An empty chair: 10 years of paper
The empty chair of a museum director is the
In the last ten years under Joe’s directorship the art
subject of Rew Hanks’ linocut, Krefft’s Chair. Krefft’s
gallery has undergone a major transformation and
Chair recalls the story of the dramatic departure
Joe has been instrumental in the significant growth
of a museum director - Gerard Krefft, Curator and
of the MRAG Collection over this time. Since 2005
Secretary of the Australian Museum in Sydney.
the number of works in the collection has grown
Krefft was a dedicated leader for the museum, a respected scientist and writer, who during his curatorship established a highly regarded international reputation for the Australian Museum and was responsible for the considerable growth of the museum’s collection. A colourful character of some repute – his unconventional approach to promotion of the museum involved events such as a snake and a mongoose fight within the museum for the entertainment of VIP guests including the Duke of Edinburgh and Henry Parkes.1 Krefft was also a man of strong opinions, and his ‘departure’ from the museum was a consequence of his many clashes with the museum’s trustees which led to him being dismissed in 1874 under disputed charges ranging from drunkenness, disobedience and allowing the sale of ‘dirty’ postcards. Krefft refused to leave the museum and barricaded himself in his office until a museum trustee “obtained the services of two prize-fighters, who broke into Krefft’s living quarters and carried him ‘bareheaded from the place’, still seated in his chair.”2
from 1000 to more than 4000 items. Joe’s departure from the art gallery prompts reflection on the story of the MRAG Collection over the last decade and this exhibition, An empty chair: 10 years of paper, displays just a small selection of the 3000 artworks collected, commencing with the year 2005 in which the new MRAG collection focus to collect works on paper was implemented. So, as per our collection focus, all the works in this exhibition, and almost all of the works featured in the wider Just Paper series, are created on or with paper, representing the many forms of art, mediums, techniques and subject matter that artists can conceive. The artworks range from examples of the precise and time consuming techniques of printmaking such as Rew Hanks’ intricately carved linocut and the multiplate etchings by Graham Fransella and Marlene and Sally Rubuntja; delicately assembled collages such as those by James Gleeson and Fiona Hall; 3D sculptural pieces such as the hand cut paper carvings by Kylie Stillman and multilayered artist books by Peter Kingston; the direct and descriptive photographs of Greg Weight and Michel Brouet; the haunting paintings, prints and drawings
In June 2015 we will be farewelling our own director
by Sidney Nolan and Adam Cullen, plus Joe’s
and ‘colourful character’, Joe Eisenberg, in a
personal favourites - the spare and scrawling pencil
much more respectful manner and with fondness
drawings by Ken Whisson.
and appreciation of the legacy of his eleven year tenure – a vibrant and inspiring art gallery. No-one could deny that Joe has been an aspirational and inspirational Director for MRAG who, like Krefft, has built a strong reputation for our art gallery and a strong art collection for the City of Maitland.
Many artworks have been acquired by selective purchases funded by Maitland City Council, yet the majority of acquisitions over the last ten years have come to MRAG via the generosity of others. MRAG is very fortunate to have many supporters.
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