FRANK BURGERS
Visual Artist
MY STORY
My work is about structure, composition and colour, about discovering new ways to invigorate the painting process and find meaning in my work that extends beyond the mere personal. I work in oils on linen, and gouache, pastel and charcoal on paper. I also do Printmaking in copper etching, woodblock and lino cutting.
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Frank Burgers, Painter, Drawer, Teacher, odd job man! To live I paint, to eat I handy-man almost anything!
Things have changed since a few years ago. This year, 2023, is the fourth abstract paintings exhibition, this time in July 2023, called 'Flirting with Abstraction', Wangaratta Art Gallery. However, this could be the last abstract show.
New work inspired a new series since 'Flirting'; as Tasmania inspired paintings, drawings and printmaking (5 paintings and a drawing sold already) in respond to a family Tasmania holiday in April 2022.
Currently I am rewriting this article. It wont be as amusing as before, peppered with serious proposals for a better society.Following is the original ,
This is what it is like to be an artist in 21st Century Australia; the National Galleries attract art consumers in the multi-millions, while Regional Galleries still face daily battles for funds to keep the doors open. A small minority of (good and bad) artists are rewarded for their efforts, while most (good and bad) artists live well below the poverty line and can't claim welfare because there is no definition for 'unemployed artist'; they fail the unemployment test because despite a lack of income they are making art hence they are 'employed'. The only way to be able to make a claim for Newstart (when you start paying car rego with the rent money, for instance) is by renouncing your Art Practice.
A cultural shift is required, it may be happening already in baby steps, (popular TV shows celebrating the purchase of art pieces for home decoration, for example), but artists alone, whatever the revolution, cannot do it. This is not about the 'avant garde', if that still exists at all, which is about disrupting and reconsidering the accepted norm, but about a basic fairness in society about wealth distribution based on your contribution: artist continually contribute to the wealth and health of our society, often well beyond minimal or expected efforts, for little or no financial rewards and consequently, are impoverished. Statistics are brutal; artists are among the lowest earners in Australia and, based on observation, suffer higher then average from mental illnesses.
A solution to this sad state of affairs has to be driven by society as a whole, and instigated by those running the country. A cultural shift in which Art and Creativity are valued as being essential to the health (and wealth) of all people, rewarded accordingly, supported by social infrastructure and education, can be achieved if thoroughly promoted. Examples of other such government initiated cultural shifts are the 'quit smoking, campaign, 'Slip, slop, slap' skin cancer awareness campaign, the current anti gambling promotions, and others.
The benefits to society would be a multi billion dollar local art industry, with wealth distribution filtering down to lift those 'unemployed' artists up into tax paying, home buying, respectable citizens. The growth of the economy by auxiliary institutions and businesses (think education, art businesses, professional bodies), social health benefits (creative expression as therapy), and impact by the creative arts industry on 'critical mass' in thinking in, for example, Design, Engineering, Technology, Science, etc, would be profound. A 'creative nation' to quote a once popular political slogan, needs roots.
In conclusion, I paint and draw ordinary things, relevant to the times I live in. If I stop working creatively I cease to function well as a human being. Lifeless.
That's why I make art.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"
Vincent Van Gogh
CONTACT MY AGENT
Currently I am represented by the excellent gallery Beechworth Contemporary in North East Victoria.
This galleries would be delighted to assist you with inquiries about my work.
BEECHWORTH CONTEMPORARY GALLERY
DIRECTOR: NINA MASCHIELSE-HUNT
CAMP STREET, BEECHWORTH (BETWEEN THE GOLD SHOP AND BAKERY)
0421072098
WWW.BEECHWORTHCONTEMPORARY.COM.AU
CONTACT ME
Studio (by appointment)
level 1, 122 Bridge St E
Benalla, 3672
Australia
0488676127
Online shop not active, please contact the artist or his agents direct.
ARTIST BIO
Frank Burgers.
Born 1965, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. (Nationalised 1983).
EDUCATION
1999 THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF EDUCATION.
1993 - 1994 BOX HILL COLLEGE OF TAFE, ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA OF ARTS (WOOD DESIGN).
1984 – 1986 BALLARAT COLLEGE OF ADVANCED EDUCATION, BACHELOR OF ARTS
(FINE ART), majoring in Painting.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 - 'Flirtation with abstraction' Wangaratta Art Gallery
2022 - 'Cadence' at Hyphen Wodonga Library Gallery.
2021 - 'Northern Abstraction' Benalla Art Gallery (with Anthea Kemp, Ralph Bristow, curated by Eric Nash).
2020 - 'Untitled' Art Gallery on Ovens, Wangaratta.
2020 – ‘Blue’. Bushgatherings Gallery. Violet Town.
2017 – ‘Cataract Gorge Abstracts’, Wangaratta Performing Arts Foyer.
2016 - ‘Return by Fire’, Art Space Wodonga
2015 – ‘Looking back before the next show’, Cathy Oddie Contemporary Art Space, Wangaratta.
2014 - ‘She makes things, he just paints’, Elvery Fine Art Gallery, Chiltern.
2010 – ‘Key’ Pivotal Galleries, Richmond
2008 – (July) ‘The revolving door’ Albury Regional Art Gallery NSW.
2008 – (March) ‘Frank Burgers’ Pivotal Gallery, Richmond.
2007 – ‘A pretty Mocking’, Wodonga Art Space, Wodonga.
2003 – ‘25 Gouaches’, Café Chiaro, Bright.
1995 – ‘Arks and Archetypes’, CASspace Windows, 546-564 Collins Street, Melbourne.
1990 – ‘One Man Show’, Joan Gough Studio Gallery, South Yarra.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1989-current:
Beechworth Contemporary Art Space (from 2021)
Stock room, on show Eastgate Gallery, Burwood, Melbourne ( 2021).
North East Artisans, Benalla (2018 - 2020).
Off Centre Gallery, Milawa, 2016-20.
Sawtooth gallery, Launceston, 2014.
Improvisations – 6 artists, 6 songs’. Wangaratta Art Gallery, 2013.
Trinity College Art Exhibition and Acquisitive Art Award, Albury, 2013-15.
GANEA ‘Across the Arts’, Wangaratta Art Gallery 2013.
‘A Child could do it’, Albury Art Gallery, 2012.
‘Mining the Archives’, Albury Art gallery, 2011.
Creating our Tomorrow’, Wangaratta Art Gallery, 2011.
‘Paintworks’, Wangaratta Art gallery, 2011.
Myrtleford acquisitive art prize, 2012, 2013, 2014.
‘One for the Road’, final exhibition Pivotal Galleries, Richmond, 2010.
‘Warming up’, Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, 2010.
GIGS Art gallery, Wodonga, ongoing.
Finalist, Sunshine Coast Art prize 2009, 2007, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery
‘Figure 1’, Pivotal Galleries, Richmond. March 2009.
Arts Wodonga Hume Building Society Acquisitive art Award, annually since 2005.
The 2006 Fleming Muntz Art Prize, Albury Regional Art Gallery.
’20 perspectives’ Dinner Plain Village 2006, 2007.
‘The memory project’ Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, 2005.
‘Self Portrait Award exhibition,2005’, Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy.
‘Those who can Teach’, Wodonga, 2005.
Wangaratta Jazz Art award 2002, 2003, 2005.
Linden Galleries, St Kilda1996.
ROAR 2, Fitzroy 1995.
Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery (Works on Paper Acquisitive Exhibition 1995).
Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery 1993.
NAVA Windows, City Square, Melbourne 1993.
‘ARTSPOST’, Ballarat Artist Co-op Gallery 1992.
Contemporary Art Society of Victoria (1989-1999).
AWARDS
2019
Shared Art Prize for Portraiture
‘In Your Face ‘, NEA, Benalla
Judge: Deborah Halpern
2016
Grant Prize,
King’s Valley Art Prize, Whitfield
Judge: Dianne Mangan
2015
Trinity College Acquisitive Art Award
Trinity Anglican College, Albury.
Judges: Simone Nolan, Gaye Pattison, Steven O’Connor.
2006
Fleming Muntz Albury Art prize
Albury regional Art Gallery.
Judges: Raymond Arnold, Rita Lazauskas.
2002
Wangaratta Jazz-Art 2002 Award
Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery.
Judges: Jo Briscomb, Jason Hugonnet.
1994
"AWARD FOR SCULPTURE"
Victorian Woodworkers Association.
Judges; Jenny Zimmer, John McLennon, Simon Lloyd.
1993
"HIGHLY COMMENDED"
CAS Inc Annual Exhibition.
Judge; Ron Robertson-Swan.
1989
"FIRST PRIZE; ECKERSLEYS AWARD"
CAS Inc Annual Exhibition.
Judge; Ken Scarlet.
Collections; Albury Art Gallery, Trinity Anglican College Albury, DalZotto Wines,
Private Collections.
Publications
Illustrated room brochure, ‘Mining the Archives’, Albury Art Gallery.
Illustrated room brochure, ‘Paintworks’, Wangaratta Art Gallery, 2011.
Illustrated Room Brochure, ‘The revolving door’ with essay by Dianne Mangan,
Director Wangaratta Art Gallery, Albury Regional Art Gallery.
Illustrated Catalogue, Sunshine Coast Art prize 2009, 2007 Caloundra Regional
Art Gallery.
Catalogue, ‘The memory project’ Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery.
Appointments
Artist in Residence, King’s Bridge Cottage, Launceston, 2014.
Judge, Wangaratta Jazz Art Award 2012.
Represented by:
'Beechworth Contemporary', Director Nina Maschielse-Hunt
0421072098
www.beechworthcontemporary.com.au/
Work by Frank Burgers is currently being exhibited at 'Eastgate Gallery' and 'Beechworth Contemporary'
His Studio in Benalla is open by appointment (0488676127)
Commissions on application, sales generally handled by Beechworth Contemporary (North East Victoria).