Showing at the Mornington Peninsula
O n e Ye a r o n a t M c G e e s
Regional Gallery - 12 December to 10 March
McGee's Gallery celebrated its first
birthday on 8 December and in that time
including Charles and Barbara
In the early 1960s, Aspendale
Directors Isabel and Paul have recruited
Beach on Port Philip
Blackman, John and Celia
a stable of fine artists from around the
Bay emerged as a haven
Perceval, Robert Whitaker
country and overseas.
and Gareth Sansom. While its
for Melbourne's artistic
heyday was in the 1960s, there
community. The beach
Exhibiting artists include AGRA members
is still a strong link between
setting had a formative
Ev Hales, Robert Knight and Sandra
Aspendale Beach and the
influence on the values
Whiteside, abstract artists Jan Neil
artistic community.
and outlooks of a group
and Margo Vigorito, and surreal artist
of young and emerging
Christopher Croft, to mention a few.
Food and wine formed a
Australian artists. The value
large part of the Aspendale
Internationally renowned artist Di King
of a life well-lived, the view
experience. Lunches were often
has just joined McGee's. Di is well
that anything was possible
held at one house with dinner
known for her portraiture, having
and the opportunity to be
at the other. Georges would
buy up big at his favourite
Albert Tucker - Mirka Mora
painted many famous people. Her
creative and spontaneous
showing off her frilly knickers,
landscapes are breathtaking, to say the
were all encouraged in an
Acland Street delicatessens
or bring food down from the
Georges Mora, Lucy Beck,
least, and reflect the passion she holds
environment where art and
Sunday Reed at Aspendale 1961
for all that she paints.
life happily co-existed. The
family's Balzac or Tolarno
visual art produced at Aspendale celebrated a
The first exhibition at McGee's Gallery
restaurants. Fresh mussels could still be
communal spirit and youthful experimentation.
in 2008 is a selection of new works
found on rocks along the bay and the Mora
But more than this, Aspendale was seen as
by award-winning watercolourist Ev
kids ate them à la naturale on the beach.
an escape, a retreat and a haven; and a place
Hales. The official opening is at 2pm on
Artistic events, dressing up and impromptu
where good times could be had!
performances were also a feature of Aspendale
Saturday 23rd February. Come along
during this period. Another highlight was
The connection between Aspendale Beach
and meet the artist at the opening,
playing chess and the feted Aspendale Cup
and the wider artistic community in Melbourne
and partake of a glass of wine whilst
was awarded annually to the chess champion.
was made possible by the close friendship
browsing what will be a stunning
between John and Sunday Reed and
collection of new works.
Some extraordinary paintings, drawings and
Georges and Mirka Mora. This friendship
collages, along with photography, films and
McGee's Gallery is open 5 days,
continued to blossom at Aspendale where they
literary-based works were produced either
Thursday to Monday from 11-5,
built two adjacent beach houses in 1961. They
at Aspendale or in response to it during the
however, private viewing is always
spent weekends and summer holidays there;
first flush of activity between 1961 and 1965.
available by appointment.
often visited by friends from the art world,
Robert Whitaker
Aspendale Beach 1964
lambda print (2002)
Monash Gallery of Art, City of Monash Collection
Reproduced with permission from Robert Whitaker Archive
(Left to right: Tiriel, Mirka and Georges Mora, Peter Burns,
Philippe Mora, Martin Sharp and William Mora)
Aspendale Beach: An artists' haven
AN MPRG EXHIBITION
12 December 2007 10 March 2008
12 December 2007 10 March 2008
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington, VIC 3931
Open Tuesday Sunday 10am 5pm Telephone 03 5975 4395
EXHIBITION
SUPPORTED
BY
FRIENDS
OF
MORNINGTON
PENINSULA
REGIONAL
GALLERY
62
Peninsula Visitor . . . Summer 2007-08
