Heide Museum of Modern Art ... Part 2

[Warning: even more pic heavy than my last post!]

... this post follows on from my last post on Cafe Vue, which you can read by clicking on the link or scrolling down.

So, after lunch we visited the Art Gallery, which is made up of three separate buildings, with a number of different artist's exhibitions in each.

Here is a little bit about the history of the gallery at Heide, from their website.

"Heide Museum of Modern Art began life in 1934 as the home of Melbourne couple John and Sunday Reed and has since evolved into one of Australia's most important cultural institutions.

Heide, as it is affectionately known, is built upon the compelling lives of the Reeds and their central role in the development and promotional of modern art in Australia. Inspired by the Reeds’ nurturing of the young artists of their generation – including Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester, John Perceval and Charles Blackman – Heide continues to support the contemporary art of today through its collection and exhibition program.

For tens of thousands of visitors each year, Heide Museum of Modern Art offers an inspiring, educational and thought provoking experience of modern and contemporary art, architecture, gardens and social history.

 and a bit more information:

"Soon after purchasing the fifteen acre property on which Heide stands in 1934, founders John and Sunday Reed opened their home to like-minded individuals such as artists Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester, John Perceval and Danila Vassilieff. They nurtured a circle of artists, writers and intellectuals who contributed to Heide becoming a place for discussion, creation and promotion of modern art and literature.

John and Sunday made a lasting contribution to Australian culture through their support of creative endeavours in the visual arts, literature, architecture, gardening and food culture. In the mid-1950s the Reeds established the Gallery of Contemporary Art and in 1958, with the assistance of friend and entrepreneur Georges Mora, they re-launched the gallery as the Museum of Modern Art of Australia. This eventually led to the formal establishment of the museum.

Amassing an outstanding collection of the contemporary art of their time, the Reeds outgrew their original farmhouse, now known as Heide I, and in 1964 commissioned the construction of a ‘gallery to be lived in’ from David McGlashan. This modernist architectural icon eventually opened as a public art museum in November 1981 following its purchase by the State Government on behalf of the people of Victoria. Although the Reeds lived to see their vision fulfilled for Heide to become a public museum they both died shortly afterwards in December 1981, ten days apart. They are remembered as champions of modern art, music and literature and remain two of Australia's most important art benefactors."

So, here are some pictures of what I saw yesterday - wonderful works of art:

I hope that you have enjoyed the art show - I especially loved the cats painted on the tiles.

hugs,