MAC Presents In Memory: Tom Gleghorn

Join MAC yapang with Scott Bevan in conversation as we celebrate the life and art of the late artist Tom Gleghorn.

Join MAC yapang with writer and broadcaster Scott Bevan as we celebrate the life and art of renowned landscape artist Tom Gleghorn.

Tom Gleghorn grew up in Lake Macquarie and was mentored by William Dobell. Tom died in January, aged 100.

We celebrate Tom’s life and work, with an exhibition of his artworks held in the visual art collection at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang.

Scott, who wrote a biography of William Dobell and co-curated Tom's final survey exhibition, will be in conversation with artist and Tom's close friend Christine Ross, as they remember Tom, talk about his extraordinary art, and how he was inspired throughout his life by the lake.

Event schedule:

1:30pm - Bar opens with a range of local Ernest Hill wines & Modus craft beers

2:00pm - Scott Bevan and Christine Saunders in conversation

3:00pm - Event concludes

Note: Attendees will have the option to stay longer post event as MAC yapang stays up late for after hours exhibition viewing until 7pm

Banner image: Tom Gleghorn, Detail White Swimmer N.D. Acrylic on canvas, 170 x 170 cm. Visual Art Collection, Lake Macquarie City Council Cultural Collections

About: Tom Gleghorn

Once described by an Australian art critic as the ‘Phar Lap of Australian Art’, for winning many art prizes - Lake Macquarie raised Tom Gleghon passed this year at age 101 years.

Born in Thornley England in 1925, Gleghorn’s family settled in Warners Bay, Lake Macquarie when he was three years of age. With a thirst for education and knowledge, he had completed an engineering apprenticeship where shortly after in the late 1940s, visited the Arts Gallery of NSW for a defining moment – seeing two works by William Dobell which started him on the path of being an artist.

He is best known for his abstract works yet had no formal art training. After seeing the two Dobell works, the portrait Margaret Olley, and the landscape, Storm approaching Wangi Gleghorn knocked on the door of William Dobell, who become supporter and mentor for his art practice.

Gleghorn was appointed as Director of Blaxland Gallery in 1958, the same year he won the Mosman Art Prize with a painting entitled Fragment of the Crucifixion and the Blake Christus Prize with Head of Christ. He was awarded several travelling scholarships and was a dedicated teacher at several Australian art institutions and colleges. His dedication to Australian art, both as an artist and an educator, was recognised with the award of a Member of Order of Australia (OAM) in 2005.

Gleghorn frequently visited the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang when in the region and the gallery holds nineteen artworks by Gleghorn many gifted through the generous Shirley Firkin Bequest in 2019 and by Phillip and Marie Williams, 2021. We pay homage to Tom through this exhibition during the Dobell Festival; an artist from Lake Macquarie who was inspired by the Lake.

Food and drink

From 1:30pm, local Ernest Hill wines, Modus craft beer and cold non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase from the MAC bar - Eftpos only.

Grazing plates (suitable for 1-2 people) are available for preorder until 5pm on Tuesday, 2 June. Follow the prompts when booking your event ticket to place your order.

Lake Art Members

Lake Art Members and their guest who register to attend will receive a complimentary beverage. This can be collected from the MAC yapang bar. Please note this is limited to one guest per Member.

Parking

Please follow directional signage and make use of overflow parking locations. Note you may have to walk a short to medium distance, please plan and time your visit accordingly. Disabled car spaces only are located next to MAC yapang via the vehicle access road.

Tickets

This is a free event and open to the public. Please register your attendance to assist our team in planning. Additional items such as food and beverages are available for purchase.

Please note there is no need to print your tickets off for this event.

Enquiries

Please contact mac@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

This event may be photographed and filmed and your image could be used in advertising and promotion by Lake Macquarie City Council. Should you wish not to be photographed or filmed, please advise event organisers on entry at the event.