Jul 28th, 10
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Opening on 10th August at Melbourne’s Catherine Asquith Gallery is a show billed as ‘The Art Of Printmaking: Selected Artists, published by Berkeley Editions. I will feature images by a selection of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, including Jason Benjamin, David Boyd, Charles Blackman, Margaret Olley, Garry Shead, David Larwill and Jasper Knight. Every single one of them belongs to the who’s who of Australian art.
The beautiful invitation to the opening features one of Berkeley Editions’
Jason Benjamin 'More Than He Could Hold' multiplate coloured etching
most popular limited edition prints by Jason Benjamin, which has the intriguing title of ‘More Than He Could Hold’. This hot show of highly-collectable works runs from August 10th – 28th. For more information:http://www.catherineasquithgallery.com or phone 03 9417 2828.
Jul 19th, 10
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Robyn Berkeley with Charles Blackman 2009
It was great to see Charles Blackman and Dickerson burning forgeries of their work, following a court order for their destruction. Charles and Robert gathered with family and friends at the Dickerson Gallery in Woollahra for a ceremonial bonfire in the courtyard. The drawings, purportedly created by the artists, were found to be fakes by the Victorian Supreme Court last month. “The destruction is a symbolic way of saying we don’t want these things to be resurfacing in the marketplace at a future time” said Tom Lowenstein, guardian for Charles Blackman. Good to such such a great outcome.
Jul 14th, 10
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It’s really exciting how many leading art galleries around Australia have embraced the idea of exhibitions devoted exclusively to works on paper. The trend is growing – for no other reason than the public responds so enthusiastically.
Two special shows in particular are coming up soon……
Jul 7th, 10
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On my blog recently, I announced the exciting publication of our latest work with Garry Shead, titled ‘The Bride (Mount Pleasant)’. Such as been the response to the sneak peek on the blog at this intriguing work, that people have asked for some information about the ‘back story’ to ‘The Bride’. The image depicts a strange, almost-haunting wedding breakfast amongst the vineyards in the rugged Australian bush, and what makes this image all the more fascinating is that it’s based on fact and pays homage to a very great love story…..
Garry’s uncle, legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea, married Marcia, a mysterious European in the early 1920s in the Hunter Valley and this is the scene Garry has captured. He explains what happened next: “Although their marriage was not to last, Marcia was the inspiration of Maurice’s great wines (created at Mount Pleasant in Pokolbin).”
Garry’s relationship with his larger-than-life uncle was close and I’m indebted to independent curator, Gavin Wilson for fleshing out their personal history ……
“……. As a child, Shead recalled driving from Sydney’s North Shore to Mount Pleasant during the Easter holidays. The vintage was in and it was a time to celebrate while the wines matured and slumbered in their darkened casks.
“In this magical realm, Uncle Maurice supported his nephew’s nascent interest in art. He encouraged the boy, giving him books to fire the imagination. Maurice was Garry’s earliest mentor. Ten years after Maurice’s death (in 1956), in the year the winery was demolished, Garry Shead began experimenting with ways of depicting the complex character and nature of O’Shea. Shead’s witty use of wine-glass bases to represent a pair of spectacles, reveals something of the artist’s imaginative process and humorous inclination sparked by the legacy of Uncle Maurice.”
Thanks to Garry, neither Maurice nor Marcia will ever be forgotten.
Please click on Garry Shead’s name in this article which links to his profile on Berkeley Editions website.
Jul 5th, 10
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Let’s hope our new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has the good sense to knock on the head the idiotic and potentially-destructive plans recommended by the Super System Review, put in place by the Federal Government. Known as the Cooper Review, the plan put forward would see a ban on self-managed super funds investing in art. Apart from the fact that this is insulting to the intelligence of investors, the Save Super Art campaign claims the change would trigger a 15% to 20% drop in sales!
Tom Lowenstein, from Lowenstein Arts Management, is one of the most brilliant people in visual arts in this country and he, too, is appalled at this proposed change. We caught up when Tom visited Berkeley Editions’ Paddington studio recently to be interviewed on camera for a film we’re working on with Garry Shead. During a break in filming, Tom said something very powerful about the Cooper Review: “…. it lacks a complete understanding of what art is in our society.” How true.
Jul 1st, 10
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The art world undoubtedly throws up more fabulous characters than any other field of endeavour…. and they don’t come any more unforgettable than dear friend Charles Blackman, who was the subject of a recent cover story in the Good Weekend magazine.
Berkeley Editions has represented his works on paper for 20 years and I’ve got to know Charles the man very well indeed in that time. I think back with affection on our first collaboration – a limited edition print called “Garden of the Stars” and I’ll never forget the first time I saw him, wearing his signature beret. He has such style.
Countless happy lunches have been shared over the years and the main thing I would like to say about this wonderful character is that he’s the best story teller I know. And like all great story tellers, he has an amazing memory for detail.
We had such a lovely outing recently and he was in great form – although as the Good Weekend conveyed, generally speaking Charles is in pretty fragile health. He is looked after by his saintly carer, Fred O’Brien, who joined us for lunch the other day. He is quite simply the angel in Charles’ life and those of us who love Charles Blackman, owe Fred a great debt.
Jun 10th, 10
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Undoubtedly the biggest buzz in the world of art publishing is when an artistic collaboration comes to fruition exactly as we all dreamed it would. And that has just happened with the latest Garry Shead offering for Berkeley Editions, another whimsical etching titled ‘The Bride (Mount Pleasant).
The image has charm, quirkiness and mystery and it’s made even more fascinating, given the bridal scene is inspired by the passionate marriage of Garry’s late uncle and mentor, Maurice O’Shea.
Check it out on our website www.berkeleyeditions.com.au.
“The Bride (Mount Pleasant)”
2010 Edition of 55 Multi-plate coloured Etching
Image size: 60 x 90 cm Paper size: 79 x 109 cm
Colours: 15 Plates: 2 plates printed à la poupée
Jun 3rd, 10
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I would like to send my personal congratulations to Hailey and James Bailey of Southern Ocean Lodge for winning ‘Best Lodge’ in Gourmet Traveller Awards 2010. Regarded as a recognition of the best operators in the Australian tourism industry Baillie Lodges represented by Hayley attended the glamorous awards event last Thursday night at Sydney’s Bennelong at the Opera House. James Baillie celebrated the win first hand at the Lodge in the company of excited staff and guests. Well done to you all.
Jun 2nd, 10
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I was glad to hear of the resounding success of Jasper’s latest show at Chalk Horse Gallery in Surry Hills recently. Also belated congratulations to Jasper and his wife Isabelle on the birth of their son Ziggy. We are looking forward to working with Jasper later this year on a new limited edition print. Only one set remains of silkscreens we published with Jasper in 2008 based on images he did of tug boats on the river Thames and titled ‘Resolve and General VIII’ and ‘Mesina and Merit’. Have a look at Jasper’s page on our website.
May 20th, 10
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Robyn Berkeley and Craig Ruddy
Berkeley Editions is delighted that Craig Ruddy, one of our stable of stars, has just won the 2010 Archibald People’s Choice Prize for his portrait of Aboriginal writer/director Warwick Thornton.
He was already part of Archibald history, having been awarded both the Archibald Prize and the People’s Choice Award in 2004 for his controversial portrait of actor David Gulpilil.
Craig was in his typical effervescent style when we rang to congratulate him. He was just over the moon, and loving all the attention following this fabulous award. He’s clearly thrilled that so many people voted for his portrait of Warwick Thornton.
Craig’s latest works for us are three haunting etchings, drawn from the Outback palette. As Craig explains it, they depict the human form and the human spirit, and their journey in connection with the landscape.
Despite living much of the year in South America, Craig remains intensely loyal to his country of birth, and these images for Berkeley Editions, along with his powerful portrait of Thornton, convey his passionate love of what is quintessentially Australian.
Since Craig’s latest People’s Choice has been announced last week, Berkeley Editions has received a stack of enquiries about our Ruddy etchings, titled ‘Embers’, Nocturnal Flower’ and ‘Dawn Embrace’, which are Craig Ruddy the artist at his finest.
Only a few remain. For inquiries call Frances at Berkeley Editions on 9357 2222, or email: info@berkeleyeditions.com.au
