With over 50 years combined experience Art Critic and Lecturer John McDonald, will be joined by Sarah Johnson, Curator at Newcastle Art Gallery, to judge this year’s Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.
JOHN MCDONALD was born in Cessnock and after studying at Sydney University has been one of Australia’s best known art critics for over 30 years.
John writes a weekly column for the Sydney Morning Herald as well as contributing to many Australian and international publications.
He has written numerous catalogue essays, monographs on artists such as Jeffrey Smart and has been the curator for a wide range of exhibitions.
John has also written on films, travel and cricket and has worked as an editor and publisher.
He has lectured at galleries and colleges around the country including teaching Art History and Theory at the National Art School Sydney.
SARAH JOHNSON, with over twenty years experience in the arts, is the Curator at Newcastle Art Gallery. Holding this position since 2012 Johnson manages a collection of over 6700 works including Australian painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture as well as Japanese and Australian ceramics dating from the colonial to contemporary.
Sarah has curated over 40 exhibitions at Newcastle Art Gallery with newly commissioned works from state, regional and Newcastle’s esteemed collection.
Sarah has a Master of Art Administration from the University of New South Wales, a Diploma in Law and Collection Management from the Institute of Art and Law London and a Bachelor of Arts from Newcastle University majoring in art and film history.