Noel COUNIHAN (04 Oct 1913 - 05 Jul 1986) This lino cut is the second largest version of Counihan's Laughing Christ series of linocuts from the 1970s. Janet McKenzie in her book 'Noel Counihan' (1986, p. 25) uses Counihan's quote in his description of the Laughing Christ series of art works: "Once again the armies of the Western world were moving against people behind the image of Christ: they were Christian armies. The American and Australian armies in Vietnam had their chaplains with them and were slaughtering Buddhists, as well ironically enough, as Vietnamese Catholics". Counihan's fury at the blood shed and massacre of war behind the image of Jesus is evident in his ironic portrayal of a Laughing Christ. Was this what Jesus was about? Not likely! This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007. Description by Dr Susan Paterson Framed linocut, the second large version of the Laughing Christ series. The linocut was commissioned by the Print Council of Australia for members' annual subscription and printed on Japanese paper by William Caulfield & Sons, Melbourne.art, artwork, noel counihan, counihan, printmaking, available, christ, linocut printmaking, print council of australia, workers art guild, social realist, social realism, expressionist artist

Information from artist. " Oil painting titled/ My Father's War! by Sharon Hackett/Phd/ My father, John Peter Hackett served in World/ War Two. This painting by myself is an expressionist realist oil painting, about / a young man serving in/ New Guinea". John Peter HACKET V146209 Enlisted 27.01.1942 aged 18 years 6 months. No discharge date. States on Attestation form 609 days 2nd AIF, 485 days overseas.Painting - oil painting in colour, with red, yellow, blue and black. Style - expressionist realist. Artist's signature bottom left. Unframed canvas on timber.painting, military history, ww2, new guinea

Karl Duldig carved this marble sculpture of a mask in the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts) in 1921. His teacher, Anton Hanak, the Professor of Sculpture at the School, encouraged him to carve directly into the stone. It was an accomplished work for the 19 year-old student and was selected by Hanak to represent the students of the School at the Deutschen Gewerbeschau (German Applied Art exhibition) in Munich in 1922, an early accolade for the young artist. The sculpture and another Kneeling Nude were reproduced in the journal Deustche Kunst and Dekoration in 1923-24 in an article on the Hanak-Klasse. In 2011 Mask was exhibited in the National Gallery of Victoria exhibition Vienna: Art and Design. The sculpture is one of ten substantial sculptures in marble and stone, and a larger group terracotta sculptures and masks, portrait busts and small stone sculptures created by Karl Duldig in Vienna that are held in the Museum collection. These art works are complemented by an archive of contemporary documents including letters, photographs, documents and ephemera. In 1938 Duldig’s Viennese sculptures were sent to Paris in 1938 for a proposed exhibition, and were hidden in Paris by Slawa Duldig’s sister Rella, throughout the Second World War, and arrived in Australia post-war over 5 decades. Karl Duldig was a student of the Kunstgewerbeschule from 1921 until 1925, and then attended the Akademie Der Bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) from 1929 until 1933. He was accepted into the Professor Josef Mullner’s “Meisterschule” at the Academy of Fine Arts from 1929 until 1933. His teacher at the Kunstgwerebeschule was Austria’s foremost contemporary sculptor Anton Hanak, and he was a formative influence on Duldig’s work. Hanak had been a member of Viennese Secession, and worked with Josef Hoffman on architectural commissions prior to the First World War. Hanak shared both his love of the expressive quality of materials and a humanist vision with his students. Various writers have written about Duldig’s interest in masks. His interest may have been stimulated by his classical education, the Greek and Roman antiquities in the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna, or the ethnological collections in Vienna’s Museum of Ethnology (now known as the Weltmuseum). The mask was a motif explored by expressionist and cubist artists whose work was exhibited at the Vienna Secession. Duldig would have been familiar with the psychological investigations of the neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, who established his practice in Vienna. In the Duldig Studio library, Duldig’s keen interest in the arts of a myriad of visual cultures is apparent. Of particular note are two well-thumbed copies Rudolf Utzinger’s, Masken, published by Ernst Wasmuth in Berlin in 1923, depicting masks from around the world. It is likely that a multitude of influences were at play. Slawa Duldig also worked with this motif, and also carved a smaller mask in Salzburg marble as well as a remarkable mask in clay, and these are held in the collection. Ann Carew 2016The Mask has national and international aesthetic significance. It is one of the earliest works by Karl Duldig in the Studio collection, and is a subject that he would continue to explore throughout his working life. The sculpture demonstrates a high degree of technical skill and mastery at an early age. It is evidence of Duldig’s engagement with the art of his peers during this period – the mask is a motif that inspired contemporary expressionist and cubist artists. It also demonstrates his interests in portraiture, human psychology, and the creation of identity and transformation of personalities. The Mask also provides an important link to the studio practice in the Vienna Kunstgwerbeschule, the teaching of Anton Hanak, and the program of international art exhibitions in Europe during the period. It is also of historical significance: the story of its survival and eventual recovery provides a counterpoint to the story of the Nazis’ confiscation of art during the Second World War. Ann Carew 2016Carving in Salzburg Marble. Holes for eyes and mouth cut through the block. Highly polished finish at front contrasting with rough finish at back and stylised curled hair. Marble base separate (75 x 275 x 198, wt 9000) and added later by artist. Karl Duldig 1921 incised on back

Strampp lived and worked at Clifton Pugh's artist colony Dunmoochin from 1980 to 1985. 'Into the Night' is Strampps' "own marriage painting". The wedding dress and horse, "a symbol of virility and passion" represents Strampp and the background landscape was inspired by her stay in Somerset, England. The cliff edge on the left symbolises "an audacious step into the future." The painting "is of a bride, passionate yet absent, about to embark upon a new journey in life, and of the voyage ahead. It is about acknowledging the past, and having the courage to move forward. To take risks". Strampp was largely influenced by both the new German Neo-Expressionists of the time and by English artist John Walker, which is evident in this painting. Her work took on popular stylistic trends and themes of the time, which included a painterly aesthetic and an energetic application of the medium, which transferred to an emotional and or personal connection to subject matter that was communicated symbolically. Strampp is an artist of national significance. This work encompasses themes and a style of painting (Neo - Expressionism) that was prevalent during the time of its making in the eighties. This work represents a transition from Strampp's highly regarded early paintings of heroic horses in the mid to late 1980’s to her highly regarded paintings of contemporary wedding and/or armour-like bodices dresses of the 1990s. Both the 'horse' and 'dress' were often set in empty backgrounds or dreamy/foreboding landscapes. Painted in oil on linen (x2) in a 'Neo-Expressionist' style, 'Into the Night' depicts a ghostly white horse to the right of the painting looking away from a ghostly white wedding dress to the left of the painting. The dress has sprouted white wings and is adorned with bows on the bottom edge of the dress and roses on the sleeves. The dress seems full bodied although there is no figure. The dress and horse are placed in the foreground on a stage like platform with a white curtain framing the picture to the right, and a black ladder and brown cliff edge framing the picture to the left. The background depicts a foreboding and dark cloudy sky and seascape with a firery red landscape burning on the horizon. Signed low right (1988.7b VA) with brush in purple (light) 'Adriane Strampp 87'. into the night, neo expressionism, wedding dress, horse, symbolism, painting, seascape, dramatic, emotional, poetic, strampp

The abstraction and colours refer to the modernist abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko.Nillumbik Prize 2018 Winner. The artist lives and works in Nillumbik. Inspired by modernist abstraction the work is a reflection of current times, exploring our relationship with technology and its’ impact on our social, personal and professional lives. Blurred abstract image in warm colours: yellow, orange and brown. Loading circle in white at the centre of the image.photograph, digital print, rothko, modernism, instagram, abstract, loading

Isabel HUNTINGTON (1905 - 04 December 1971) Isabel McCausland was educated at Ballarat and married Robert Keith Huntington in 1931, and which time Isabel was living in the Melbourne suburb of Preston. Isabel Huntington was a painter, craft officer and craft worker. She studied at Ballarat High School, Ballarat Technical Art School (a division of the School of Mines) and RMIT, and was a member of the Victorian Artists' Society and the Contemporary Art Society. In 1945 she was appointed Director of Handcrafts for the Victorian Division of the Red Cross Society. Isabel Huntington had previously held the position of Supervisor of Handcrafts at Heidelberg Military Hospital for three and a half years. She was a member or the Arts and Crafts Society. Isabel Huntington had five 'one-man" shows, three in Melbourne, one in Ballarat and one in Hamilton, Victoria. The critics of the day described Isobel Huntington's work as Post Impressionist and Expressionist. 'Her enjoyment of the use of colour and her sense of vitality is obvious in her most original conception of the relationship of art to flowers.' Ursula Hoff judged the 1965 Albury awards for watercolour, and religious paintings in oils, awarding the prize to Isabel Huntington. In the same year Isabel Huntington travelled to Europe. In Ballarat's Crouch Prize Isabel Huntington was commended three times. After returning from overseas she taught at Rosanna High School, Victoria. Isabel Huntington lived at Montmorency, Victoria, and was there at the time of her death. Her studio was located at 10 Nokes Court, Montmorency, 3094. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007 in 1971.Framed painting of a sunflower. The signature at the lower right has been oversigned in white 'Huntington 1962". A note on the back of the work suggests it was more like to have been created in 1956, and it was first purchased between 1956 and 1958. If you can share information on this artist or artwork please use the email link below.A note on the back says "Sunflower 1962 Oil/Pastel Insurance Isobel Huntington Gouache 1956 Black Box. Huntingdon (sic) Isobel. Acquired between 1956 - 1958"art, artwork, gouache, painting, sunflower, isabel huntington, handcraft, arts and crafts society, crouch prize, ursula hoff, alumni, flora, ballarat teachers' college art collection, isobel huntington, isabel mccausland

Norman Keith HOFMAIER (12.08.1951- ) Born Beulah, Wimmera, Victoria Norman Hofmaier was a scion of a well-known family, he completed his secondary education at Hopetoun High School and Ballarat College. Later he studied Visual Art at University of Ballarat, including painting, design and sculpture. Hofmaier’s childhood in Beulah was spent on the family property running beside the Yarriambiack Creek. Both he and his father had an intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Mallee. The Wyperfeld National Park, home to the Big Desert, was a favourite place for Norman’s uncle who planted acres of native trees at the family property. Dr Di Bresciani explains: “The colours and vastness of the Mallee are represented in many works which reflect, variously, the relentless quiet and swirling energies found in the ‘dust storm might’ of the Mallee area. Most works may be described as abstract, lyrical abstract or abstract expressionist." From the 1970s until the 1990s he began an outpouring of work, using oil-based paints overlaid manually on large, specially-prepared boards using brushes, cloths, sponges, sprays or rollers. Petrol solvents were used to soften, blur and enhance shapes and edges. His work reflected his exploration of his inner state, sometimes flowing and placid, sometimes tempestuous. After a brief sojourn into city-life Norman returned to working in the country, until finally submitting to mental illness and permanent care in the mid 1990s. Norman Hofmaier's works are represented in major collections including that of the well- known artist Mitch Pearson ( an important influence and lifelong friend). The work 'Pastel of a Nude' was shown in a widely distributed magazine and two works owned by Mark Shannon were planned to be published as record covers in 1993. He won an award during the bicentennial recognising his skill as a Wimmera artist. From the 1970s until the 1990s he began an outpouring of work, using oil-based paints overlaid manually on large, specially-prepared boards using brushes, cloths, sponges, sprays or rollers. Petrol solvents were used to soften, blur and enhance shapes and edges. This work was purchased from the exhibition 'Norman Hofmaier: Mallee Mysteries' at the Lost Ones Gallery in Camp Street, Ballarat. The exhibition explored the legacy of Hofmaier’s work as well as raising money for the Ballarat Art Foundation. The Hofmaier family donated 16 works of the artist to be sold to raise funds for the foundation, to support emerging artists.Original painting in square format, featuring abstract swirls of blue, white, red, yellow and green.On back of work: 1. pools of diluted oil paint covering approximately 8 cm from each edge, 2. in right hand corner in permanent marker "N Hofmaier" 3. middle right hand side, torn exhibition label, with the words, "Belauh", "Local Art", "Prome", "Local Art", "$350", "Collect A", "oin" 4. Bottom right corner, two exhibition labels on card. Cards read: The flowing of movement before any known bodies are formed. Matter and gases bubble forming kaleidoscopic colours and shapes. Promethius 1 Oil based pigment with petrol on prepared board 1320 x 1210 mm On front of work, bottom right hand corner, in white lettering, N Hofmaier. Bottom right hand olive green frame damaged on front of work.painter, mallee, beluah, norman hofmaier, wimmera, abstract, alumni

Vassilieff dynamited rock from his own property to build his house. Stonygrad is reminiscent of a grotto and in parts, of a sculpture. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p135 Stonygrad, the home built by Expressionist painter and sculptor Danila Vassilieff, is reminiscent of a grotto and in parts, of a sculpture. Vassilieff, who amongst others influenced painter Sydney Nolan and Albert Tucker, was a member of the artists group the Angry Penguins.1 He was also a highly regarded art teacher at the nearby Koornong Experimental School and taught at Eltham High School. Art critic Robert Hughes described Vassilieff’s painting as ‘lyrical without social commentary’, and said Vassilieff was ‘the most oddly neglected artist in recent Australian History’.2 Vassilieff, who was born in 1897 in Russia, had an unusually adventurous life before he settled in Warrandyte. The 12th of 18 children, he lived on a farm in the Don Basin. Vassilieff trained with the Imperial Military Academy at St Petersburg and fought in World War One as an officer in the White Russian Army against the communists. In 1920 he was captured, then escaped from prison, stole a horse and rode bareback 150 miles to the Black Sea, helped at first by Tartar freebooters. He then travelled to India, Shanghai and arrived in Queensland as a refugee in 1923 where he began painting. He and his wife Anisia bought a sugar farm near Ingram,3 and later he constructed railway lines at Mataranka, in the Northern Territory.4 In 1929 Vassilieff went to Brazil for formal art training from former fellow-officer Dmitri Ismailovich, but he soon left to travel up the Amazon River. He then worked as a sidewalk artist in the West Indies and travelled for two years in England, France and Spain. In 1937 he arrived in Melbourne where he lived until his death in 1958. His first major Australian series was the Carlton streetscapes and from 1951 he sculpted in local hard limestone.5 Vassilieff rejected all dogma and regarded religious subjects as suitable only for decorative arts. In 1944 he helped defeat a communist attempt to take over the Contemporary Art Society. For a short time, from around 1955, Vassilieff taught at various Victorian schools.6 The Angry Penguins painted mainly between 1937 and 1947, and included Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan and Joy Hester. The group formed as they felt isolated from European thought and art (including Surrealism) from which their work was derived. They were also angry at what they considered to be the complacency and insularity of their society. They maintained Australians at first were scarcely aware of the threats of the Wall Street Crash and Hitler and were little interested in the Spanish Civil War. The Angry Penguins also objected to the White Australia Policy. Hughes said although most of the Melbourne Expressionists in the 1940s were unskilled and their work crude in style, they helped jolt Australian painting from its pastoral complacency. Their style influenced nearly every painting produced by significant figurative artists in Melbourne in the 1950s such as Charles Blackman. From 1939 Vassilieff built Stonygrad, mainly with local stone. The house stands at the end of a private road surrounded by trees with the quiet occasionally broken by the sounds of bellbirds. To build his house Vassilieff dynamited rock and cut trees from his own property. The original section of the three-level house is of irregular-shaped pieces of solid stone, exposed inside like the exterior. Vassilieff later built sections with timber and brick. Inside is rustic and cave-like, and several rooms are linked by arched openings with no doors. One undulating wall was carved out of rock from which two sculptured heads protrude. Several ceilings are of rough-hewn logs and the built-in table and bookcase are rough, as is a timber ladder leading to a bedroom. Not for the elderly or unsteady! Yet the general impression in the muted light is beautiful, with artistic originality.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, danila vassilieff, hamilton road, north warrandyte, stonygrad

Troy FIREBRACE (c1994-) Country/Language: Yorta Yorta Troy is a Shepparton born Yorta Yorta man, whose career is on the rise after winning the prestigious Federation University Acquisitive Award for Work by a Victorian Regional Artist at the 10th Victorian Indigenous Art Awards. He completed Year Twelve at Shepparton Secondary College in 2010, and in 2015 Troy was studying Creative Arts at La Trobe University, Bendigo where he has pursued his interest in his Aboriginal identity and art. He is largely influenced by the art of his Uncle Chris Firebrace and he enjoys the design aspects of creating a painting. Usually Troyʼs works contain a narrative, or at least hint of a meaning that he would like to convey to people. Influenced by the imagery of his Aboriginal cultural background he works at bringing together references of landscape, environmental processes and concerns, looking at the way in which we as humans relate to the natural world. Troy seeks to find and demonstrate a connection between humanity and the environment, exploring the idea of harmonious co-existence. Artist's statement: "‘Stories are being told and shared like particles in the universe, a constant swirl of words filled with emotions creating a pattern — explosions — smashing into each other creating a layering effect — creating worlds, planets — well nourished and suited to sustain life, and from this life new stories will emerge, to be told, to be shared — a continuous galaxy swirl. I like the idea that we are a part of something bigger — yes, the earth is massive, but we are just a speck of something far beyond the Milky Way itself.” The work was inspired by the work of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock, science and space. This work won the 2015 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards Federation University Acquisitive Award for work by a Victorian regional artist. His canvas 'A Galaxy Swirl' was described by judges as ‘‘a vibrant and dynamic painting that, as the artist explains, epitomises a bringing together of modernism and Aboriginal arts’’.victorian indigenous art awards, troy firebrace, artwork, artist, indigenous, aboriginal, painting, indigenous artist