When Beards Collide SALA Exhibition 2022

The Bearded Dragon Gallery is proud to present their second SALA event for the season, When Beards Collide. This exhibition brings together the best of bearded artists, Dan Withey and Paul Galbraith, in partnership with the Bearded Dragon Gallery and Dentons Lawyers.

Partnering a commercial law firm with a social enterprise business, allowed for the exhibition to be held in a corporate space, while also shining the spotlight on two artists both living with a disability. Both partners have a collective aim to challenge perceptions of inclusion and the arts in South Australia.

Dan Withey and Paul Galbraith independently, and collaboratively, are storytellers in When Beards Collide. Though varied in their approaches to visual art they share a passion for colour, vibrancy, and personal narrative.

Withey describes his work as “Veering between abstraction and figuration – sometimes in a single work – Withey’s paintings adopt a humorous, even irreverent attitude. The strangeness encapsulated in Withey’s paintings is the experience of contemporary life, existential angst, and its effect on the human subject.”

In his work, Galbraith reflects on “those wonderful drone shots of rivers and arching landforms circled by connecting oceans all making perfect sense from high above. What would the names of those big river lines and oceans be if they were my art? They would be called texture, rhythm and story. The creative tributaries that carry me are a tapestry of texture, rhythm, and story.”

For such a special project, we invited a guest curator to take on the challenge of curating and translating Galbraith’s and Withey’s art into a corporate exhibition space. Chira Grasby, a recent graduate of Adelaide College of Arts, was integral in making When Beards Collide come to life. Grasby comments, “Dan Withey and Paul Galbraith independently, and collaboratively, are storytellers in When Beards Collide. Though varied in their approaches to visual art they share a passion for colour, vibrancy, and personal narrative. Despite the absurdity of Withey’s painted world, there is familiarity and comfort.  Similarly, we see a harmony emerge in Galbraith’s’ work between the solid land and fluid sea as the two entities peek through his brushstrokes, becoming one in calm, peaceful moments of rebirth.”

Freddie Brincat, Founder and Executive Director of CBS Inc. said “The works definitely don’t collide like the artists’ beards; they flow beautifully together. Personality, colour, challenges and creativity come together in a stunning exhibition. On a busy day, I was calmed and inspired by the artists and grateful of the partnership with Dentons and my friendship with both artists. After purchasing one work by Paul, I have to go back and spend more time there, it’s drawing me back.”

When Beards Collide officially opened on the 8th of September among family and friends in the exhibition space of Dentons. CEO of SALA Festival, Kate Mowska officially opened the exhibition, and CEO of Guildhouse, Emma Fey led a live auction of two art works on the night. The Exhibition will be running from August 31^st – October 14^th.

For the artwork catalogue, please visit beardeddragongallery.com.au or contact Chloe Phillips at marketing@cbsinc.org.au or 0428 129 256 for media enquiries.