Art, WA & the world
Art collector and former ABC broadcaster Thomas Murrell reckons nothing beats seeing a private art collection in a historic setting.
“You can visit an institutional gallery to see art, you can visit a commercial gallery to buy art, but it is very rare to see a carefully curated private art collection in a domestic setting within a historic house,” he says.
The setting is Murrell’s Subiaco home, Fairview, which was built in 1915 for Perth Ice Works engineer John Kennedy. The house’s second owner was William Pointon, managing director of the department store Boans.
The Queen Anne Federation-style villa is most notable for its fine collection of stained glass and leadlight, said to be among the best-preserved in the world.
Murrell’s art collection focuses on the works of little-known women artists, hence the theme of his Perth Art Weekend tour, Celebration, showcasing “the rich and diverse talents of the women artists in my collection and how these connect back to their goals and aspirations”.
As part of his tour, Murrell provides insights into the art and lives of artists such as Nancy Sayer, whom he describes as having a “highly resolute, stubborn, honest, authentic yet self-confident personality” that is reflected in her work.
Murrell is excited to be part of the inaugural Perth Art Weekend, which runs across Perth from Friday August 9 to Sunday August 11.
“I’m inspired to be involved in this new event as it reflects Subiaco’s growing popularity as an incredibly vibrant and creative artistic destination,” he says.
Numbers for the tour are limited. Book at fairviewartwe.eventbrite.com.au.
Perth Art Weekend August 9-11
Perth Art Weekend will feature a range of exhibition openings, guided tours, family events, performances, panel discussions and more, with the spotlight on local and international contemporary art trends.
Among the highlights are solo exhibition openings by Stephen Brameld, Jay Staples and Alexandria Lee, and family-oriented sound experiences, exhibition tours and art walks taking in the WA Museum Boola Bardip and the Art Gallery of WA.
There are also artist afternoon teas and artist meet-and-greets, while many of the exhibition tours are led by gallery directors and exhibition curators.
perthartweekend.com.
Art events further afield
Margaret River Region Open Studios: a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts, collectors and the public to engage directly with local artists in their creative spaces. September 7-22. mrropenstudios.com.au.
Melbourne Design Week: highlights the art of design in an annual 11-day program of talks, tours, exhibitions, launches, installations, and workshops across Australia’s design capital. Next year’s dates not announced yet but usually May-to June. designweek.melbourne.
Singapore Art Week: an annual celebration of visual arts featuring exhibitions, art fairs, gallery openings, and public art installations across the city-state, showcasing local and international artists. January 17-26, 2025. nac.gov.sg/artweek.
Berlin Art Week: combines exhibitions, art fairs, and special events across the German capital, highlighting Berlin’s status as a hub for contemporary art. September 11-15, 2024. berlinartweek.de/en.
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