Newcastle

ADFAS Newcastle welcomes you.

Connecting people with the arts and each other.

ADFAS Newcastle offers nine evening lectures and two mornings of lectures on the arts each year – from February to November. Meet art specialists from Newcastle, Australia and the UK. Be entertained, fascinated and informed.

We support arts projects and initiatives in our region. Young Arts provides grants to local youth arts groups. The Schools of Arts team researches the stories behind these iconic buildings. We have completed one Church Recording – the story of a local church.

Our work over thirty years was recognised in 2020 when ADFAS Newcastle was awarded the Marsh Award for International Arts Society Committee of the Year.

Lectures:

Venue and time:
Morning lectures are at 10am and take place at Apollo International Hotel, 290 Pacific Highway, Charlestown

Evening lectures are at 6:30pm and take place at Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow

Membership:
Annual membership (for nine evening lectures) is $170.
Go to our website to join online or download the membership form and follow the directions.
If you have membership questions, please contact Jenny at contact@adfasnewcastle.org.au

Guests welcome:
Guests are welcome at all of our lectures. The cost for an evening lecture is $30 and a morning lecture, $55.
Tickets can be purchased at our website.

Contact:
contact@adfasnewcastle.org.au
Postal Address: PO Box 531, Newcastle, NSW 2300
ABN: 42 374 836 979

Committee
Chair: Kathy Heinrich

2024 PROGRAM

Monday 19 February 2024
EXPLORING THE HOLOGRAPHIC
Presented by Martina Mrongovius
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Martina Mrongovius captures urban environments in assembled photomontages she prints into holographic images. Her artworks investigate how perception shapes experience and are often installed in ways that provoke viewers to move. In this lecture Martina will discuss how her artworks were inspired by holographic imaging and navigating the urban landscape.

Martina’s solo exhibitions have been presented by galleries and museums worldwide.  As a curator for the Center for the Holographic Arts, New York Martina developed exhibitions including the SPACE:LIGHT program.  She has created a series of holograms to be launched from the International Space Station.  Martina received an Honors degree in Applied Physics and completed her PhD at the Spatial Information Architecture Laboratory. Since 2021 she has been shaping the Lake Arts Precinct for Lake Macquarie City Council (Awabakal Country).

Monday 18 March 2024
DAMIEN HURST AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Presented by David Worthington
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Damien Hirst is the most famous British artist since Henry Moore. Not even Francis Bacon had such a huge international presence. And yet in his home country he is often seen as a practical joker, pulling the wool over the eyes of the public, and not making proper art at all. This lecture aims to dispel this and show he is a deeply serious artist making work that is both significant and influential.

David has been drawn to abstract sculpture since seeing work by Barbara Hepworth in a school book. He graduated in Philosophy and Theology from Oxford in 1984, then studied fine art in London, Barcelona and New York. A sculptor with many international commissions, he also curates and writes about art. He was shortlisted for the Jerwood Sculpture Prize in 2009. David is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Sculptors and was Vice President in 2010-13.

Monday 22 April 2024
ANCIENT SOUTEAST ASIA FROM BOROBUDUR TO ANKOR
Presented by Adrian Vickers
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow

The ancient art of Southeast Asia took Hindu and Buddhist ideas from India and made them into something unique. Each of the major kingdoms of Southeast Asia evolved distinctive styles of temple building, sculpture and relief carving, from the vast cities of Pagan to monumental Angkor. The evolution of ancient Javanese art shows how styles developed from the Indian Gupta influences visible in Borobudur and Prambanan of Central Java, and transformed into the more Balinese-style temples of East Java.

Adrian Vickers holds a personal chair in Southeast Asian Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney. Born and raised in Tamworth he was introduced to the vibrant culture of Indonesia while still at school, first travelling there in the 1970s as a student. His research utilizes expertise in the Indonesian language as well as drawing on sources in Balinese, Kawi (Old and Middle Javanese) and Dutch. He has created a virtual museum on the history of Balinese painting. His books include the highly popular Bali: A Paradise Created.

Monday May 27 2024
SCANDINAVIAN GLASS: ORREFORS TO IKEA
Presented by Andy McConnell
Time & Venue: 10:00 am, Apollo International Hotel, 290 Pacific Highway, Charlestown

The Nordic countries played a minor role in the historic development of world glassmaking. It is astonishing that these nations, with some 20 million inhabitants, produced more Post-War glass designers of international consequence than the rest of the Western World combined. The talk examines the factors behind the emergence of Scandinavian glassmaking from a disparate group of strong-minded, egocentric individuals and the varied designs that resulted from their work. Andy’s recent tour of the Scandinavia’s leading glassworks in Sweden, Denmark and Finland further informs these lectures.

Andy has dealt in antiques since adolescence but served an apprenticeship in journalism. After working in music, film and television, he returned to writing in 2004, authoring the The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass From 1650. He followed this in 2006 with Miller’s’ 20th Century Glass. He continues to write and runs Britain’s largest antique glass gallery in Rye, Sussex. Andy is best known as the humorous glass specialist on BBC’s evergreen Antiques Roadshow.

Monday May 27 2024
BOTTOMS UP! A HISTORY OF WINE, ITS RITUALS AND VESSELS
Presented by Andy McConnell
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Wine has sustained humanity for almost 10,000 years. While causing wars and riots, it’s also helped broker peace and more commonly served as an aphrodisiac. Wine has been personified in the form of Gods and been a catalyst in civilised entertaining and dining rituals. Bottom’s Up! traces the story of wine throughout the ages. It also examines the extraordinary art and artefacts created throughout history to enhance the pleasure of wine. The talk visits the ancient world, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and 18th century Britain, culminating today when more wine is being consumed than ever.

Andy has dealt in antiques since adolescence but served an apprenticeship in journalism. After working in music, film and television, he returned to writing in 2004, authoring the The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass From 1650. He followed this in 2006 with Miller’s’ 20th Century Glass. He continues to write and runs Britain’s largest antique glass gallery in Rye, Sussex. Andy is best known as the humorous glass specialist on BBC’s evergreen Antiques Roadshow.

Monday 24 June 2024
PRIVATE ART PATRONAGE IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN
Presented by Kathleen Olive
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Japan has an extraordinary appreciation for art – with exhibitions drawing some of the world’s highest visitor numbers. Since the 20th century, government funding for acquisitions has continued to drop making private collections and corporate art museums ever more important. These include the extraordinary passion project at the Itchiku Kubota Kimono Museum, the refined tastes of gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada and the innovation and renewal of Naoshima’s Benesse Art Site.

Kathleen’s PhD was a study of artisanal culture in Renaissance Florence, through the lens of a goldsmith’s commonplace book known as the Codex Rustici. She lived and studied in Italy for a number of years, then taught Italian language, literature and history at the University of Sydney. Kathleen now works with Academy Travel, leading tours to Europe and, particularly, Italy.

Monday 29 July 2024
IMPERIAL CALCUTTA AND THE INDIAN RENAISSANCE
Presented by John Stevens
Time & Venue: 10:00 am, Apollo International Hotel, 290 Pacific Highway, Charlestown

Explore the origins and development of the nineteenth-century Indian Renaissance in theatre, architecture, literature, poetry and painting. We start with the arts and architecture of the vibrant city of Calcutta, the capital of British India. Then go on to explore the life and work of Calcutta’s most famous artist: the poet, writer, composer and painter Rabindranath Tagore.

John Stevens is a Research Associate at SOAS, University of London. He teaches British Imperial history, Indian history and Bengali language, and is a regular visitor to India and Bangladesh. John publishes widely and his biography of Indian guru Keshab Chandra Sen – Keshab: Bengal’s Forgotten Prophet – was published in 2018. He appears regularly in the Indian media and was recently a guest on BBC Radio Four’s In Our Time, discussing the poet and artist Rabindranath Tagore.

Monday 29 July 2024
PORTRAITS OF THE MAHARANIS
Presented by Dr John Stevens
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

The Maharajahs and Maharanis of India were semi-independent rulers, responsible for governing territories outside the direct control of the British Empire; seen by the British public, as powerful symbols of ‘exotic India’. This lecture draws on an extensive collection of portraits and photographs of Indian Maharanis – some of the earliest images of Indian women as powerful, dignified and educated. This lecture brings these beautiful portraits to life with insights into the lives and memoirs of the Maharanis themselves, and a view of the role they played in the British Empire.

John Stevens is a Research Associate at SOAS, University of London. He teaches British Imperial history, Indian history and Bengali language, and is a regular visitor to India and Bangladesh. John publishes widely and his biography of Indian guru Keshab Chandra Sen – Keshab: Bengal’s Forgotten Prophet – was published in 2018. He appears regularly in the Indian media and was recently a guest on BBC Radio Four’s In Our Time, discussing the poet and artist Rabindranath Tagore.

Monday 26 August 2024
CLARICE CLIFF (1899 – 1972): THE DOYENNE OF ART DECO
Presented by Vivienne Lawes
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Explores the work of an artist whose, inventiveness, and ability to catch the zeitgeist is still admired a century after her bold ‘Bizarre’ wares were launched in 1927. These Art Deco masterpieces are the products that most vividly signify Clarice Cliff’s legacy. Cliff’s talents were recognised when a teenager, and she went on to set the bar for ceramics as a commercial art form. 

Viv Lawes is an art historian, art market analyst and curator. She teaches at several London-based universities including Sotheby’s Institute of Art and the University of the Arts London Her education courses at these institutions cover a variety of topics, including The Art Market, History of Western Art 1350-1970, History of Design 1350-1970, and Asian Art. A former art market journalist at The Art Newspaper, she writes for a wide array of publications and private clients. Her articles, essays and reports have been published widely.

Monday 30 September 2024
BREECHES, BONNETS AND BAGS
Presented by Rosalind Whyte
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

Portraits provide a fascinating insight into the changing styles of dress over the centuries. Follow the different fashions as revealed in paintings, looking at dress and accessories, and some of the more ridiculous styles of fashion from the 16th century to the 19th century – with a focus on fashion in England. When Sumptuary Laws prescribed what you could wear, according to your status in society, fashion was a reflection of social standing.  Whilst working folk might have longed for a wardrobe of reds, purples and golds, their ‘superiors’ may have envied them their ability to move freely in their clothes without restrictions. Explore the wildest extremes of fashion through the ages.

Rosalind Whyte holds BA and MA degrees from Goldsmith’s College, and an MA (distinction) from Birkbeck College. She is an experienced guide at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, the Royal Academy and Greenwich, and also lectures at Tate, to independent art societies and on cruises.

Monday 4 November 2024
THE PAINTERS OF CIRQUE MEDRANO
Presented by Paul Chapman
Time & Venue: 6:30pm. Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Cameron St, Broadmeadow.

The legendary Paris circus, from its beginning as the Cirque Fernando in 1875 (it was renamed Cirque Medrano in 1897) until its closure in 1963 was an integral part of Parisian cultural life. It attracted writers, painters and poets who created many works inspired by the Circus. Performers have been immortalised on canvas by Renoir, Degas, Lautrec, Seurat, Picasso and Leger among others. An intriguing look at the history of a circus through the eyes of the painters of the Montmartre.

Paul is an Art Historian and National Gallery trained guide. As a freelancer Paul delivers courses and lectures for a wide range of educational organisations and has given talks and tours for art associations/societies in Museums and Galleries in the UK and Europe. He has published a book, examining the subject of cultural crossovers and appropriations in 20th century painting. He is a tour guide at the Longford Castle art collection and visiting tutor at Marlborough College.