A RECENT suite of exhibitions at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) attracted more than 8000 patrons, making it the most attended exhibition in the past five years.
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A formal exhibition opening was held for Brett Whiteley: West of the Divide on November 25, 2016.
It was joined at the gallery by a LEGO exhibition, featuring models of Mount Panorama-Wahluu and a pit of LEGO bricks for children to play with.
Over the 67 days of the summer exhibition, 6338 adults and 1955 children visited the gallery.
BRAG curator Sarah Gurich attributed the success of the suite to being able to bring two major exhibitions to the gallery that were a drawcard for a variety of people.
“Brett Whiteley is obviously a huge figure in Australian art and very well known by most people,” she said.
“To be able to bring an exhibition of that calibre, featuring landscapes from the Central West, was a great opportunity.”
In addition to the works being created based on Mr Whiteley’s time in the region, Ms Gurich said, the artist also attended school in Bathurst.
Having the LEGO model in the same gallery drew in a lot of families, with children able to learn more about Mount Panorama’s history and make their own creations as often as they liked.
Lesley O’Shea and Joe Penn: Two Lives, One Road, an exhibition that included a local artist, was also an attraction for people.
Feedback from patrons on BRAG’s website was positive for all of the exhibitions.
“To be able to bring Brett Whiteley over the summer period where people have time to look at the works and have the LEGO exhibition for kids … it was a very lovely fit,” Ms Gurich said.
