Current Exhibitions

THE HERMANS:  ART IN THE FAMILY

Manly Art Gallery & Museum is to host a delightful survey exhibition of the ceramic sculptures, vases and decorative tiles of contemporary Sydney-born artist Fairlie Kingston, in which the artist focuses on Australian icons and developes strong narrative themes centred on Sydney Harbour, including its many lighthouses, boatsheds, Luna Park rides, its surrounding bush and the popular seaside resort suburb of Manly.

Entitled 'To the Lighthouse: the ceramics of Fairlie Kingston', the exhibition is to be launched by respected fellow Australian artist, Cressida Campbell, and will be open free to the public from Friday 5 Febraury until 7 March 2010.

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_{^{IMAGE 1: Fairlie Kingston, Red buoy III, 2000, illuminated ceramic sculpture, 20.5 x 27.5cm. Private collection IMAGE 2: Fairlie Kingston, Summertime, illuminated ceramic sculpture, 40 x 40cm. Private collection IMAGE 3: Fairlie Kingston, Rotor, ceramic sculpture, 26.5 x 30 x 25.5cm. Private collection}}

Closely associated with the ideals and creativity of the Yellow House movement which enriched Sydney culture in the 1970s, Fairlie Kingston's work is distinguished by its charming detail, the artist delighting in architectural minutiae, in quaintness, in the charm of harbour life and in memories of the cxhildhood magic of Luna Park.

"Kingston's works convey warmth, fun, and an enthusiasm for life, and celebrates a sense of place", says art writer and curator Christine France.

"They serve to remind us how quickly things can change, that the individual identity which is unique to the coastline and cities needs to be protected from ubiquitous concrete buildings, marinas choking up bays and the destruction of fragile coastal bushland". Christine France

Kingston's two dimensional works or tiles reveal an intimacy with snatches of Harbour and Pittwater views, wharves, boatsheds, pools and baths. On her large Bush Vases are depictions of magroves, angophoras and spotted gums, some burnt by fire. The elegant linear compositions of angophora, casuarina and coastal scrub are incised onto three or four sided vessels and glazed in subtle bushland colours. Many of these works are on display at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum until 7 March 2010.

Fairlie Kingston is represented by Australian Galleries   www.australiangalleries.com.au

 Fairlie Kingston - invitation - 351 KB

 Media Release - Fairlie Kingston - 89 KB

This exhibition is proudly sponsored by:

MUSEUM EXHIBITION - THE NATURE OF MANLY 

Exhibition Dates: 11 September 2009 - 22 August 2010

Manly Council's Art Gallery & Museum is delighted to present a new Museum exhibition exploring the fascinating evolution of holiday houses built on Sydney's Northern Beaches during the last 150years. Summer Days: The Holiday House on the Northern Beaches will officially be opened on friday 11 September 2009 at 6pm by renowned Australian architect richard Leplastrier.

Curated by historian Virginia Macleod, the exhibition focuses on the social as well as architectural aspects of the houses and their relationship to the bush and beach. houses by architects such as Walter Burley Griffin, Alexander Styart Jolly, Harry Seidler, Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury are documented in the exhibition.

Since the nineteenth century people have been attracted to the coastal region between Manly and Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach. as leisure became a factor of urban living, Sydneysiders began to take weekend breaks and holidays. New forms of transport; trams, cars and buses offered the means to get away and brought people to the Northern beaches. Staying away from the city overnight led to the creation of a range of individual accomodation styles; primative and sophisticated tents, caravans, sheds, shacks, cottages and speciofically designed houses. Holiday homes and weekenders provided a different life-style focusing on outdoor entertainment and informality.

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^{IMAGE 1: Frank Spencer's holiday home 'Coo-ee' at Curl Curl built c1918. Image courtesy Warringah library Services and Arden Macpherson (nee Spencer). IMAGE 2: Margaret, Gregory and Stanley Yewen reading on the veranda at Bungania, Bungan Beach, 1920. Image courtesy Pittwater Local Studies IMAGE 3: Stella James' house designed by Walter Burley Griffin 1934. Image courtesy Claire Stevenson papers. Avalon: Landscape and Harmony. Ruskin Rowe Press 1999}

The Mayor of Manly, Jean Hay AM, says the Northern Beaches area was an ideal location for beachside holidays: "The area of Manly and the Northern Beaches in general has a long and proud tradition of welcoming holiday makers to our shores" said Mayor Hay. "From exploring coastal rock platforms, to bush walks or swimming at the beach, there was always something to do for families spending their weekends here and the houses that were built reflect that care-free, easy going attitude we enjoy. Manly Council is proud to be supporting this wonderful exhibition as part of our 2009 Manly Arts Festival".

The holiday style and spirit persists in several homes built recently on the Northern Beaches, a setting which has always attracted architects. notably houses by Peter Muller, Richard Leplastrier, Glen Murcutt, Robert Brown and Peter Stutchbury, aided by advances in engineering, reach out to their surroundings in a spectacular style. More than ever, they embrace the rocks and trees and centre life on platforms or veranda-like spaces, encompassing the view.

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^{IMAGE 1: Treetops amongst spotted gums, Clareville, 1991. Photographer Patrick Bingham-Hall courtesy Peter Stutchbury Architecture. IMAGE 2: James Robertson House at Mackeral Beach 2003, Photographer Patrick Bingham-Hall courtesy Casey Brown Architecture. IMAGE 3: View through breezeway to the ocean, James Robertson House at Mackeral Beach 2003, Photographer Patrick Bingham-Hall courtesy Casey Brown Architecture}

Over the last thirty years Australian's holidays have changed. Increasing affluence had enabled many people to choose luxury resorts often in exotic locations, reached by aeroplane. the caravan park at Palm Beach was dismantled in 1972 but the Narrabeen Lakes Caravan Park still operates today and is visited by families that have been holidaying there for decades. Today on the Northern Beaches many former holiday homes have become permanent residences for commuters or retirees.

 Summer Days - invitation - 897 KB

 Summer Days - catalogue - 828 KB

  an accompanying exhibition catalogue is available at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum for $4.00