17 August – 11 November 2012

2

(right) The valley 1898 (detail) Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Elder Bequest Fund 1898.

(cover) Fantasy c 1914 (detail) Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest 1971

All Sydney Long images are reproduced with the kind permission of the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia.

until 11 November 2012 Temporary Exhibitions Gallery | nga.gov.au/Long

Sydney Long (1871–1955) is Australia’s foremost Art Nouveau painter and one of our major Symbolists. He created haunting scenes of the Australian landscape with decorative, poetic, musical qualities. His works are like reveries, an escape from the everyday. He broke new ground by populating the Australian bush with the sinuous, graceful forms of nymphs and fauns, trees and birds, seeking in this way to convey its weird mystery. Long also painted many delightful landscapes and cityscapes in Australia and Britain in which, working with soft muted colours, he used his own sensuous and elegant approach. He was the foremost painter-etcher of the 1920s and 1930s.

Guided tours daily at 11.00 am meet at information desk at main entrance.

$15 adult | $12 concession | $10 members FREE for children 16 and under.

Events bookingseventbookings@nga.gov.au | (02) 6240 6528 Mon to Fri

3

4

TALK AND LECTURESFancy free: dancing figures and the art of Sydney Long Thursday 6 September 12.45 pm Dr Michelle Potter, dance historian, looks at movements encouraging free, expressive dancing and how they are reflected in the art of Sydney Long. Free | Small Theatre

Director’s view Thursday 13 September 12.45 pm Ron Radford, Director, discusses Sydney Long’s iconic Flamingoes c1907. Free (after exhibition ticket) Temporary Exhibitions Gallery

Curator’s dinner members Friday 14 September 6.00 pm Anna Gray, curator of the exhibition and Head of Australian Art, discusses Sydney Long: the Spirit of the land, followed by an exclusive viewing and a three-course dinner in Gandel Hall. $150 members, $160 guests | Bookings essential

5

Long’s Sydney Thursday 20 September 12.45 pm Emma Kindred, Assistant Curator, Australian Prints and Drawings, discusses Sydney Long’s images of the harbour city. Free (after exhibition ticket) | Temporary Exhibitions Gallery

Piping as though he would never grow old Thursday 4 October 12.45 pm Anna Gray, curator of the exhibition, discusses Long’s development from his early poetic impressionism to the overt symbolism in his Art Nouveau paintings. Free (after exhibition ticket) | Temporary Exhibitions Gallery

Morning tea members Wednesday 10 October 10.15 am Anna Gray, curator of the exhibition, provides a tour for members and guests, followed by morning tea. $25 members, $35 guests | Bookings essential Meet at information desk.

Flamingo pool 1916 (detail) Private collection.

6

TALK AND LECTURESSydney Long’s art and life Saturday 13 October 2.00 pm Anna Gray, curator of the exhibition, in conversation with Virginia Haussegger, ABC TV news presenter, journalist and author. Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

The spirit of Art Nouveau: decorative arts and design in Australia around 1900 Thursday 18 October 12.45 pm Christopher Menz, Acting Director, Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne, discusses the profound influence of Art Nouveau on Australian decorative arts and design around 1900. Free | Small Theatre

Sydney Long: early efforts Tuesday 30 October 12.45 pm Roger Butler, Senior Curator, Australian Prints and Drawings, discusses Sydney Long’s very early prints featured in the exhibition. Free (after exhibition ticket) Temporary Exhibitions Gallery

CHILDRENTales for the very young ages 3–5, to be accompanied Tuesday 6 November 10.30–11.30 am Margie Kevin, Gallery educator, leads this activity-based tour with stories about the people and places featured in the works in the exhibition. $7, $5 child members (free for accompanying adults) Bookings essential | Meet at information desk

The music lesson 1904 (detail) Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Purchased 1969.

7

8

PERFORMANCESSydney Long, the ‘poet’s painter’ Saturday 29 September 2.00 pm Local poets Charlotte Clutterbuck, John Foulcher, Susan Hampton and Hal Judge celebrate the ‘poet’s painter’ with readings from poems by Long’s contemporaries, including Longfellow, Tennyson and Brennan. Free | Small Theatre

Lyrical Long Sunday 28 October 2.30–4.00 pm Duo Merindah, comprising flautist Teresa Rabe and guitarist Minh Le Hoang, performs music inspired by Long’s work. Free | Temporary Exhibitions Gallery

9

SCREENINGSSydney Long’s paintings have inspired this selection of films which evoke the spirit of the times in which the artist lived and worked.

Isadora: the biggest dancer in the world DVD, 1966, not rated, 67 mins Sunday 16 September 2.00 pm A documentary about American-born dancer Isadora Duncan, considered to be the creator of modern dance. Directed by Ken Russell. Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

Spirit of the Plains 1897 (detail), Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane. Gift of William Howard-Smith in memory of his grandfather, Ormond Charles Smith, 1940.

10

SCREENINGS Playing Beatie Bow 35 mm, 1986, PG, 93 mins Sunday 30 September 2.00 pm Abigail Kirk travels back in time to 1873 while playing the game Beatie Bow. Based on the novel by Ruth Park. Directed by Donald Crombie. Film permission courtesy of SAFC and Endemol Worldwide Distribution. Print courtesy National Film and Sound Archive Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

Sirens 35mm, 1993, MA, 98 mins Sunday 21 October 2.00 pm A young minister and his wife visit a painter in the Blue Mountains to dissuade him from exhibiting a blasphemous work. Two free-thinking models distract them from their task. Written and directed by John Duigan and starring Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Sam Neil, Elle McPherson, Kate Fisher and Portia de Rossi. Print courtesy National Film and Sound Archive. Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

11

WORKSHOPSEx libris: screenprinting workshop ages 13+ Saturday 15 September 10.30–12.30 pm Choose from a range of designs and print your own ex libris (bookplate) using screenprinting techniques. $30, $25 members/concession (includes materials) Bookings essential | Megalo Print Studio + Gallery

Art Nouveau off the street: glass-making workshop all ages 8+, no experience necessary Saturday 27 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm repeated 2.00–4.00 pm Be guided by a glass artist to create your very own Art Nouveau glass panel inspired by Long’s paintings. $130, $120 members/concession (includes materials) Places limited, bookings essential | Canberra Glassworks

ASSISTEDFree | Bookings essential (02) 6240 6519 or Email access@nga.gov.au | Meet at information desk

Assisted tour for people with disabilities Thursday 20 September 10.30 am Special-access viewing for people with disabilities and their carers.

Sign-interpreted tour Sunday 4 November 2.30 pm Auslan sign-interpreted tour of the exhibition.

Descriptive tour Saturday 10 November 2.30 pm Led by voluntary guides for people who are blind or have low vision.

By tranquil waters (detail)1894, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Purchased 1894.

Parkes Place, Canberra | 10 am – 5 pm daily | Enquiries: (02) 6240 6502The National Gallery of Australia is an Australian Government Agency

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

ACCOMMODATION PARTNER

EXHIBITION PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

BEVERAGE PARTNERS

National Galleryof Australia CouncilExhibitions Fund

Printed and Freecard Media Australia All Rights Reserved 2012 #16426 Distributed: 55% Recycled + Carbon Neutral www.avantcard.com.au