artists

he Half Dozen Group of Artists, originally comprised six members of the Royal Queensland Art Society who broke away and formed their own group in 1940. The main advocate for the move seems to have been Lilian Pedersen. The other five members were Mona Elliott (the first chairperson), Frank Sherrin, Rosalie Wilson, Leonard Shillam and Ann Ross. Their first exhibition was held in the Randall Room at the Brisbane City Hall in 1941. Although it has retained its traditional name of 'Half Dozen', it has for many years maintained between one and two hundred members. Through the nineteen-forties, fifties and sixties this nucleus of six artists was joined by a "younger generation" of aspiring artists, including Lloyd Rees, Margaret Olley, L. J. Harvey, Margaret Preston, Kenneth McQueen, Jon Molvig, Melville Haysom, William Robinson, Donald Friend, Vida Lahey, Daphne Mayo, Roy Churcher, Mervyn Moriarty, and John Rigby. These artists were later to become some of the most recognised Queensland artists of our time. Membership was initially restricted to a maximum of thirty-five. Artists wishing to join were accepted upon invitation and were expected to present a folio of work for adjudication. TODAY, the criteria for membership centers on an applicant's genuine desire to develop skill and understanding, and if possible, to participate in self-development through the weekly and other workshops provided. The applicant needs the nominations of two financial members and to be accepted by the Management Committee, although this may change at different times. The Group, with former Vice-Regal Patronage (since its inception), now has a membership of well over 100 artists and is continuing to grow. Source: www.hdg-artists.com/a-brief-history.html

Artist Feature | Caroline Barker This International Women's Day, we share the work of ​Brisbane artist, Caroline Barker (1894–1988) known primarily for her portraits and still life. ​The work pictured here, 'Untitled (life class model)' was painted in the mid 1920s, after Caroline returned from Europe. ​ ​She shared a studio with Vida Lahey before establishing her own studio which "…was host to visitors from all parts of the globe. Brisbane was a very cosmopolitan city in those war years. The studio became affectionately known as Grand Central Station. It was frequently used for rehearsal of the performing arts. Life classes were held once a week. The studio was crowded with servicemen and women from England, Canada and America. It was a shilling each. Some artists had easels, many sat on the floor, and the war was forgotten for just a short time…" Archie Collins. ​ Caroline also taught art at several Brisbane girl's schools, including Somerville House where her students included Margaret Olley and Margaret Cilento. ​ Celebrate #IWD2020 and visit our current exhibition New Woman, recognising the lives of Brisbane women artists over the past 100 years. Closes March 15. ​ ​Image: Caroline Barker, Untitled (life class model), c1925, oil on canvas, photo: Carl Warner, gift of the artist, 1982, City of Brisbane Collection, Museum of Brisbane ​#EachforEqual Source: www.facebook.com/MuseumofBrisbane/posts/artist-feature-ca...

NORMAN LINDSAY 1879-1969 | VIC, NSW | Artist, painter, author and sculptor Lindsay was an accomplished black and white artist, painter, author, and sculptor whose technical skills were often lost in the controversy over his frequently vulgar or risqué subject matter. He became a household name through his cartoons and illustrations of the political commentary published in The Bulletin and other magazines for 50 years from 1901. He maintained cartoons should reflect the views of the publication, rather than the artist, earning notoriety through his visual definition of The Bulletin’s isolationist and racist editorial policies. He championed the role of the artist as a moral and social critic in an era torn apart by two great wars. He became at ease with many areas of artistic comment: satire, comedy, anti-war, the freedom movement, an interest in model yachts, and erotica. Bruce Petty, on Norman Lindsay Source: halloffame.melbournepressclub.com/article/norman-lindsay