Renowned Australian art historian, curator and fine art advisor, John McPhee, will be in Launceston tomorrow to visit the exhibition 'WICKER WONDERLUST' currently evolving at Design Tasmania.
John McPhee has had a long association with Launceston as early on in career he was a curator at the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery.
He also has a particular interest in this exhibition as as he was a part of a conversation about 'colonial and folk basket making' in Launceston that led to the research that in turn led up to the exhibition.
Ray Norman, a member of a Launceston based network of people currently exploring the histories and cultural significance of basket making in the region, said that "John's visit is very much welcomed given what is unfolding at Design Tasmania."
"It turns out that there are so many rich stories to do with Launceston's Aboriginal, colonial histories and the aftermath that find links in basket making. John has played an important part in telling these stories throughout Australia" Ray Norman said.
Personally, John McPhee collects Australian 'folk arts'. The discovery that there was an Italian basket maker, Leandro Di Lullo, working in Launceston while he was working at the QVMAG, and while there was survey of 'Tasmanian makers' going on, and that he was missed, John says is "an extraordinary story".
Likewise, and no less important, there is the extraordinary story of Ballard family who maintained basket workshop in Launceston and a willow grove (willow osier) at Distillery Creek for four generations. At one time there were almost 50 people employed in the 'Ballard enterprise' in Launceston.
John McPhee will be available for interviews between 12Noon & 12:45pm Saturday March 24 at Design Tasmania.
John has a prior commitment between 1:00pm & 2:00pm when he will be returning to Design Tasmania for an informal 'cuppa' with people interested in the work that's coming together as a consequence of WICKER WONERLUST between 2:00pm & 3:30pm.
John McPhee will be available for interviews between 12Noon & 12:45pm Saturday March 24 at Design Tasmania.
John has a prior commitment between 1:00pm & 2:00pm when he will be returning to Design Tasmania for an informal 'cuppa' with people interested in the work that's coming together as a consequence of WICKER WONERLUST between 2:00pm & 3:30pm.
For more information about WICKER7250
eMAIL: LAUNCESTONprojects@bigpond.com
For further information about WICKERY WONDERLUST
eMAIL: amy@designtasmania.com
LINKS
- Wickery & Place: CLICK HERE
- Leandro Di Lullo: CLICK HERE
- Ballard Basketry: CLICK HERE
- Ballard Basketry: CLICK HERE
DESIGN TASMANIA MEDIA: http://wickery7250.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/wicker-wonderlust.html
DESIGN TASMANIA MEDIA RELEASE FOR SATURDAY MARCH 24th
Design Tasmania is excited to be welcoming John McPhee for an In Conversation event around our Wicker Wonderlust exhibition. John has worked in Australian Art Museums and was the inaugural Curator of Australian Decorative Arts, and later Senior Curator of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia and the Deputy Director of the National Gallery of Victoria.
Now John works as an independent art historian, curator, and fine art advisor, specialising in Australian art history, painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photography, and the decorative arts, including folk and popular arts and architecture.
John has a long and esteemed career in the Arts, and is looking forward to a casual and intimate discussion on baskets and wickery over a cuppa.
We hope you will join us on Saturday March 24th, from 2-3:30pm at Design Tasmania.
Contact amy@designtasmania.com for more information.
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