Don Rankin in the Media
Sydney Morning Herald
July 11-12, 2009
“Open Gallery” by Lissa Christopher
DEAD CALM
Don Rankin explores moments of mortality in oil on canvas: ripe fruit, drooping poppies, an iris moments past its prime. Rankin paints in a traditional style but his compositions lean towards the contemporary, often preferring a partial view or one from above. The poppies, in particular, are stunning.
The Adelaide Review
July 22-August 4, 2005
“Still life in still life” by John Neylon.
The Independent Weekly
July 10-July 16, 2005
“Still space”
The Adelaide Advertiser
July 9, 2005
“In fine form”
SA Life
August 2005
“Artist in residence” by Lance Campbell
The Australian
Wednesday 10 September 2003
Sales and Exhibitions of interest
Author: Michael Reid
Cube contemporary Art: Don Rankin – Be Still, My Soul, until September 27, Adelaide.
The Weekend Australian 6-7 September 2003: HOT SEAT
Visual Art: Cube Contemporary Art gallery is showing recent paintings by Adelaide artist Don Rankin.
The still life, oils on canvas in Be Still, My Soul concentrate on the minutiae of everyday existence – vases, doorknobs, light-switches and tables – using subtle light and colours. Until September 27.
The Adelaide Advertiser
15 May 2001
Author: Wendy Walker
If McKenna is seeing blue, then Don Rankin is in appropriately autumnal mood. Bounty of nature aside, Rankin paints the trappings of a modern urban life – a piece of Jam Factory Andamooka pottery, an Alessi kettle – seen in unexpected conjunction with a gleaming methylated spirits can – against warm backgrounds of ochre, tangerine and terracotta. Using the device of scraps of masking tape, Rankin alerts the viewer that these are highly staged groupings. No haphazard arrangements here.
A scattering of lettered building blocks indicates the artist’s twin influences of Giorgio Morandi and 18th century French painter Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin (Homage with its pyramid of lemons is a tribute to Chardin’s Wild Strawberries). A gentle humour finds its way into these textural studies – a punning pair of pears, the cone/ball/cylinder of the art class, an array of “preservatives”.
This Page Updated: 2 November 2006