Riddoch unveils new exhibition

The Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre will open Earth and Ether, a significant exhibition celebrating the career of prominent South Australian artist Margaret Worth, on Friday at 6pm. The Earth and Ether exhibition presents a retrospective showcase of over five decades of Margaret Worth’s artistic output. With loans from institutions and personal collections around Australia, this will be the first time these works have been shown together. The exhibition demonstrates the breadth of Margaret’s practice, her mastery of creating a feeling, her special tie to regional and remote South Australia, and her continuous search for the best means available to carry an idea.

Moving from an academic background of music, physics, maths and psychology studies, Margaret (pictured above – photo by Catherine Truman) found art to be the mechanism that bonded her beliefs and offered a pathway to explore her innate curiosity and courage. In the 1960’s, Margaret swapped disciplines and moved to Adelaide to study at the South Australian School of Art, which she describes as ‘an exciting period of change’.

“I realised that art school was the place I needed to be,” Margaret said. “When I changed my studies in mathematics and science to art, I immediately knew I was in the right place.”

Margaret travelled to New York with her then husband and established artist Syd Bell in 1969. While the relationship ended in 1971, Margaret stayed in America to study at the New York School of Visual Arts, before winning a scholarship to Columbia University.

Upon returning to Australia as a single mother, Margaret faced the challenge of competing priorities and chose motherhood over art. This led to a career change to focus on services and collaboration, working in planning and designing public spaces. Her pioneer work in these fields has gained her greater recognition and led to many awards.

The exhibition is made possible with the assistance of the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia. Earth and Ether also includes the production of a short documentary and a catalogue, both designed and produced in-house by The Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre.

Team leader exhibitions and collections Chris Clements said to undertake a retrospective of this breadth, depth and significance was a huge milestone for our gallery.

“We are very proud to be able to bring it all together here in Mount Gambier,” Chris said. “This has only been made possible with Margaret’s generosity and the dedicated work of our team here at the Riddoch.”

Margaret Worth: Earth and Ether opens at the Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre on Friday at 6pm, with a floor talk with Margaret Worth and guest curator Eleanor Schiccitano on Saturday at 11am. RSVP to riddoch@mountgambier. sa.gov.au or phone (08)8721 2563 during opening hours.

The Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre is open from 10am to 5pm weekdays and 10am to 2pm weekends and most public holidays. Entry is free.

MARGARET WORTH EXHIBITION: (Below) Mining the Mind 2015, Margaret Worth. Photo by Grant Hancock