MRAG

  • Visit Us
    • How to get here
    • Café
    • Shop
    • Venue hire
  • Exhibitions
    • Current & Future Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • The Art Factory
    • Exhibition proposals
  • What’s On
    • All Events
    • For Adults
    • For Kids
    • MRAG from Home
      • See: at home
      • Make: at home
      • Do: at home
    • Past Events
  • Learn
    • Collection
    • Schools
    • Creative Learning
  • Support Us
    • Become a member
    • MRAGM committee
    • Artel magazine
    • MRAG volunteers
    • Sponsors, Patrons, Partners & Donors
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Contacts
    • Awards
    • Using this website
Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.
  • « Meet me at MRAG | Open Drawing: with Vali
  • Illuminated Illustration Master Class with Artist Tallulah Cunningham »
John Olsen, Joie De Vivre 1964-1965, woollen tapestry, Portalegre Tapestry Workshop, 180 x 239 cm Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest 1965

John Olsen, Joie De Vivre 1964-1965, woollen tapestry, Portalegre Tapestry Workshop, 180 x 239 cm Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest 1965

The Three O’s: Orban, Olsen and Ogburn

May 2, 2014 — June 28, 2014

Free

John Olsen, Joie De Vivre 1964-1965, woollen tapestry, Portalegre Tapestry Workshop, 180 x 239 cm Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest 1965

John Olsen, Joie De Vivre 1964-1965, woollen tapestry, Portalegre Tapestry Workshop, 180 x 239 cm
Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest 1965


John Ogburn, Mullet on newspaper 1978, oil on canvas, 60 x 70cm, Private Collection © John Ogburn Estate

John Ogburn, Mullet on newspaper 1978, oil on canvas, 60 x 70cm, Private Collection © John Ogburn Estate


Desiderius Orban, Tower of Babel, 1951, pastel on paper, 99.5 x 63.7cm, Private Collection, © Desiderius Orban Estate

Desiderius Orban, Tower of Babel, 1951, pastel on paper, 99.5 x 63.7cm, Private Collection, © Desiderius Orban Estate

With over ninety works drawn from major institutions and public collections, The Three O’s: Orban, Olsen & Ogburn, reassesses the creative paths of three unique artists.

As art writer Hugh Speirs observed, “The ‘Three Os’, as Orban called them… exercised considerable influence towards the acceptance of more radical approaches to art in the fifties and early sixties in Sydney, and thus in Australia.”

Curated by Emma Collerton, this touring exhibition explores the legacy of Desiderius Orban and that of two of his students, John Ogburn and John Olsen. Both later taught at Orban’s studio before blazing their own trails in Australian Art.

The arrival of European refugees such as Orban (Hungary) assisted in changing perceptions of modern art within Australia. In 1940, he established a studio at Sydney’s Circular Quay that became a haven where creativity was championed.

Orban’s mantra was “art equals creativity”. He celebrated the idea of the artist as innovator. His views on creativity spread through his teaching as well as through his highly influential publications Layman’s Guide to Art, Understanding Art and What Is Art All About? These ideas were influential in the development of his many students, most notably Olsen and Ogburn.

While Olsen nurtured a high profile career with commissions and appointments to gallery boards, Ogburn by contrast retreated from the Sydney art scene and was pivotal in the establishment of Harrington Street Artists’ Co-operative Gallery, which became a platform to showcase his work and that of his students. It remains a hive of artistic activity.

An Orange Regional Gallery Touring Exhibition made possible by the generosity of a private benefactor, The Harrington Street Artists’ Cooperative Gallery. Thanks to the Gordon Darling Foundation, the exhibition is accompanied by a sixty page illustrated catalogue which includes an historical essay, placing the artists and their works in context.

 Touring Venues

  • Orange Regional Gallery, 18 October to 1 December 2013
  • Art Gallery of Ballarat, 14 December 2013 to 19 January 2014
  • Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, 31 January to 2 March 2014
  • Manly Art Gallery and Museum, 21 March to 27 April 2014
  • Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 2 May to 29 June 2014
  • Artspace Mackay, 11 July to 31 August 2014
+ Google Calendar+ iCal Export

Details

Start:
May 2, 2014
End:
June 29, 2014
Cost:
Free
Event Category:
Exhibitions

Venue

Maitland Regional Art Gallery
230 High Street
MAITLAND, New South Wales 2320 Australia
Phone:
02 4934 9859

Related Events

  • MADE/WORN: Australian Contemporary Jewellery

    February 13 — May 2
  • Terminus | Jess Johnson and Simon Ward

    February 20 — May 2
  • An Unending Shadow: Works exploring dementia by Ann and Sophie Cape

    February 20 — May 23
  • « Meet me at MRAG | Open Drawing: with Vali
  • Illuminated Illustration Master Class with Artist Tallulah Cunningham »
  • Save the Date

    Tue 19

    MRAG Social Script and Visual Schedule for visitors to the Gallery

    December 24, 2020 — December 24, 2021
    Tue 19

    Free Art January 2021

    January 2 — January 31

    View More…

    • Join our e-lists
    • Feedback
    • Become a member
  • Gallery Details

    Art Gallery & Shop Trading Hours
    Tuesday – Sunday, 10.00am – 5.00pm

    Address 230 High Street,
    PO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320
    Phone 02 4934 9859
    Email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au

    Café Seraphine
    Tuesday – Sunday, 8.00am – 3.00pm
    Phone
    02 4934 7264

    We acknowledge the Wonnarua People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land upon which MRAG stands.

  • Maitland City Council Maitland City Council
    Maitland Regional Art Gallery is a service of Maitland City Council and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
  • Visit Us
    • How to get here
    • Café
    • Shop
    • Venue hire
  • Exhibitions
    • Current & Future Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • The Art Factory
    • Exhibition proposals
  • What’s On
    • All Events
    • For Adults
    • For Kids
    • Past Events
  • MRAG from Home
    • See: at home
    • Make: at home
    • Do: at home
  • Learn
    • Creative Learning
    • Schools
    • Collection
  • Support Us
    • Become a member
    • MRAGM committee
    • Artel magazine
    • MRAG volunteers
    • Sponsors, Patrons, Partners & Donors
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Contacts
    • Awards
    • #mymaitland
    • Using this website
  • Feedback
  • Join our e-lists
  • Become a member

© Maitland Regional Art Gallery 2021