The 'Black Saturday' bushfires were a series of bushfires that ignited across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009. It was Australia's worst ever natural disaster. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire-weather conditions and resulted in Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire: 173 people died and 414 were injured as a result of the fires. For most women being part of the Lasting Memories Mosaic Group was a way of reconnecting to the area, friends and neighbours. As the months went by, the idea of creating a gift to the community together was born. The women wanted to artistically express their memories of what they had experienced. Creating a mosaic seat in the heart of St Andrews allowed the group to be 'in control' of building something from the ground up - a symbol of hope, recovery and renewal. All of their experiences and memories have been included into the seat design, which makes it so special. This mosaic seat is proudly positioned outside the St Andrews Hall, which is also the site for the St Andrews market held every Saturday throughout the year.The Lasting Memories Mosaic group began this piece just after the Black Saturday fires in 2009. After the horrific fires ravaged through St Andrews and the surrounding areas, a group of bushfire affected ladies bravely came back to St Andrews to begin their healing in an artistic way. Each woman created something beautiful and meaningful, using remnants of crockery, glass, tiles and bricks salvaged from their own properties. This artworks identifies who they are and tells their personal 'life journey' and family heritage and memories of what they had experienced before, during and beyond Black Saturday. It is also an expression of their love for the St. Andrews area and the nature and people within it. A large concrete seat in the style of an organic chaise lounge covered in mosaic (broken tiles, glass, crockery and ceramics of all shapes and colour). The pieces have been placed to form pictures, words and patterns that tell and recount stories and memories of reflection, hope and love of a group of people who experienced the Black Saturday bushfires. (Click on links to view details of the seat) black saturday, mosaic, art, lasting memories, st andrews, tiles, glass, fire, concrete, cement, chris reade, ekphrasis2017

Reinis Zusters OAM was born 15 October 1918 in Odessa, Ukraine, of Latvian parents. Zusters’ father died before he was two years old and he was raised in an orphanage from an early age. He had one sister. He studied Art at the Riga Technical College, Latvia, from 1935 to 1940. He married Aldija Kapteinis, and they had a daughter, Rudite (born 1942 in Riga). After World War II the Zusters family were refugees. They reached Western Australia in 1950, where they stayed for 6 months before moving to Canberra, ACT. In 1952, Zusters moved from Canberra to Pennant Hills in Sydney with his second wife, Arija Biks. Their daughter Laura was born in Sydney in 1956. In 1966, Zusters met his future third wife, Venita Salnajs. In 1969, Zusters bought a house in Greenwich, Sydney. He married Venita on September 17, 1976, and they moved to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. Zusters died on 8 October, 1999 at Wentworth Falls, and was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney. His ashes are buried in the Latvian section of Rookwood Cemetery. Zusters studied at the Technical College of Riga (Latvia), and at East Sydney Technical College, Australia. He was influenced by his Latvian cultural heritage, and admired the artist Voldemars Tone (1892-1958). Shortly after arrival in Australia, Zusters became a draughtsman with the Department of Works and Housing in Canberra. Later he was appointed chief designer with the Australian-American architectural firm Austin-Anderson, at St. Leonards, Sydney. Zusters practised as a full-time professional artist from 1968. Zusters was a prolific painter, predominantly in oils. He produced many large landscapes, including triptychs of the Blue Mountains. His landscapes were mountain scenes prepared in the manner of Jackson Pollock and completed with washes and pale glazes of colour. His cityscapes featured a rich paint surface and sharp-edged thickness of paint applied with a palette knife, layer upon layer. He painted urban scenes of Sydney, inland Australian scenes, and several major portraits including Sir Winston Churchill’s gardener (purchased by Art Gallery of NSW). He made many small informal portrait-drawings of friends. His usual signature was “Zusters”. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections in Australia and abroad. He won numerous prestigious awards in Australia, Japan and USA and was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 1994.

Painter, printmaker and installation artist John Wolseley was born in Somerset, England. He lived and worked throughout Europe before relocating to Australia in 1976. His work explores how people dwell and move within landscape. Wolseley see's himself as a hybrid mix of artist and scientist; one who tries to relate the minutiae of the natural world - leaf, feather and beetle wing - to the abstract dimensions of the earth's dynamic systems. Using techniques of watercolour, collage, frottage, nature printing and other methods of direct physical or kinetic contact Wolseley finds ways of collaborating with the actual plants, birds, trees, rocks and earth of a particular place. George Baldessin was one of the first artists John Wolseley met when he arrived in Australia in 1976. Both immigrated to Australia and connected through this shared experience. They were both at 'Realities Gallery' with Marianne Baillieu in the 1970s and 80s. George Baldessin (1939-1978) was born in San Biagio di Callalta, in the Veneto in Northern Italy and arrived in Australia ten years later. A printmaker and sculptor he built his bluestone studio at St Andrews (Nillumbik) in 1971 with his partner Tess and the three Hails brothers, Rob, Doug and Don. Made of recycled materials the studio today contains all of George’s equipment including the large press, which he modelled himself with the help of Neil Jeffrey (Enjay Presses). George won many prizes throughout his career and is represented in many of Australia's public art collections including his famous 'Pears' sculpture in front of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. In 1975 he represented Australia in the Sao Paulo Biennale, before living and working in Paris until his return to St Andrews in 1977. In 1978 George was killed in a car accident aged 39 years. In 2001 Tess returned to St Andrews to reclaim the run-down studio and reconstitute it as The Baldessin Press & Studio - a printmaking retreat. It operates in George’s memory, so that artists may continue to create, perpetuating the generous spirit of George. 'Life world of the Longicorn beetle' is one of eight prints in the 'Baldessin & Friends commemorative folio. The folio was conceived by Tess Edwards as a fundraising initiative in celebration of the The Baldessin Press & Studio's fifteen year anniversary, and as a way to honour George Baldessin's memory. The Baldessin Press & Studio is a not-for-profit organisation created in memory of the late George Baldessin (1939-1978), whose original studio is now open to the public for creative use and as a practical legacy to living artists. The Studio is located in St Andrews, Nillumbik. The folio is a unique coming together of seven very different and acclaimed artists who are connected by their friendship to the missing eighth member, George Baldessin. Communion and collaboration with nature are central to Wolseley's practice. He assembles different drawing methods to represent a kind of inventory or document about the state of the earth. His interest is to paint the processes and energy field of the living systems of this land. 'Life world of the Longicorn beetle' is his continued exploration of Australia's natural eco-systems. The beetle attacks the eucalypt and in the process of tunnelling into the wood of the tree leaves scribbly patterns. The work celebrates the cycle of life, and the wisdom and delicacy of these creatures. This three dimensional work consisting of three layers of paper is a varied edition, offering just the slightest difference between each print, reflective of variation in nature. The found log used as a woodcut acknowledges the interconnectedness of nature and living beings; the log is not apart from the art and the beetle has become an active artistic collaborator. An intimate and layered print of a tree log with line trails from the Longicorn beetle. Patches of pink, yellow and orange watercolour placed randomly. Woodcut from found log and etching on chine-colle with water colour on Gampi (top layer), Mulberry (middle layer) and Arches (bottom layer) paper. In pencil (handwritten): low plate: left '14/25' (edition); centre 'Life world of the Longicorn beetle' (title); right 'John Wolseley' (signature); low paper: right emboss 'GB' (Baldessin Press & Studio monogram)woodcut, etching, chine-colle, landscape, environment, longicorn beetle, print, baldessin, ekphrasis2018, eco, mixed media

The rug hung in the boardroom at the Brintons Carpet premises/factory at Fellmongers Road, Breakwater. Acquired on closure of factory.W7199 Page 1 of a history of Brintons Carpets. Page 2 of a history of Brintons Carpets. A list of catalogues/items in the Brintons Collection donated after closure of Fellmongers Road factory in July 2008.Labore Vinces Brintons Carpets/Special Enquiry Prepared for/Ref. No 15/2878 for Aurora/Quality colours in trial/standard/non standard/Design and colour sample does not represent qualitytextile art, brintons australia pty ltd brintons pty ltd (geelong) brintons ltd (uk), carpet

Donated with a Water Colour painting (6642) of a cottage by Will ReesBlack and white photo of woman on horse with her two children in a rural setting. c 1950's Isobel is the daughter of Will Reeswill rees, art, painting

Slovenian Club Melbourne participated many times at the Royal Melbourne Show with the musicians, dancers, folk dances, art and craft exhibitions. They were always warmly welcomed.The second Slovenian children of the first generations keeping up the traditionsColour photo of the large decorative heart with the Slovenian children in national costumes and boys playing piano accordions at the Royal Melbourne Show. The children are:Young generation of Slovenians, born in Australia, keeping the Slovenian traditionsslovenian traditions, slovenian national costume, slovenian music, slovenian polka

Colour drawing of stylised carnation, influenced by folk art. Motif is for embroidery.Neva Bole, 3B

This artwork is part of 69Fifteen, the book published in 2013 celebrating 69 Smith Street Gallery’s 15th year in operation as an artist-run space.Blurred vision of a tree against brown landscape and blue/grey sky.jenny gibson, 69 smith street gallery, artist-run initiative, artist-run space, photography, landscape, melbourne art galleries, colour photography, digital photography

This artwork is part of 69Fifteen, the book published in 2013 celebrating 69 Smith Street Gallery’s 15th year in operation as an artist-run space.Colour digital print of a dead mouse. Image is a cropped detail of the animal's hind legs and tail.aneta bozic, 69 smith street gallery, artist-run initiative, artist-run space, melbourne art galleries, photography, colour photography, animal photography, death in art, www.anetabozic.com

This artwork is part of 69Fifteen, the book published in 2013 celebrating 69 Smith Street Gallery’s 15th year in operation as an artist-run space.Acrylic painting. Abstract image comprising twelve canvases. Colour scheme includes yellow, brown, aqua and green.julie harmsworth, 69 smith street gallery, artist-run initiative, artist-run space, melbourne art galleries, painting, abstract art, abstract painting, www.incarastudio.com.au

Geelong is famous for its bollards. Created by local artist Jan Mitchell, the colourful bollards spot the foreshore, representing a fascinating and fun chronicle of the city’s past. Few people know that Mitchell planned for a flock of sheep to be part of her public art project. The wool industry is an important part of Geelong’s history, so Mitchell thought what better than a flock of sheep to welcome people to the city. The flock (and a Shepard) were to be placed out on the Melbourne-Geelong highway, near Lara, to welcome travellers to the city. The sheep would then be scattered along the road as a wayfinding signal to bring people to Geelong. When traffic authorities heard the plan for bollard sheep along the road, they squashed the project as a potential distraction for drivers. Another flock was also suggested for the hills of the eastern gardens, overlooking the bay. This was also disapproved; so Mitchell only ever partially completed four sheep bollards. The bollards are remnants of Jan Mitchell’s flock of sheep. The sheep also show the evolution of one of Geelong’s most iconic art installations. From the first sheep showing the raw timber of the old Yarra Street pier, to the sheep without a face, through to the completed sheep, it is possible to trace Mitchell’s process in the preparation of the bollards. The lost bollards form part of the National Wool Museum’s unique collection. The first bollard is the least complete, still in its original timber colour. From the central cylindrical shape, an additional wedge protrudes. This unpainted wedge forms what would have been the face of the sheep, with an ear present on either side that would have been painted white. Presently they are a bare metal. No legs are present on this bollard. The second and third bollard are completed to a similar level. They have a central cylindrical shape with an additional wedge protruding from the front of the timber. This wedge forms what would have been the face of the sheep, with an ear present on either side. The face and ears have been painted white but the finer details such as the eyes have not been added. These bollards bodies have also been painted white and have their legs attached. The legs are thin metal cylinders, approximately 50mm in diameter and 500mm long. The fourth bollard Is complete. It has the same central cylindrical shape with an additional wedge protruding from the front of the timber. This wedge forms the completed face of the sheep, with an ear present on either side that has been painted white. The face also features completed painted eyes. This bollard has its legs attached. The legs are thin metal cylinders, approximately 50mm in diameter and 500mm long. geelong, bollards, geelong's bollards, jan mitchell

Majolica - English Popular colourful relief-moulded ware, often in naturalistic shapes covered in various types of opaque white ground to secure glowing effects with brush-painted colour glazes, clear or opaque. Products ranged from umbrella stands to dishes of fruit or nuts. Evolved at the Minton factory in 1851 under Art Director Leon Arnoux, who might use parian ware for majolica figures etc. Widely produced, with little similarity to the Italian Renaissance ornament although some designed for Mintons by the artist Alfred Stevens was inspired by such motifs.Unusual multi-coloured patterned tea pot and lid. Basic colours - green, pink and blue'Estrucan/Majolic/E24domestic items, crockery

A history of the art collection of the City of Whitehorse 2003A history of the art collection of the City of Whitehorse 2003A4, 40p booklet and catalogue included in colour of the City of Whitehorse Art Collectioncity of whitehorse, art, art galleries

world war one, fromelles, anniversary, cemetery, michael ronaldson, kate ronaldson, a.t. knable, j.j.goulding, p. weakley, w.h. doust

Four colour photographs showing drystone foundations of the Dry Diggings Primary School.dry diggings, education, schools, dry diggings state school, australia, rock art

Photograph of a plaque in the entrance foyer of the Art Gallery of Ballarat.henry bolte, r.a. mccallum, william ritchie, art gallery of ballarat, ballarat fine art gallery

Colour photograph of Alfred Deakin Place looking towards the Art Gallery of Ballarat from the Arts Academy, alfred deakin place, arts academy, art gallery of ballarat

This honor board was made by Robert Prenzel (1866–1941) who was born and trained in Prussia, and migrated to Australia arriving in Melbourne on 24th November on the steamer Habsburg. In Melbourne Prenzel first worked for the German sculptor and modeller Otto Waschatz, decorating private homes and public buildings. From 1891-1901 Prenzel worked in partnership with another German, Johann Christian Treede, after which he continued in business on his own. He also participated in the activities of Melbourne’s Deutscher Turnverein. During the first quarter of the current century he became the major exponent in the field of furniture and woodwork of the cult of nationalism, and was renowned for his carvings, many of them in the art nouveau style, of Australian animals, birds, trees and flowers. The two most common types of Australian timber in his work are mountain ash and blackwood.Colour photographs of a beautifully carved World War One Honour Board carved by Robert Prenzel.lakes entrance, robert prenzel, world war one, lakes entrance honour board

This honor board was made by Robert Prenzel (1866–1941) who was born and trained in Prussia, and migrated to Australia arriving in Melbourne on 24th November on the steamer Habsburg. In Melbourne Prenzel first worked for the German sculptor and modeller Otto Waschatz, decorating private homes and public buildings. From 1891-1901 Prenzel worked in partnership with another German, Johann Christian Treede, after which he continued in business on his own. He also participated in the activities of Melbourne’s Deutscher Turnverein. During the first quarter of the current century he became the major exponent in the field of furniture and woodwork of the cult of nationalism, and was renowned for his carvings, many of them in the art nouveau style, of Australian animals, birds, trees and flowers. The two most common types of Australian timber in his work are mountain ash and blackwood.Colour photographs of a beautifully carved World War One Honour Board carved by Robert Prenzel.world war one, kalimna, kalimna honour board, h. clements, w.a. fish, d. mcdougall, j.a. rowe, c.c. sandford, c.d. somerville, l.j. cowlishaw, l.c. fish, t. hanson, c.a. innes, a.c. lester, j.a. lake, g.j. ward

Colour photograph of an exhibition at Warrnambool Art Gallery curated by Lisa Gervasoni. warrnambool art gallery, exhibition, makers and shapers, innovation, invention, cultural heritage, heritage festival

Colour photograph of textpanels in the Warrnambool Art Gallery. warrnambool art gallery, exhibition, makers and shapers, innovation, invention, cultural heritage, heritage festival, text panel

This exhibition was curated by Lisa GervasoniColour photographs of an exhibition highlighting some greats from Warrnambool.warrnambool art gallery, exhibition, heritage week, now and then, lj gervasoni

Marble headstone for Jeremiah and Bridget Carty in the Warrnambool Cemetery. Includes sculptural flowes, bird and wreath.warrnambool cemetery, cemetery art, headstone art, catherine carty, jeremiah carty

Marble headstone for Jeremiah and Bridget Carty in the Warrnambool Cemetery. Includes sculptural flowes, bird and wreath.warrnambool cemetery, cemetery art, headstone art, catherine carty, jeremiah carty

Colour photograph of the Melbourne Arts Centre and buildings lit during White Night. A number of photographs of luminations from White Night Melbourne.melbourne, melbourne art centre, white night, spire