TWEED

Newsletter Vol17 No3 Nov 2016

THE GALLERY CAFÉ Enjoy having lunch, morning or afternoon tea in the beautifully FROM THE DIRECTOR situated licensed café with its magnificent views over the Tweed It has been another amazing year for the Gallery - one that Valley and the Border Ranges. View was certainly full of achievements. How quickly it has flown by! It’s near impossible to list all of the achievements of the the artworks and treat yourself to Friends throughout the year, but to name some highlights, delicious cakes and great coffee or I couldn’t go past the acquisitions to the collection which have been so a light meal and a glass of wine. Left: Art Toys made by Helle Jorgensen generously contributed. (See Friendly contributions, page 2) The café is open from Right: Helle Jorgensen with Art Play participants, 2015 Looking back on 2016, we’ve hosted some wonderful exhibitions, which 9am - 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. I hope many of you had the opportunity to see. Some of the highlights For your preferred table, time or include our hosting of two wonderful exhibitions from the National group bookings, please phone Connecting kids with our collection Portrait Gallery in Canberra, Arcadia and Uncommon Australians, both 02 6672 5088 of which further cemented our collaborative relationship with one of the nation’s leading institutions, and one that aligns beautifully with the s summer and holidays draw near, the Gallery is Playdates, check the Gallery’s website at Gallery’s collection focus on portraits of Australians. The calendar also has a a great place to escape the heat and engage with www.artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au THE GALLERY SHOP included exhibitions which benefitted from the support of the Friends beautiful range of wares in a wide some art and culture. Young artists are in focus As an art educator and a mum, my top tips for visiting through financial assistance with the development and production of withA the annual Les Peterkin Portrait Prize on display until range of prices. There are many new the Gallery with children are: complementary and scholarly merchandise for our Gallery-initiated lines, some of which use Margaret 4 December, and we anticipate this exhibition and others Recreating Margaret Olley’s home studio • Talk about what kind of behaviour is expected in the exhibitions. These include and the Olley artwork images and are ideal will attract young Gallery-goers. Personally I didn’t set The Mystery of Things: Margaret Olley Gallery - no running, touching or yelling - but make ground-breaking and highly acclaimed for gifts and souvenirs. Purchases foot in an art gallery until I was in my teens, as part of and David Strachan sure they know that it’s perfectly OK to talk about . This exhibition is a finalist in the upcoming IMAGinE at the shop help boost the Friends’ a school-organised excursion. It had a profound effect what they see. Awards. Fingers crossed – we might end up with a trophy for the cabinet! contributions to the Gallery and on me: seeing art in real life (as opposed to in books), I The Friends also played an important role in helping the Gallery in fell in love with art galleries immediately. Now I take my • Let children know that their opinion is important. Ask in most cases, support Australian promoting our first ticketed exhibition to date in the 2015 Archibald Above: Dietmar LEDERWASCH children to art galleries regularly so they can be inspired, them questions: “Do you like this artwork – why, or artists. Prize Regional Tour. This show was a tremendous success for the Gallery, Untitled 2015 learn what artists do, and to generate conversation and why not?” or “What would you call this artwork if you attracting over 30,000 visitors in a 6 week period and generating income linocut stimulate their minds. Increasingly, galleries are focussing made it?” TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY on young audiences, promoting themselves as exciting for future programs. & MARGARET OLLEY ART CENTRE places for visitors of all ages to discover and explore. • It’s a good idea to give them a task as part of their The last quarter (July-September) welcomed 26,519 visitors to the Gallery, www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/artgallery visit. For example, they could pop on their ‘art judge which brings the total to almost 88,900 visitors for the 2016 calendar year on show in a highly anticipated exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Right now the Gallery has several exhibitions and hat’ and choose their favourite work or see how many , which presented fifty years of work by South Australia’s most Cnr Tweed Valley Way and programs that are designed to connect with young to date. We are on track to reach the 100,000 mark before the end of Mistral Road Murwillumbah artworks they can find with animals or fruit in them. December. We have welcomed over 300,000 visitors since the opening of celebrated portraitist. Revered for his ability to capture the true nature or audiences, and we encourage parents and grandparents ‘essence’ of his sitters and recipient of numerous important commissions PO Box 816 to bring the children along for a stimulating and shared • Another great idea is for you to describe your the Margaret Olley Art Centre in March 2014. favourite work in the collection to the kids and then and awards, Hannaford has been selected as a finalist for the Archibald Murwillumbah 2484 experience. In recognition of the important role a gallery The Gallery’s recent receipt of a Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Award, Prize over the past twenty-five years, winning the People’s Choice three environment can play in early childhood development, see if they can find it on display. the American travel website’s highest honour and based on user reviews, P: 02 6670 2790 times. I was delighted to loan these portraits to the Art Gallery of South the Gallery has developed an Early Learning Program • Pack a picnic to enjoy outdoors to break up your visit testifies to our reputation with the public. We have maintained our ranking Australia so more Australians and international visitors could share the F: 02 6672 7585 specifically for children up to the age of five. These or grab some lunch or refreshments at the Gallery as the fourth best museum in their ‘Top 10 Museums – Australia’ and E: [email protected] artist’s masterful portraits and to support Robert in this wonderful survey monthly Gallery Playdates, for children aged six months Café. ranked number nine in the ‘Top 25 Museums - South Pacific’. exhibition. Bill and Tom will be back soon, as the exhibition concluded in Open Wednesday to Sunday to five years, will guide participants to explore the • Make use of the pencils, activity templates and We can’t rest on our laurels though, and there’s some great exhibitions Adelaide on 9 October. 10am to 5pm exhibition Margaret Olley: from the collection using a clipboards available in the Foyer, pick up the fantastic and events on our program for next year. Over the summer period, we’re Before I sign off, I’d like to take this opportunity to particularly specially commissioned set of playful Art Toys. The toys The Phantom MOAC Kids Guide and don’t forget to allow plenty of hosting a fun-filled exhibition for all the young at heart with congratulate committee members Lyn Stewart, Helena Duckworth and Murwillumbah were made by Helle Jorgensen, a local textile artist. Art Show time for the kids to use the iPads in MOAC. Why not . This show is inspired by the comic book character created in New Helle took inspiration from Margaret Olley’s artworks Lorraine Lintern on their extraordinary contribution to the Friends, and Mistral Rd have a go yourself? York City by Lee Falk in 1936. Nostalgic, surprising and fun, this exhibition acknowledge the recently bestowed status of Life Membership of the Tweed River and made the Art Toys entirely by hand. The Gallery will celebrates the evolution of this unique heroic character over the past open slightly earlier on the scheduled playdates so that Jodi Ferrari Friends to Lyn and Helena, passed unanimously by the Committee at the 80 years and is dedicated to the first two Phantom artists, Ray Moore August meeting. This final artifacts for the year is also timely in welcoming families can enjoy a quiet experience in the exhibition Education and Audience Development Officer and Wilson McCoy. More than 30 artists have contributed their various and is timed so that older children can be dropped to and congratulating all the new Committee members: incoming President interpretations of the “Ghost Who Walks” through a variety of media Penny Hall and Vice President Carole Evans, ably joined by numerous Murwillumbah school first. and styles. Participating artists include Charles Blackman, Kevin Connor, Railway Station Committee members. I look forward to working with you all in the Families with older children may like to take in the , Reg Mombassa, Euan Macleod, Paul Ryan, Gary Shead coming year. TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY collection show A – Z: the alphabet in art as part of their and Greg Weight. & MARGARET OLLEY ART CENTRE visit. This exhibition draws attention to the eclectic In 2017, we’ll have exhibitions featuring contemporary embroidery, ceramics works on display by identifying objects which begin with and design, photography and works by our younger regional artists; also Disclaimer: Please note that the the letter of the alphabet allocated to each artwork. exhibitions by Josh Yeldham, Guy Maestri, David Fairbairn, Brett Whiteley information contained in artifacts is It’s fun for young and old – and a terrific way to get to elcome New Friends and Alasdair Macintyre. Mid-year, there’ll be a big new Olley show Portraits: obtained from a variety of sources know more of our permanent collection. After the kids Margaret Olley, and our first international exhibition David Hockney: Words and that the views expressed are have practised their ABCs they can pop into the Friends’ We look forward to seeing you out at the and Pictures, drawn from the British Council Collection … but more about not necessarily those of the Friends Gallery where it is all about counting to the magic those exhibitions next issue. Lyn Stewart and 1, 2, 3 Count the Gallery, at openings, floortalks or special events. of Tweed Regional Gallery Inc. or number 10 in our summer exhibition I’ve received numerous enquiries as to the whereabouts of a beloved work Helena Duckworth Collection Each mailout you receive will be filled with Tweed Regional Gallery. . This fun exhibition uses artworks to illustrate in the Gallery’s collection. Quite a lot of visitors have been asking where Bill numbers and will introduce a diverse range of works opportunities to enjoy Gallery and Friends’ Thank you all so much for another fabulously successful year, and I look Heather McLachlan ~ Editor is – that wonderful portrait by artist Robert Hannaford that has captured from the collection. activities and there’s always the free guided tour so many hearts over the years since it was acquired. Bill and another of forward to seeing you in the Gallery again soon. Design: Hetti McDonald ~ 0421 952 983 For more information about these exhibitions and Gallery at 11.30 each day (Wednesday – Sunday). our Hannaford portraits, Tom, a work depicting the artist’s son, has been Until next time. Susi

This page is sponsored by Martine Brinsdon, Optometrist, Murwillumbah Phone: 02 6672 3284 This page is sponsored by Print Spot & Murwillumbah Signs and Screenprinting Phone: 02 6672 8370 A Chairy Tale Margaret Olley: from the collection

My mother was hell-bent on making me a nurse as she had been. I would have killed people if I had been a nurse. Mercifully it didn’t happen. The matron at St Martin’s Hospital said, Oh, take her away and bring her back in a year’s time. That’s when fate stepped in. Since Friendly contributions I’d been rejected as a nurse, my mother went along to Caroline Barker and asked The Friends’ mission statement is “to foster and support Above left: Margaret OLLEY (1923 – 2011) Above centre and right: the continuing development of the Tweed Regional Gallery The Blue Kitchen 1993 Monica ROHAN her what she thought I should do. oil on board Contain 2015 and Swallowed 2014 and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc. and its programs”. Gift of the Friends of Tweed Regional Gallery oil on board Send her to the tech, Caroline Barker said.¹ Director Susi Muddiman expands on the Friends’ and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc., 2015 Gifts of the Friends of Tweed Tweed Regional Gallery collection Regional Gallery and Margaret contributions towards the permanent collection over Olley Art Centre Inc., 2015 Margaret OLLEY (1923 – 2011) the last twelve months. Tweed Regional Gallery collection Still life with seafood 1948 oil on board Gift of the Margaret Olley Estate, 2015 There were ten acquisitions to our collection funded by his encouragement, from Caroline Barker, Margaret Olley’s high © The Margaret Olley Estate the Friends, which is truly an extraordinary achievement. school art teacher at in , paved the Tweed Regional Gallery collection These include the stunning The Blue Kitchen by Margaret way for the beginnings of what was to be a long and successful Olley. Raising funds for this stunning painting, so careerT for Olley. relevant to our collection, was a mammoth task, which Margaret Olley: from the collection offers a unique insight into the the Friends managed with aplomb via an acquisition FROM THE fascinating life and enduring career of Margaret Olley (1923 – 2011) Drysdale, there were two significant acquisitions made from her first Still life with appeal. The Friends also contributed $30,000 towards FRIENDS’ PRESIDENT and is, as the title suggests, comprised exclusively of works from the solo show – the Art Gallery of New South Wales purchased Pineapple flowers and pears pink fish Hill End the acquisition of by Olley, Tweed Regional Gallery collection. The earliest work, Kewpie Doll 1938 1948 and the National Gallery of Victoria purchased On behalf on the new Committee of the Friends of Tweed ruins Portrait in the Mirror matching a contribution from the Tweed Regional Gallery was completed by Olley when she was just 15 years of age. She would 1948. This exhibition also included 1948, which Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc., I thank Foundation Ltd. These two beautiful works are currently have completed this prophetic still life under the instruction of Caroline Olley gifted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2001. Lynette Stewart, Helena Duckworth and Lorraine Lintern for their years of hard on exhibition in the Margaret Olley Art Centre in the Barker. Decades on, in the context of this exhibition, it links the legacy 1948 was also the year she first visited artist in Hill Margaret Olley: from the collection work and dedication to the Gallery. Lynette and Helena are to be congratulated on exhibition where I know of Australia’s most celebrated painter of still life back to her fledgling End and was placed runner up in the New South Wales Travelling Art receiving their well-earned life membership of the Friends. they are being enjoyed by many. There was as well, Angus beginnings. Scholarship. McDonald’s Pieta from his exhibition White Noise staged I have great pleasure in introducing the new Committee of the Friends that consists One of the Gallery’s aims is to develop the largest and the best While we can’t be certain, it is highly likely that Olley painted Still life with here at the Gallery. This striking work was also assisted by of old and new Committee members: seafood at the Olley family home ‘Farndon’ located on Morry Street, Hill an appeal for funds towards its acquisition. collection of work by Margaret Olley. This exhibition shares the President: Penny Hall exceptional foundations of this collection. End, Brisbane, where it hung in the kitchen for many years. I was delighted that the Friends were more than willing Vice President: Carole Evans Tragically, in November 1980, ‘Farndon’ was destroyed by fire along with to contribute funds to acquire two works from the A substantial number of the works were generously gifted by the Secretary: Bronwyn Lewis Margaret Olley Estate following the artist’s bequest of one million family memorabilia and a large collection of paintings and works on paper outcome exhibition of Artist in Residence Monica Rohan. by Olley, as well as artworks by her friends and fellow artists such as These two beautiful works are a direct response from Treasurer: Alan Hann dollars towards the development of the re-creation of her home studio within the Margaret Olley Art Centre – the third and final stage of the David Strachan, Fred Jessup and Donald Friend. Monica to working with objects from Olley’s home Membership Secretary: Rose Wilsher Tweed Regional Gallery. studio re-creation, and form enduring additions to our Public Officer: Derek Loader All my early paintings were off stretchers under mats with newspaper collection. And of course it’s always a pleasure for me The majority of the artworks gifted by the Estate remained in Olley’s between them in my mother’s bedroom, which we thought was the best artifacts Editor: Heather McLachlan to go shopping in our flagship prize exhibition, the Olive private collection from the time they were created until her death in way to keep them. The fire got the lot. There were also works stacked up Cotton Award for photographic portraiture for the Director’s Committee: Martin Sullivan, Karlene Polglase, Gabrielle Simpson, 2011. Some of these works were borrowed from Olley for significant downstairs in the studio; they were all gone, too.² Choice Awards generously funded by the Friends. From Bronwyn Orrock and Anna Donshek exhibitions during her lifetime, such as North c.1947 which was last year’s exhibition, I was able to select five compelling Margot Anthony AM has agreed to continue in her role as Patron of the Friends. included in her 1997 retrospective exhibition, curated by Barry Pearce Still life with seafood was thought to have been destroyed in the fire, until, photographic portraits by Australian photographers with at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Works such as Kewpie Doll We face a steep learning curve and together we will do our best for the Friends and as retold by Philip Bacon AM,’…15 years after the fire…a young man the funds donated by the Friends. Susi 1938 and The Lands Office, Sydney (cnr Bent and Loftus) 1967 have never the Gallery. turned up with the painting at Margaret’s home in Sydney. His father was before been on public display. a fireman and the painting had been in their home for years. When the In addition to the contributions Susi mentioned above, I look forward to meeting you at the Gallery and particularly at the opening of Other artworks in this exhibition have been acquired into the Gallery’s son realised who had painted it, he was mortified and after his father’s the Friends regularly support the Gallery by funding prizes The Phantom Art Show on Saturday 10 December at 6:00 for 6:30pm. collection via the financial support of the Tweed Regional Gallery death he decided to return it. It was smoke-stained and damaged from for the Les Peterkin Portrait Prize and entertainment at Best wishes, Penny Foundation Ltd., the Friends of Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret the ‘Farndon’ house fire but Olley was thrilled to have it back and it the Opening, some prizes for the Border Art Prize and TV Olley Art Centre Inc., the Tweed Regional Gallery Donations Fund and stayed in her house until she died.’ advertising for the visit by the Regional Tour. Below left to right: Derek Loader, Penny Hall, Bronwyn Lewis, Gabrielle Simpson, as gifts to the collection by generous donors. The painting was professionally restored prior to being gifted, by the There has been Artist in Residency funding for local artist Margot Anthony AM, Karlene Polglase, Rose Wilsher, Martin Sullivan, Heather Margaret Olley Estate, to the Tweed Regional Gallery collection. Gatya Kelly, the acquisition of specialist storage boxes for McLachlan, Alan Hann (Absent: Carole Evans, Bronwyn Orrock, Anna Donshek) This eclectic collection of work reveals stories from Olley’s eventful the Gallery, and the production of Margaret Olley card life and her long career. They reveal stylistic evolutions in her practice Margaret Olley: from the collection continues until Sunday 7 May 2017 packs and jigsaws for sale in the Gallery shop. and illustrate glimpses of some of the many places she travelled to, and some of the places she called home. Ingrid Hedgcock, MOAC Curator and Collections Manager As a Friend, you can assist in our efforts to support the Gallery by helping out at Openings, at our “envelope- Still life with seafood 1948 is a great example of this, linking to significant 1. Margaret Olley, quoted in Meg Stewart, Margaret Olley: far from a still stuffing” sessions for Gallery mailouts, participating in events in both Olley’s career and personal life. life, revised edition, Random House, Sydney 2012, p. 61. Friends’ activities such as bus trips and dinners and even by Still life with seafood was painted in 1948, the same year as Olley’s first 2. Margaret Olley, quoted in Meg Stewart, Margaret Olley: far from a still doing your gift shopping in the Gallery shop. solo exhibition at Macquarie Galleries, Sydney. Opened by Russell life, revised edition, Random House, Sydney 2012, p. 449.

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