Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M) will next year celebrate 100 years of public collecting, with a series of exceptional exhibitions and special events.
Kicking off the celebration is Collection 100: Gifted, from 8 December to 18 February 2024.
The exhibition honours the philanthropists, artists, donors and members of the public whose contributions have shaped MAG&M’s impressive public art collection.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the 100-year-old collection all began with the purchase through public subscription of an Australian impressionist painting – Middle Harbour from Manly Heights by Seaforth based artist James R Jackson.
“Manly Art Gallery & Museum is the oldest metropolitan purpose-built regional gallery in NSW, officially opening in 1930,” Mayor Heins said.
“The collection began six years before the building opened, when a committee of 12, appointed by Manly Council, considered that a prize-winning artwork by James R Jackson was far too precious to pass out of Manly.
“Describing the possible loss of the painting as a ‘catastrophe’, they raised funds by public subscription to purchase the work, and gifted it to Manly Council. From one thoughtful action, a community legacy began.”
This painting will be on display at Collection 100: Gifted, alongside early works by Tom Roberts, Ethel Carrick and Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, and more recent works by Elisabeth Cummings, Wendy Sharpe and Kathy Cavaliere.
Opening alongside this exhibition is Surface Effect: Ceramics Collection Stories, showcasing some of MAG&M's extensive ceramics collection.
This exhibition emphasizes the intricate interplay between ceramics, painting, and printmaking, revealing the common threads that unite artists in their creative process. From ancient pottery to modern sculptures, ceramics have provided a canvas for painters and printers to explore new techniques and styles.
Works by Belinda Fox & Neville French, Elisabeth Cummings & Barbara Romalis, Noel McKenna, Danie Mellor, and Guan Wei make visible the connections between ceramics, painting, and printmaking and the shared characteristics intrinsic to the artists’ hand.
“The spirit of generosity and the belief of art as intrinsic to our community lives on at MAG&M,” Mayor Heins said.
“The gallery continues to be a hub for creativity and culture, connecting artists, donors and the community for the benefit of all.
“We thank each and every donor over the past 100 years for their generous contributions to our public collection.”
The two exhibitions will be officially opened by award winning artist and MAG&M donor Luke Sciberras on Friday 8 December, from 6-8pm.
Collection 100: Gifted
8 December 2023 – 18 February 2024
Surface Effects: Ceramics Collection Stories
8 December 2023 – 28 July 2024
Manly Art Gallery & Museum
West Esplanade Reserve, Manly NSW 2095
Open Tue – Sun, 10am – 5pm
Free entry
For more information visit www.magam.com.au