From our archives : Exhibition April 2018
Alice Springs is renowned for some of their quirky and entertaining festival and events. They also have exhibitions that capture the heart and bring a smile to your face. Following on their 2017 exhibition – sculptural birds of Tjulpu Thipe! the Greenbush Art Group from the Alice Springs Correctional Centre presented at Araluen Arts Centre their 2018 exhibition Big mob of dogs!
Greenbush Art Group

For all those dog lovers, this exhibition captured the variety of characterisation that can be found in our lovable family friend and showcased the talent of some amazing artists. For those who did not make the exhibition, we present our photos of the beautifully portrayed Big Mob of Dogs!
Youlanda by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Alphonse by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Antionette by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Shorty by Ginger Green Big Mack by Benny Douglas
Fredrick by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Darryl by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow (left), Herbert by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow (right) Jaquelyne by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Mcgrew by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Sparky by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Josephine by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Sade by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow (left), Paulette by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow (right) Anthony by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Rhonda by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Kenneth by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Mosell by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Dirk by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow Cleatus by Wayne Roberts-Barlow Ulysses by Ben McLean & Wayne Roberts-Barlow
Jimmy by Shannon Robertson Shannon by Jimmy Watson Red Dog by Cameron Cooper Little Bugger by Karey Keen Little Bugger by Karey Keen Stretch by Alicia Chopping Yin (left) & Yang (right) by Linda Rice No Name by Angus Dixon No Name by Angus Dixon Rinny by Alwyn Gallagher (left), Soldier by Larry Conway (right) Untitled by Larry Conway (left), Yellow Boy by Alwyn Gallagher (right) Eeny, Meeny, Minni, Mo by Zoe Lyrtzis Spotty Dog by Angus Dixon Spotty by Cameron Cooper (front), Spotty Dog by Angus Dixon (behind) Big Mob of Dogs, 2018 Chang by Alicia Chopping Mingkiri by Katrina Connelly Midnight by Angus Dixon Untitled by Larry Conway Lulu by Karey Keen Cobber by Kingston Brown Tired Dog by Carly Thommers
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In 2017, the Araluen Arts Centre invited students from the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, studying visual arts with Batchelor Institute, to hold a group exhibition. Bringing together a larger survey of their sculptural works than had previously been exhibited was one motivation. Another was the cumulative reputation, forged over time by a number of past and present artists from the Correctional Centre, for works that are simultaneously bizarre, humourous, playful, acerbic and articulate observations of behaviour, idiosyncrasies, character. Such was the popularity and success of that exhibition (with birds as subject), the current students return this year with Big Mob of Dogs!
Dogs are the first domesticated species. Bred over millenia, the human relationship with them runs incredibly deep, historically, emotionally, economically. It is an almost universal connection but it could be argued that dogs occupy an exceptional place in the culture and collective psyche of the Australian desert and its people. Dogs have history here, are ubiquitous here and are iconic here.
The connections are as strong and tightly interwoven for the students of the Correctional Centre. Some of the works in Big Mob of Dogs! have real-life counterparts providing real-time inspiration from outside the razorwire. Some are magically brough back to the world via memories of the past. And some are totally the work of imagination. In another sense, due to the artist’s circumstances, all these dogs are imaginary: incarceration, and its attendant limits on research and access to materials, seems to generate its own highly creative freedom, imagination and innovation.
Source: Big Mob of Dogs! exhibition catalogue, Batchelor Institue Visual Art Students From the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, 23 March-7 May 2018

Check out the Araluen Arts Centre website about their current exhibitions…