Robert Hannaford | Mervyn Street
Celebrated Australian artists Robert Hannaford (South Australia) and Mervyn Street (Western Australia) will work together on a live drawing project at Adelaide Central School of Art for the 2017 TARNANTHI: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art.
The project, Abstracted Muster, has been managed by Wes Maseli, Studio Manager of Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency, Fitzroy Crossing.
Abstracted Muster will see the artists working solely from memory and imagination to collaboratively depict a ‘muster’ directly onto the walls of Adelaide Central Gallery.
The Gallery has been turned into a hexagonal space reminiscent of a corral, for the exhibition. The resultant muster mural will feature cattle, horses and stockmen and will follow a path along the walls of the space.
This single-line path will be drawn by Miriam Barker, a current student of the School, who was selected by the artists and Maseli through a proposal process.
“We are delighted that one of our students has been invited to draw what will essentially form the basis of the exhibition,” says Ingrid Kellenbach, Adelaide Central School of Art CEO.
Hannaford and Street are both self-taught artists who experienced rural upbringings: Street is a Gooniyandi man born in 1950 at Louisa Downs Station, Western Australia, and Hannaford was born in 1944 in Riverton, South Australia. They share an intimate knowledge of the anatomy and behaviours of native and introduced species of Australian animals.
Abstracted Muster will run from 11 – 27 October with the artists working in the space on the following October dates: Wednesday 11; Monday 16; Tuesday 17; Wednesday 18; and Thursday 19.
“What an excellent opportunity for students and audiences to watch such accomplished Australian artists at work in our Gallery,” says Kellenbach.
The artists will also deliver talks as part of the School’s ArtSpeak Program on Saturday 14 October, 3.00pm – 3.30pm and on Thursday 19t October from 12.40pm – 1.20pm. These events are free, all welcome.
TARNANTHI: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art is presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia in partnership with BHP and with support from the Government of South Australia.
