WINDSOR BRIDGE ART EXHIBITION
An art exhibition dedicated to the 1874 Windsor Bridge will be opening at the Hawkesbury Central Library between August 12 and December 1. The exhibition has been curated by celebrated Hawkesbury artist Greg Hansell who lives close to the bridge.
It’s taken six months to curate but Hansell, a Windsor local for 40 years, is thrilled with the result. “It’s been a wonderful project,” he said. There will be about 50 works in the exhibition which includes paintings and sketches by Hansell of the new Windsor Bridge with the old bridge in the background. Another artwork depicts the last day of traffic on the old Windsor Bridge.
“I record history in my work…how things are now,” said Hansell, “When all the mess is cleaned up most people will forget all that has gone on in the past up to now, this is a close focus look at the changes.”
The exhibition was my idea, the library expanded the brief to include the changes to the area since settlement, said Hansell.
While about 10 of Hansell’s works will be part of the exhibition other items include an original 1820s engraving by Captain James Wallis and an 1853 work by FC Terry of the doctor’s house without the bridge.
There are also photographs of old Windsor Bridge at all the stages and the area.
There are descriptions and words from a speech made by William Walker MLC in 1890 as well as historians who wrote about Windsor during the same period.
Hansell is a fellow of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales and his paintings are represented in corporate and academic collections.
He has been a finalist over 20 times in the Archibald and Wynne prizes and Salon de Refuse and was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal in 2001 for services to community arts and Windsor Library.
The exhibition can be viewed Hawkesbury Central Library from Wednesday, August 12 until December 1 during Library opening hours at 300 George Street, Windsor.
