Presented by Dr Billy Gruner with ‘The Chocolate Line’ presented by artist Sarah Keighery

This presentation provides the origin story of Modern Art Projects (MAP), the predecessor of MAPBM today, and features the critically acclaimed Art and Architecture program held through the late 2010s in mid-century homes and buildings of architectural significance across the Blue Mountains.

The founding MAP group led by Dr Billy Gruner and partner Sarah Keighery formed an experimental approach to presenting contemporary arts concepts, exhibiting works by both emerging and internationally renowned artists. It was a paradigm shift in the local arts eco-system, attracting audiences from greater Sydney and the regions.

Background

Having created a range of arts programs in Sydney, artists/curators Billy Gruner and Sarah Keighery established Modern Art Projects (MAP) in 2013 following their move to the Blue Mountains, setting up ‘headquarters’ in their lovingly restored Nino Sydney designed Beachcomber House. In 2015 the restoration of the Beachcomber won the 2016 Australian Award for the Preservation of the Built Environment by the Heritage Council of Australia.

It was there that the Art & Architecture series of contemporary art exhibitions and events was conceived, assisted by collaborators Ian Milliss, Sarah Breen-Lovett, David Haines and Sean Cordeiro among others. It was the strong connection to architecture that developed the themes and projects with events created to bring arts, architecture, site visits and soirees into a single activity that included curator, building owner and architect talks. In addition to MAP, West Projects was set up in an old shop front in Hazelbrook with regular exhibitions and events.

Art and Architecture culminated in the major exhibition MAPSPACE at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in 2016.

This session is free but please RSVP by Friday 12 September 2025

This session is presented by Modern Art Projects Blue Mountains as part of the Aerie exhibition at Wentworth Falls School of Arts.

Aerie Exhibition Details

Exhibition hours: Friday 29 August to Sunday 14 September 2025, open Friday to Sunday 10am to 4pm

Wentworth Falls School of Arts, 217-219 Great Western Hwy, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782

For more information go to: https://www.modernartprojects.org/project/aerie-exhibition-celebrates-school-of-arts-and-mapbm

Supported by Blue Mountains City Council and
the Blue Mountains City of the Arts Trust