Launceston

Tuesday 18 March 2025
AUCTIONEERS TALES – 35 YEARS IN THE ART MARKET
Presented by Marc Allum
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

With three decades under his belt Marc has gathered a wealth of experience and fascinating tales based on his work in the auction business. This insightful talk will both amaze and amuse as he recounts incredible stories of great discoveries and emotive situations.

Marc Allum is a freelance art and antiques journalist, writer and broadcaster based in Wiltshire, UK. He has been a specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow for over 25 years. Marc regularly writes for mainstream magazines and is an author, antiques consultant and lecturer. He also runs a fine art valuation and consultancy service. Marc’s interests range from pre-history to modern design, and he is a self-confessed ‘collectaholic.’ Marc has lectured widely to organisations in both the public and charity sector, including travel companies, The National Trust and at literary festivals including Cheltenham, Bath and Wells. Marc is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

SPECIAL EVENT 

Thursday 20th March 2025
Lecture 1: THE CHIPPENHAM GLADIATOR BOWL
Lecture 2: BRING AN OBJECT
Presented by Marc Allum
Venue & Time: Valentino Safe Co, 1/1973 Main Rd, Lilydale TAS 7268. Time to be advised

Lecture 1: The Chippenham Gladiator Bowl
Marc tells the amazing story of how, after moving into a medieval house in the market town of Chippenham, he was inspired to conduct an archaeological dig in his back garden based on historical evidence that King Alfred the Great’s encampment was nearby. What he found was very different, as it transpired that his house is built on a Roman villa! This talk outlines the tales and finds from a fascinating personal endeavour that revealed 2000 years of history right under his feet.

Lecture 2: Bring an Object
One of Marc’s most popular talks and based on the age-old Antiques Roadshow premise of people arriving with their personal objects and Marc spontaneously deciphering them to the audience. Always different and peppered with historical anecdotes, emotional tales and also highly audience interactive.

Marc Allum is a freelance art and antiques journalist, writer and broadcaster based in Wiltshire, UK. He has been a specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow for over 25 years. Marc regularly writes for mainstream magazines and is an author, antiques consultant and lecturer. He also runs a fine art valuation and consultancy service. Marc’s interests range from pre-history to modern design, and he is a self-confessed ‘collectaholic.’ Marc has lectured widely to organisations in both the public and charity sector, including travel companies, The National Trust and at literary festivals including Cheltenham, Bath and Wells. Marc is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Tuesday 8 April 2025
“LIFE IS VERY LIKE A RAILWAY” A quotation from an apologue by Arthur Hugh Clough
Presented by Robert Ketton
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

In a wide-ranging and eclectic lecture, Robert Ketton looks at the way in which Railways changed the world. From the introduction of standard time to the impact on the national diet and the redistribution of population, railways continue to have a huge influence on everyday life everywhere, except perhaps, in regional Australia. From fine art to architecture, from film and theatre to literature, Robert looks at the social impact of the railway. Nations have gone to war by and because of railways. Railways have been the source of national unity and national disgrace. With the passion of an enthusiast, Robert will take you on an express journey through the past, present, and future of the railway.

In a long career as Lecturer in Theatre at the University of Southern Queensland, Robert taught acting and directed dozens of plays for the University’s Performance Centre. Since retirement he established “Floodlight” a federal government funded organisation aimed at helping flood victims. Robert has published books and plays and is currently working on an illustrated children’s book with his artist wife, Catherine.

Tuesday 6 May 2025
 A HAAAAND BAAAAG? The Importance of Being Oscar (& Earnest)
Presented by Simon Whitehouse
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

This lecture explores Oscar’s literary successes, beginning with The Picture of Dorian Gray,1890. Simon will focus on The Importance of Being Earnest, one of the funniest, most performed and most quoted plays in English. Described as ‘A Trivial Comedy for Serious People’, it was of its time and yet ahead of its time, satirising the shallowness of upper-class Victorian society. Simon explores the hidden elements which the audience then (and now) were not aware of and we discover that, for the author, this triumph heralded the beginning of his own fatal final act.

Simon is a (recovering) actor, presenter, Alexander Technique and voice teacher, and award-winning London Blue Badge guide. He has worked as a guide in-house at Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Opera House, the BBC and the National Gallery guiding both public and private tours. He is on the faculty of Ithaca College and lectures for the Blue Badge Guide training course on the performing arts and English literature. Simon’s specialisms and passions are theatre, literature, fashion, and art history but whatever the subject, Simon will weave a wonderful story from it.

Tuesday 8 July 2025
FRIEDA KAHLO AND DIEGO RIVERA: A Volatile Relationship
Presented by Maria Chester
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

This duo of eccentric artists , political activists  and vibrant human beings will captivate the audience. Frida and Diego were both exceptional in so many ways! This will be a talk about love, passion and art created by both of them in  the first half of the 20th century. The focus will be on their artworks, but their creations are always linked to the political situation, health and their own relationship.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, multilingual Maria Chester studied Fine Arts and Art History and is a Professor of Pre-Columbian Art. She taught in several South American universities and at private institutions. She is a Senior Lecturer and tutor on Art History for BEA – Berwick Educational Association in the Scottish Borders, where she lives. She also works for Berwick Visual Arts delivering conferences linked to art exhibitions complemented with guided tours. In May 2018, she was made a Visiting Research Fellow at CAUA Research Centre for International Elderly Education, Shanghai, China. She became an Accredited Lecturer for The Arts Society in 2018.

Tuesday 12 August 2025
THE RIJKSMUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM: Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Much, Much More
Presented by Sophie Oosterwijk
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

This lecture offers an introduction to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam: the collection, the building, its history and the 10-year renovation (2003-13) that brought back the splendour of architect Pierre Cuypers’ original neo-gothic decorations. The collection of the Rijksmuseum includes works by Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh as well as medieval art, jewellery, musical instruments, Asian art and even an FK 23 Bantam plane from 1918. It also has Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch – but only on loan! All this and much more will be revealed about the most famous museum in the Netherlands.

Born in Gouda (Netherlands). Sophie has an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester), as well as an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden). Sophie has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, National Trust, V&A, U3A, WEA and other organisations, and organised many study days, tours and visits. She is also a regular lecturer for Cambridge University and travel companies, and Vice President of the Church Monuments Society, and has numerous publications to her name.

Tuesday 9 September 2025
THE SECRET LIFE OF CARTOONS
Presented by Harry Venning
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

This talk draws back the veil on the dark arts of cartoon drawing and throws light on the multitude of visual techniques, tricks, hacks, symbols, strategies and short cuts employed by cartoonists to raise a smile or tell a story.  Learn the international language of cartoons, with advice on the best use of grawlixes, plewds, squeens and waftatrons.  Find out what happens in the “missing frame”.  Discover what an Italian would do with a fumetti, a German with a Zeichengeschichte and an Icelander with a strimlateiknimynd.  There will be laughs! There will be learning! There will be LIVE DRAWING!

Harry Venning is a cartoonist, comedy writer and performer based in Brighton, UK. Harry’s cartoons have appeared in publications as diverse as Mathematics Today, Radio Times, Music Teacher and The Stage. For twenty-five years he provided The Guardian with the weekly strip cartoon Clare In The Community, about an unaware and empathy free social worker. In 2004 he developed Clare In The Community into a successful BBC Radio 4 sitcom which ran for twelve series.

Tuesday 14 October 2025
MY SCRAMBLING AFFAIR: How Constable’s Late Paintings Changed the Face of Modern Art
Presented by Sarah Cove
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

Would you recognise John Constable R.A.’s ‘late’ oil studies? Constable’s exuberant, almost abstract, brush and palette-knife work shocked audiences for a full 50 years before Impressionism. In fact, the handling is so avant-garde that it is impossible to tell what these paint strokes depict! Constable only sold 20 or so paintings in England during his lifetime, as their rough and ‘specky’ surfaces horrified audiences. By contrast, he sold many to forward-looking French art dealers and collectors. Consequently, his radical ‘late’ works influenced generations of French painters, making Constable a Forefather of Modern Painting. Sarah Cove’s work reveals a ‘Jackson Pollock of the 1830s’.

Sarah Cove ACR is an accredited paintings conservator-restorer, technical art historian and lecturer with several decades of experience working on paintings for the heritage and private sectors. She is a specialist in British portraits, 19th-20th century British landscapes and oil sketches on paper and board. She founded the Constable Research Project and is the leading authority on Constable’s materials and techniques. Her presentations are lively, enthusiastic and passionate about her work and research.  

SPECIAL EVENT 

Wednesday 15 October 2025
THE PAINTINGS CONSERVATION ROADSHOW
Presented by Sarah Cover
Venue & Time: To be advised

Sarah discusses the nature of oil painting materials, and common problems associated with the ageing and deterioration of, and damage to, easel paintings. These can be on canvas, panel, board or paper in a range of mediums: oil, acrylic, egg tempera, or mixed media. Problems can involve natural deterioration and neglect, sketches accidental damage, vandalism and even war! Modern approaches to conservation and restoration will be illustrated with slides ranging from early Italian religious paintings via rapid oil on paper to 20th century British paintings and modern abstract works. Hints and advice on the care of paintings is given liberally throughout! Sarah will then turn her attention to paintings that members bring along that they own for a hands-on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ style condition assessment and give recommendations for conservation. Advice on packing and transport is given beforehand.

Sarah Cove ACR is an accredited paintings conservator-restorer, technical art historian and lecturer with several decades of experience working on paintings for the heritage and private sectors. She is a specialist in British portraits, 19th-20th century British landscapes and oil sketches on paper and board. She founded the Constable Research Project and is the leading authority on Constable’s materials and techniques. Her presentations are lively, enthusiastic and passionate about her work and research. 

Tuesday 11 November 2025
BEYOND THE LITLE BLACK DRESS – CHANEL
Presented by Claudia Chan Shaw
Time & Venue: 5:45pm Rory Spence Vos Construction Lecture Theatre at The University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus

Fashion is what’s in vogue, the latest trend, the up to the minute. Fashion is ever changing. Yet 100 years on, the designs and ideas created by Coco Chanel are just as relevant today. We have Chanel to thank for popularising the Little Black Dress, championing pants for women, and creating the first designer branded fragrance.  Join Claudia Chan Shaw to discover Chanel’s influence and the legacy of the Little Black Dress, showing that, as Chanel once said, “Fashion fades, only style remains.”

Sydney born creative Claudia Chan Shaw has a multi-faceted career as a fashion designer, television and radio presenter, author, public speaker, installation artist, photo artist, and curator.  With a BA in Visual Communication Design from Sydney College of the Arts, she is co-designer and director for the internationally acclaimed Australian fashion label, Vivian Chan Shaw. The label is renowned for its exquisite handmade knitwear and jewellery. The designs are represented in the permanent collection of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.