Nora Heysen: Light and Life

National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery,  14 November – 20 December 

(tour by Carrick Hill, South Australia)

 

The first travelling exhibition of works by renowned artist Nora Heysen, is presented at the National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 14 November - 20 December 2009 .

This is first major retrospective on the South Australian-born artist since her death, in 2003. The exhibition will be accompanied by the release of a new fully illustrated book; “Nora Heysen: Light and life”, by exhibition curator, Jane Hylton, and published by Wakefield Press.

Nora Heysen: Light and Life, the exhibition,presents Heysens’ key subjects; the figure, portraiture and still-life, in depth, allowing for re-assessment of this important artists career. More than fifty artworks are on loan from private collections and a number of significant public institutions including: the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, Australian War Memorial, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, The Nora Heysen Foundation at The Cedars (the Heysen family home in the Adelaide Hills), Carrick Hill and the S.H. Ervin Gallery collection.

Born in Hahndorf, South Australia, 1911, Nora Heysen was an artist of extraordinary ability and tenacity and is best known through her exquisite still life paintings and absorbing portraits. Nora was the fourth of celebrated artist, Hans Heysen's eight children. As the first female artist to be awarded the Archibald Prize in 1938 her skill as a portraitist also paved the way for her appointment as the first Australian woman to be appointed an official war artist in 1943. Until her death in 2003, at age 92, the artist lived and worked in her Sydney home, 'The Chalet', in Hunters Hill, where she painted and drew with boundless energy and an amazing vitality of colour. 

Nora Heysen was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 1998. 

 

Nora Heysen: Light and Life
Public viewing: 14 November – 20 December 2009

        

Public Program – Guest talks:
Sunday 22 November, 3pm  Lou Klepac, arts historian and publisher
Tuesday 8 December, 12pm Jane Hylton, exhibition curator
Sunday 13 December, 3pm DiVerse Poets, a response to Nora Heysen’s artworks through poetry

 

SELECTION OF IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA USE
Media information: Leah Haynes - S.H. Ervin Gallery Tel: 02 9258 0150 (mon-wed) lhaynes@nationaltrust.com.au

 

Merchandise – Nora Heysen: Light and Life
$39.95 at Gallery Shop:

(discount available for National Trust Members). 
Nora Heysen individual gift cards and card-packs also available for sale.

 

 

Click here for media information

Click here to visit the S.H. Ervin Gallery website

 

 

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Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11.00am– 5.00pm (last admission/s 30 mins before closing)
Closed Mondays & Public Holidays.
Entry Fees: $7, $5 seniors & concessions, $4 national trust members.
Group bookings & school tours available. Bookingsessential.
Education Officer: Tel: 9258 0122 (Tuesday – Friday)
Media Manager: Tel: 9258 0150 (Monday – Wednesday)
Public Program: Sundays at 3pm - series of Guest Talks with exhibiting artists & their sitters*
(*subject to availability and may change without notice)
Gallery Front Desk: Tel: 02 9258 0173 (from 25 September)
General information: www.nationaltrust.com.au
Parking: limited spaces onsite for Gallery & Trust Café visitors

Location: (end of ) Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW

Education officer/group bookings:(02) 9258 0122 (Tues-Fri)
Media information: (02) 9258 0150 (Mon-Wed)
Trust Café: (02) 9258 0175 Bookings strongly advised during this exhibition.