Our Summar of Art

This year PICES presents an exciting series of summer exhibitions at the Berninneit Gallery, again in partnership with Bass Coast Shire Council.

Last summer we presented four of the increasingly popular pop up exhibitions, followed by the acclaimed PICES in Focus exhibition. This summer PICES is proud to present the PICES 50 x 50 Art Exhibition followed by two PICES 2025 Pop Up Exhibitions.

In July, when PICES put out the call for small works (maximum 50 x 50cm) to artists, established, or mid and early career, and no matter where from, we received 50 applications. What a headline – 50 x 50 x 50!  

​With the potential to collectively show some 200-plus works at Berninneit, a new challenge is being met. As the applications roll in, combined with sample images for promotion purposes, the curator doesn’t know whether to laugh, cry or scream

Stay calm, he says to himself, it’s all part of the learning experience for many artists as they are mentored through the application process.  Filling out artwork listings, cropping photographs, file referencing is not an artist’s strength! Creation is their game, not administration.  The curator wonders if there’s a post-retirement book opportunity here.

Simultaneously, the invitation is extended far and wide for artists to participate in the two PICES 2025 Pop Up Exhibitions.  A selection panel of three (the curator, a previous Pop Up exhibitor and an experienced independent curator from Melbourne) meet for almost four hours to finally select 22 from 45 applications.​

There is joy for some, disappointment for others – a learning experience for some artists.  Curated exhibitions don’t necessarily mean all applicants are invited to exhibit.​

In selecting so many artists from Bass Coast, Gippsland and beyond, the curator travels some 1700km - seemingly the breadth and depth of Victoria – to visit artist studios.  Potential artworks are discussed, gallery placements considered.  Artists love to talk about their work and potential change in direction.  Isn’t that what PICES is about – to offer an opportunity to show new directions?  Another learning.

There’s now an upbeat anxiety for PICES.  194 works are to be shown art salon style in the 50 x 50 exhibition. How to mix `n` match so many works of all shapes and sizes, content and genres to create a visual impact?  Ideas are discussed, agreed with the hanging team. Another new learning.

PICES 2025 Pop Up Exhibitions presents the curator with a jigsaw puzzle.  What artwork complements what artwork? The selection of artists for the two exhibitions, a balance of media representation across the exhibitions – painting, photography, printmaking, collage, pottery – all have to be considered.

After almost six months of preparation, the artworks have been decided, artists updated, volunteers trained and rostered and publicity commenced. The PICES summertime exhibitions are ready for presentation!​​

Warren Nichols is curator of the PICES summer exhibitions.