Lisa Dennis
An exhibition of Ned Middleton’s latest larger than life works, The Revolution of Music, will launch tomorrow at The Taproom as part of the upcoming Castlemaine Fringe Festival.
One of the Castlemaine artist and Shedshaker Brewing team member’s eye-catching works has also been installed in the window of Jellis Craig Real Estate in Castlemaine as part of the Fringe’s 2023 Art Windows Trail.
Ned’s 2022 exhibition at Lot 19 Gallery, The Big Reveal, was a huge success and spurred him on to create this new offering in 2023.
Working alongside artist Tobias Richardson, Ned paints bright, colourful paintings of his favourite pop and rock stars. He applies a raw, unedited style to his painting, tapping into his inherent feel for colour and line. His works are bold, tough and unique, with a touch of hilarity.
Tobias said Ned’s inaugural exhibition was very successful with nearly all his paintings being sold.
“He continues to go from strength to strength as a painter and I don’t see him stopping any time soon,” Tobias said.
The Express caught up with Ned last week as he installed his work in the window of the Mostyn Street based real estate agent.
“It’s of the band The KLF – a Liverpool band from the 1990s – and depicts a scene from the official music video of the song, Justified and Ancient, which included an appearance from country artist Tammy Wynette,” Ned said.
Tobias and Ned enjoy listening to music while they work in the studio. Tobias said he introduced Ned to The KLF and now he’s obsessed.
“And in turn he introduced me to Miley Cyrus,” Tobias said.
Ned said his latest works include this month’s Castlemaine PubSing feature artist Annie Lennox, George Michael, the B-52s and punk singer Amy Taylor from ‘Amly and The Sniffers’.
Ned’s latest exhibition will coincide with World Down Syndrome Day (March 21). The theme of this year’s WDS Day is ‘With Us, Not For Us’ . The human rights-based approach views people with disabilities as having the right to be treated fairly and have the same opportunities as everyone else, working ‘with’ others to improve their lives.
Ned certainly embodies this leading a busy lifestyle which includes his art, dance at Movement Zone, and work in the kitchen and bottling team at Shedshaker Brewing.
He is proud to be part of the ‘Able Radio’ crew, which presents a weekly community radio program Fridays from 1pm to 3pm on MainFM 94.9.
Don’t miss Ned’s latest work, The Revolution of Music, at The Taproom at 1 Walker Street, Castlemaine until April 11.
