behind bridge the gap between presence and absence, once the viewer allows themselves to reflect.

There is an interactive element to the show, inviting the viewer to sit and contribute to work and afterwards, question their role in the experience.

Exhibition on view: 27 September to 9 November 2025

Let Our River Speak

Let Our River Speak draws inspiration from the lifeblood of our region - its river systems - and the many stories they carry. Focusing on the Hastings River and its seven tributaries, this exhibition explores the river’s 180km journey from source to sea, reflecting on its beauty, its power, and its central place in our lives.

Innes Artists respond with diverse interpretations - from luminous river-scapes and intricate studies of flora and fauna, to deeper reflections on history, symbolism, and human impact. Drawing is a strong suit for many of the artists, allowing for expressive explorations of mood, movement, and memory. The river becomes a metaphor for life itself - shifting, flowing, sometimes turbulent, always alive.

This exhibition offers a rich tapestry of styles, voices, and visions. Thematically, it spans beauty and degradation, leisure and labour, spirituality and storytelling, progress, and resistance. In Let Our River Speak, the river is given voice - feminine, powerful, ever-changing.

Exhibition on view: 27 September to 9 November

Take A Seat Artists

Brad Collins

Brad M Collins is a multi-disciplinary artist and Illustrator, living in Port Macquarie, NSW. He creates brightly illustrated characters, existing in a surreal and semi-psychadelic world, while contemplative portraits come to life through the more traditional medium of oil painting.

Brad’s portraits and psychedelic characters have recently met through oil paintings, combining these two contrasting styles and mediums. Whether it’s brightly coloured, anamorphic characters, or contemplative self portraits, humour generally slides into his easter egg-filled pieces as a cover for a hidden, deeper meaning.

@bradmcollins | www.bradmcollins.com

Chris Proctor

Chris Proctor is a contemporary painter, living and working in NSW. Originally from England, he has called Australia home for the last seven years.

Chris’ work has an ‘ugly is beautiful’ approach and he tries to reuse found materials as much as possible. Using a mixture of wood, paper and vintage frames alongside old paintbrushes and mis tinted house paints, Chris tries to create artworks that are both beautiful and meaningful.

@chrisproctorart | www.chrisproctorart.com

Let Our River Speak Artists 

Innes Artists are a group of twelve professional, retired women who have a passion for creating art. They enjoy painting together regularly, learning from and inspiring each other and critiquing each other's work. A number have formal art training, all attend Jill Cairns' classes and many other workshops by leading artists.

All have exhibited together very successfully at the Glasshouse, Southwest Rocks, Gladstone, Long Point Winery, Masterpiece Gallery, Bonny Hills and the HVFAA Gallery. Many have won prizes in other exhibitions. All women are very excited by the theme for this exhibition.

Artists: Jill Cairns, Jan von Schoenberg, Fran Daly, Penny Lindsay, Kim Madden, Patricia Clarke, Trish Cameron, Marilyn Davies, Peg Eather, Eve Baumgart, Netti Riethmuller and Johanna Ireland.