Creative live
The stories revolving around Art in Victoria
The stories here focus on the creative world. The world of artists and extraordinary art collections, with the creative process involved in creating some of these works. Creative works do not merely drive innovation, but they also encourage cultural connection. Here are some of the stories detailing and celebrating the creative culture in Victoria;
An Art History of Australia
Art in Australia dates back to a very long time ago with the aboriginal art going far back as 40,000 years. Since then, Europeans too have come to Australia and of course the art they created reflected their own culture but over time, living within the particular culture and on this Land has influenced artists such that today, Australian art is a combination of the European and aboriginal values. The Art Gallery of Ballarat was established in 1884 to be the largest and oldest regional gallery in the country. It was a creation of the citizens led by James Oddie who is considered the “Father of Ballarat”. He was part of the first gold diggers to come to Ballarat, and throughout his life, he was a major supporter and patron of the gallery.
The gallery contains a significant collection of artworks that have been acquired over the past 120 years. Walking into the gallery gives you a glimpse of what Australia’s history has been like over the past years. The gallery contains both old and new pieces. You will find the transition of Australian art overtime with the works from the likes of landscape artist Eugene von Guerard, Aboriginal artist William Barrack, Australian impressionists Emanuel Phillips Fox, George Bell, and Tom Roberts, realist Jeffery Smart, modernist Grace Crawley, and contemporary works from the likes of Lorraine Connelly Northey and Jon Cattapan. There is a video that interviews with staff of the gallery where they talk about what they do and bring the history of Australian art to life.
An Australian Toy Book
Toy books were originally 19th-century publishing phenomena that were produced in England and featured illustrations of children’s rhymes and stories. In Australia, a version of it was created in This is the Hut that Jack Built in Australia. This book featured a muted palette, modified antipodean storyline, and indigenous animals.
Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize
Bendigo Art Gallery gives this award, and it is the most expensive open painting prize in Australia. It attracted some of the best contemporary artists and was initiated in 2003 by Mr Allen Guy C.B.E to honour his late brother Arthur Guy. The R.H.S equally supports it. Abbott Bequest Fund and it is held on a biennial basis. Arthur Guy was born in Melbourne in 1914 and joined the Royal Australian Air Force where he served in New Guinea. He died at the age of 30 on 14 February 1945 when his plane was gunned down on a biscuit bomber mission.