Caloundra

Saturday 18 April 2026
LAUNCH PARTY
Time: 2.30-4.00pm
Venue: Caloundra Regional Art Gallery: 22 Omrah Ave Caloundra
Cost: $15 per person

Join us for a glass of bubbles and finger food in the beautiful Regional Art Gallery. This is your invitation to learn more about this Art Series in a friendly, welcoming environment. We provide superbly illustrated talks, on a diverse range of topics. These are delivered by international and Australian experts, chosen for their specialist knowledge and communication skills.

Joining us at the launch will be two of our lecturers.

Monday 29 June 2026
SPRINGTIME IN TOKYKO – Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Presented by Pieter de Vries (Australian Speaker)
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Venue: RSL Functions Room, 19 West Terrace, Caloundra

Pieter presents select segments from his internationally-acclaimed 2007 documentary “4” (Four Seasons, 4 Continents, Four Musicians), which explores Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”. The film won several awards and has screened at more that 25 international film Festivals. This talk features an exquisite performance of “Spring” by renowned Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji.Through his cinematography, Pieter captures the essence of Japan’s Cherry Blossom love story, offering an immersive and visually stunning musical experience.

Pieter is a renowned documentary cinematographer who has captured extraordinary moments around the world from the space shuttle to the depths of the North Atlantic. His films have garnered numerous accolades, including Emmys and BAFTAs. Pieter has contributed to programs hosted by Sir David Attenborough and was Director of Photography for Darwin’s Lost Paradise.

Monday 17 August 2026
TWO HELLENISTIC CITIES: Alexandria and Pergamon
Presented by James Renshaw ((International Speaker) 
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Venue: RSL Functions Room, 19 West Terrace, Caloundra

James takes us on a fascinating journey of Greek art and architecture in the Hellenistic age. In this period, two cities emerged as centres of extraordinary culture and learning. In Egypt, Alexander the Great conceived a vision of a new city to take his name: Alexandria. Meanwhile, in north-west Asia Minor, the Attalid kingdom developed a new capital city, Pergamon, as a cultural centre to rival Alexandria. This talk explains how these two cities changed the intellectual and artistic landscape and examines their legacy.

With a degree in Classics from Oxford University, James has taught secondary school Classics since 1998, including an early stint at Sydney Grammar. He currently teaches at Godolphin and Latymer in London and runs the school’s Ancient World Breakfast Club. James has published classics textbooks such as In Search of the Greeks and In Search of the Romans and also lectures for the V&A Academy on the Classical World and its Afterlife courses. He is a keen traveller and photographer of ancient sites.

Monday 21 September 2026
THE USE OF NATURALISM IN THE WORK OF FABERGÉ
Presented by Claire Blatherwick ((International Speaker) 
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Venue: RSL Functions Room, 19 West Terrace, Caloundra

“Fabergé” conjures up images of pre-revolutionary Russia, opulent Easter eggs and exquisite pieces found in the most important world collections. Clare will discuss the use of naturalism by Fabergé, focusing on lesser-known experiments in Art Nouveau, as well as animal representations in hardstone carvings and flower studies. It also highlights the naturalistic imagery incorporated into objects d’art such as desk seals and caviar dishes.

Clare is an independent jewellery consultant and historian based in Scotland, with over twenty years of experience in the jewellery business. As Head of Jewellery for Bonhams in Scotland, Clare has travelled extensively, searching for jewels to auction worldwide. She has lectured internationally, appearing on TV programs in the UK and US and is a member of The Society of Jewellery Historians.

Monday 26 October 2026
ROCK ART AND MODERN ABORIGINAL ART
Presented by Dr. Sally Butler (Australian Presenter)
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Venue: RSL Functions Room, 19 West Terrace, Caloundra

In this talk, Sally explains how the modern Aboriginal art movement developed since the 1970s and how it maintains its connection to visual traditions going back to rock art created many thousands of years ago. Sally focuses on how cultural traditions are reinvented and reinvigorated through innovative art of today. Examples include Indigenous art from the Central Desert, North Queensland, the Kimberley and Arnhem Land.

Sally is Adjunct Professor of Art History at the University of Queensland and formerly a Senior Education Officer at the Queensland Art Gallery and an Associate Editor and feature writer for Art Collector magazine. She has published widely in Australian and international journals and several books. Sally is the author and curator of the 2007 publication and international touring exhibition titled Our Way, Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Lockhart River.