Our People's Collection: Highlights Exhibition

Our People’s Collection

Highlights a curated selection of significant works from the City’s collection

Jan 25 - Feb 22 Goldfields Arts Centre

D Shannon, Past residents of Lakeside Oil on canvas, 129.5 x 101.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong

WELCOME TO YOUR COMMUNITY COLLECTION This exhibition brings together hand-selected artworks from recent acquisitions to bequeathed and long-loan artworks that showcase the diversity and breadth of our collection, while also providing public access to our community collection of art which has hitherto remained largely ‘un-seen’.

At times eclectic, this unique collection serves as a microcosm for the municipality; the works within it reflect the times and identities which shaped Kalgoorlie, and Australia more broadly, while also indicative of prevailing trends and acquisitive appetites. For over 124 years, the City has been accumulating a collection. The Hotchin’s Bequest when it was received by the City of Kalgoorlie in 1955 from Sir Claude Hotchin, boosted the collection significantly. Whether intended or not, the Hotchin’s Bequest has also created familial lines, or rather, ‘Kalgoorlie connections’ through the inclusion of works by Kathleen O’Connor and James Goatcher. O’Connor was a well-regarded Impressionist painter in her own right, and daughter to the celebrated Engineer C. Y. O’Connor, while Goatcher’s watercolour reinforces his family connections and stamp on Kalgoorlie-Boulder DNA with his father’s impressive Goatcher curtain on permanent display at Boulder Town Hall.

In addition, your community collection also comprises a large number of works by prominent local artists, such as acclaimed senior Ngaanyatjarra painter, Dr. Pantjiti Mary McLean, Debbie Carmody, Christine Carmody, Janet Goddard-Day, John Scott, and Roderick Sprigg, to name just a few.

The collection traces key artistic movements, such as Impressionism, Abstraction and Modernism, and reveals a Kalgoorlie vernacular, through works which convey the City’s long-standing Aboriginal culture and heritage, and mining and pioneering history. This exhibition offers a lens into other times and brings to the fore the rich collective spirit that has created Kalgoorlie-Boulder and made it what it is today.

John Walker, CEO

Sir Wilhelm Ernst Hans Franz Heysen OBE (b. Hamburg, Germany 1877, d. Hahndorf, SA 1968) Summer Morning 1946 Watercolour on paper 60.0 x 65.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong German born Heysen was six years old when he arrived in Australia with his family.

He studied at Norwood Art School, Adelaide School of Design and the AcadĂŠmie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. From the time of his first exhibition in 1908 Heysen's work gained popularity. He made his home in Hahndorf in South Australia and became prolific in watercolours of the Australian bush. Heysen won the Wynne Prize nine times between 1900 and 1932. Many of his watercolours in delicate pinks and blues are of gum trees;

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these trees would have been found on his 60-hectare property in Hahndorf.

Dr Pantjiti Mary McLean Springtime-Kapiwararra 2004 Acrylic on canvas 93.0 x113.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong Dr Pantjiti Mary McLean is a Ngaayatjarra woman who was born near Kaltukatjara (Docker River) in the Northern Territory circa 1930.

'This painting depicts a family in the bush springtime. They are collecting bush tucker and have a waru (campfire). There is plenty of animals in the area ‌.kalaya (emus), wild marnpi (pigeons), kakalyala (cockies)and ngarnngi (frogs), in the creek. There is plenty of karlin-karlin (grevillea honey blossom) and wildflowers all around'.

Dr Pantjiti Mary McLean has an honorary Doctorate from Curtin University for her contribution to the arts and was awarded the WA State Living Treasure in 2015.

Dr McLean's work is represented in public and private collections at a state, national and international level.

Kapiwararra (Springtime) was an entry in the 2004 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, and received a Highly Commended Award.

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Kathleen Letitia O’Connor (b. Hokitika, NZ 1876; d. Perth 1968) Self Portrait Date unknown Oil on board 59.0 x 49.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong ‘This portrait is of special interest to the people of the Eastern Goldfields, because it is a portrait of Kathleen O’Connor, a daughter of the late C. Y. O’Connor, whose name is so closely connected with the wonderful water scheme which connects Kalgoorlie with Mundaring Dam. Miss O’Connor was a Western Australian Artist of note, with an international reputation for her outstanding contributions in the field of Art. Kathleen O’Connor had an early desire to apply herself to an artistic career and when quite a young lady made her way to Paris, where she studied under world famous tutors; her work has been prominent in the Art Salons of France.' Sir Claude Hotchin.

O’Connor returned to Western Australia in 1955 and remained there until her death. She exhibited broadly, and her work remains in a number of public and private art collections in Australia and abroad.

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Staff Highlight

"The depth of this work draws me in, it's interesting, dark and intriguing. I keep coming back to it".

John Walker, CEO

Brian McKay (b. Meckering 1926, d. 2014) Super Kal 1995 175.0 x 251.5 cm Photo: Bo Wong Super Kal was especially commissioned by the Kalgoorlie Miner in 1995 to celebrate its centenary year. The artwork was gifted to the City for the people of Kalgoorlie, and the Goldfields Arts Centre has remained custodian for this Modernist masterpiece from prominent West Australian artist, Brian McKay ever since.

McKay was considered one of Western Australia’s most prominent Modernist painters. His work has been the subject of major survey exhibitions and retrospectives at the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Bunbury Regional Gallery. In 1990 he was awarded the Australia Council Emeritus Award, in 1991 the Order of Australia Medal for services to Contemporary Art and in 2011 the Artsource Lifetime Achievement Award. His work is held in numerous public and private

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collections throughout Australia.

James Goatcher (b. Philadelphia, USA 1879; d. Perth, WA 1957) Near North Beach Date unknown Watercolour on paper 53.0 x 62.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong James Goatcher was an American born artist whose father, Phillip Goatcher painted the Goatcher curtain in the Boulder Town Hall. James worked with his father for many years in scene painting for theatres. He was first apprenticed with the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company, and is better known for his conventional watercolours. He was the founding president of the Master Painter’s, Decorators and Signwriters Association of WA. Goatcher annually exhibited his watercolours at Newspaper House, 1944 – 1955.

Roderick Sprigg Nanna Luxie 2017 Oil on canvas 82 .0x 58.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong 2017 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Best Artwork by a Goldfields Artist This portrait is of Leonora elder Luxie Hogarth, painted by Leonora artist Roderick Sprigg. A multi-disciplinary artist, Sprigg was born in Merredin in 1979 and currently lives and works in Leonora, Western Australia.

This artwork was acquired by the City for its collection in 2017.

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D Shannon Past residents of Lakeside Oil on canvas 129.5 x 101.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong It is believed this work was painted in the early 1990’s, looking back to an historic event that occurred in 1969; arguably an unveiling of a plaque at the town site of where the old Lakeside community stood.

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Staff Highlight

"I love the colours, the light, general composition of the image and the fact that it looks like a photo. It made me feel happy as soon as I saw the piece on the wall.

One of the ladies in the front row reminds me of my late and dearly beloved grandma and I feel deeply connected to this painting".

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Marta Perona, Events Officer

Elijah Tichborne Storm Eye Sight 2001 Oil on Canvas 86.5 x 71.0 cm 2001 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Overall Winner Photo: Bo Wong Arguably, the youngest ever winner of the overall Art Prize, Elijah was 14 when he won the 2001 Art Prize with his piece "Storm Eye Sight." The judges for the prize that year, John Stringer and Sandra Hill said it was an easy decision to make.

"It is a very direct and exciting painting. Very simple, and well observed . . . very arresting." Praise was given for its quality, colour, and attention to detail. "Ms Hill went on to say "I think it has enormous integrity, and honesty."

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Christine Carmody Tjala 2018 Acrylic on board 183.0 x 91.5 cm 2018 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Overall Winner Photo: Bo Wong Christine Carmody won the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize in 2018 for her work Tjala. With its compelling Indigenous voice, the artwork draws comparisons between the path of the honey ant and man’s pursuit of mining. The work unites the concept of mining with the industry of nature in a powerful composition with an epic vertical narrative.

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Staff Highlight

"My favourite would have to be Christine Carmody - Tjala I love the vertical layers to the painting which I think showcases the natural beauty of the Goldfields from the deep blue sky to the red dirt.

I also like how the connection is made between the path of the honey ant and man’s pursuit of mining, two common characteristics of Kalgoorlie".

Carwyn Monck, City Living Trainee

Leah Umbagai Wandjina (working) 2019 Acrylic pen on canvas 90.0 x 90.0 cm 2019 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, First Nations Art Award Winner Photo: Fleck Perry Creative "Art is always there. My work reflects relationships, clan, country and my dreaming. I dream when I am in my country. In my dreams my grandparents give me a song or dance but I say no I want to paint. I believe the spirits show you things through dreams. I often dream what I paint."

Leah Umbagai is an emerging artist from Derby represented by Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre, whose work is quickly becoming sought after and represented in many collections throughout Australia. Leah’s work was showcased as part of the Art Gallery of Western Australia’s major survey of Aboriginal art from the Kimberely region in the Desert River Sea project.

This painting won the 2019 First Nations Art Award and was purchased by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for its collection.

Tanya Jaceglav Welcome home to Mother (my wife) 2019 Oil on canvas 124.0 x 124.0 cm 2019 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Best Painting Award Photo: Fleck Perry Creative ‘Welcome home to Mother (my wife) from the Australian boo-ai’ was written in my grandfather’s handwriting on the back of an old photograph. I was struck by the image and realized that my Nana had returned home from Kalgoorlie after meeting me for the first time.

This work won the 2019 Best Painting Award , and was purchased by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for its collection.

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Staff Highlight

"I got to put the red sticker on this one at Art Prize 2019, so for me it holds a special value for that reason, and the fact that I love it."

Lauren Chapman-Holle, Communications Coordinator

Janet Agnes Cumbrae Stewart (b. Brighton, Vic 23/12/1883; d. South Yarra, Vic 08/09/1960) Young Bather Date Unknown Pastel on paper 70.0 x 60.0 cm Photo: Bo Wong Janet Cumbrae Stewart (she dropped the hyphen later in her career) was one of the few women artists in the early 20th century Australia.

Mainly noted for her work with female nudes in pastels, which many critics noted were done in a non vulgar way. Cumbrae Stewart studied art at the National Gallery School and she was awarded a number of prizes for her work during her time there. She travelled and lived in Europe with her companion Miss Argemore Farrington Bellairs, who was Cumbrae Stewarts’ Publicist and Business Manager.

Janet had great success in Europe, North America and Australia, where her skills as an artist are highly sought after.

This art work is a brilliant example of her work with pastels.

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Staff Highlight

"We both really like this one for the colour and the subject, the way that she sits – it’s just a really nice picture. Amazing soft pastels that are well defined".

Joanne Wilson, Team Leader Heritage Services Timothy Moore, Local History & Archives Officer

Walter Ebatarinja Central Australian Splendour Date Unknown Watercolour on paper 45 x 60 cm Photo: Bo Wong This Artist is an Australian aboriginal and is a tribal brother of the famous Artist Albert Namatjira, of the Arunta tribe of Central Australia. Walter Ebatarinja is also one of Mr. Rex Battarbee’s discoveries, and as will be seen is an Artist of extraordinary ability.

Walter Ebatarinja has had his work shown in Sydney and other cities of Australia with outstanding success. Walter is really the Headman of the Arunta tribe. The Arunta tribe at the present time has amongst its members no less than 17 painters. It will no doubt be remembered that some of the work from the brushes of

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these Aboriginal Artists were shown in Kalgoorlie by the writer about a year ago.

Acknowledgements The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder would like to acknowledge the following staff who in the spirit of collaboration brought the Our People’s Collection: Highlights exhibition together: Andrew Carroll, Lauren Chapman-Holle, Lottie Clough, Julie Cocks, Danielle Foster, Isaak Karagoglou, Jane Menzies, Mandy Mielitz, Carwyn Monck, Marta Perona, James Pervan, Timothy Moore, Holly Phillips, Judy Pinny, Les Pinny, Abigail Skinner, Joanne Slattery, Amy Tagliaferri, John Walker, Chrisee Wanakore, Joanne Wilson, Jessica Wood.

A special thanks to Bo Wong for her stunning photography of the collection, bringing a large portion of it into stunning relief, and to Gary Dufour for providing a thorough and insightful valuation of the collection.

Further thanks to the Goldfields Arts Centre staff for providing a venue for the exhibition and for support in the marketing and programming.

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