Shoalhaven (Berry/Nowra)

ArtsNational Shoalhaven welcomes you. 

We are a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, providing superbly illustrated, informative and entertaining lecture presentations on many diverse topics relating to the arts. We aim to connect the people of Shoalhaven with the arts, and with each other. We host nine lectures, and a half interest day, with presenters from the U.K. Arts Society and Australian lecturers who are art professionals chosen for their expert knowledge in their fields.

The monthly meetings are a wonderful and informal way to make friends and to get to know others in the community. The meetings are usually held at the Berry Uniting Church Hall in the historic township of Berry.

New members are always welcome.

Lectures:

Venue:
Lectures are held at the Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street, Berry.

Time:
Lectures are on Thursdays doors open at 7:15pm. Lecture commences 7:30pm, followed by refreshments

Program
Find full details of the 2025 program here

Membership:
Annual membership
$160 per person
$75 for Students (up to University Level)
Click here to join or email Richard Wiseman on richardcwiseman@hotmail.com

Guests welcome:
$25 per lecture
$15 Student guests per lecture

Contact:
For all enquiries, please email Richard Wiseman on richardcwiseman@hotmail.com
Postal Address: PO Box 269, Berry NSW 2535
ABN: 847 194 381 395

Committee
Chair: Alicia White
Treasurer: Mary Seelis
Membership: Richard Wiseman

2025 PROGRAM

Thursday 27 February 2025
THE LEGACY OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL GARDEN DESIGNER, EDNA WALLING
Presented by Trisha Dixon
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Discover the legacy of Edna Walling, Australia’s most influential garden designer, through the expert insights of author and photographer, Trisha Dixon. Drawing on over 25 years of research, Dixon explores Walling’s visionary approach to integrating house and garden, her environmental
foresight, and her enduring influence on Australian garden design. This lecture offers a unique opportunity to learn about Walling’s harmonious use of space, simple plantings and sustainability practices, all of which continue to inspire gardeners today.

Thursday 20 March 2025
SECRETS OF THE SERAIL: Behind the Scenes at the Ottoman Court
Presented by Sue Rollin
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Explore the world of the Ottoman court within the palaces of Istanbul: the Topkapi Palace with its courts, pavilions, gardens and fountains, the Dolmabahce Palace, a 19C extravaganza, and other waterfront residences along the Bosphorus. We glimpse court life and ceremonies through the eyes of European writers and artists and as recorded by the Ottomans themselves: we study the costumes, jewels, ceramics and other treasures of the sultans and enter the harem, a palace within a palace, guarded by the black eunuchs, where the Sultan’s concubines were secluded from the world outside and the Queen Mother reigned supreme.

Sue Rollin lives in London and holds degrees in Near Eastern archaeology, South Asian studies and conference interpreting. She has tutored and lectured at London and Cambridge Universities, been a staff interpreter at the European Commission, and currently works as a freelance interpreter, lecturer and tour guide. Sue has travelled widely for work and pleasure and has led cultural tours in Spain, Sicily, Morocco, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. She has co-authored travel guides on Jordan and on Istanbul. In the UK, Sue lectures for the Arts Society and the V&A and she has done four previous ArtsNational lecture tours.

Thursday 10 April 2025
THE GLORY OF THE TAN DYNASTY
Presented by Jackie Menzies OAM
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Explore the opulence of China’s Tang dynasty, a golden age of prosperity and cultural fusion, with Jackie Menzies OAM, lecturer, international tour leader and esteemed expert in Asian art, formerly the Head of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of NSW. Discover Chang’an, the vibrant Silk
Road hub, where diverse influences shaped the art being created, to the outcome of stunning masterpieces in metalwork, textiles, and other luxuries. This lecture explores the Tang elite’s love for exotic treasures and the flourishing artistic traditions that defined one of China’s most celebrated eras.

Thursday 15 May 2025
THE COLOURS OF VENICE
Presented by Alice Foster
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Discover the unique character of Venetian art, shaped by the city’s geography and atmospheric light, with the respected art historian Alice Foster. This lecture explores how Venetian masters like Bellini and Titian used colour and texture to create vivid masterpieces and favoured elsewhere in Italy during the Renaissance. From the mosaics of San Marco by unknown craftsmen, to the comedic narratives of Carpaccio and Longhi, discover the rich tradition of Venetian painting with Alice.

Alice has lectured for Oxford University Department of Continuing Education since 1998. She lectures regularly at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. Her busy freelance career includes organising History of Art study days with colleagues, and regular weekly classes in Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. In 2004 Alice joined The Arts Society and has lectured in Britain and in Europe.

Thursday 12 June 2025
A HISTORY OF THE EGYPTIAN TENTMAKERS
Presented by Sam Bowker
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Experience the vibrant world of “Khayamiya,” the traditional Egyptian sewing art that transforms streets into dazzling ceremonial spaces. 150 years of evolution of this endangered craft, which inspired Matisse and was collected by ANZACs, is showcased in this unique presentation. Join art historian Associate Professor Sam Bowker as he explores the history and artistry of the Tentmakers of Cairo, for a presentation that’s a rare opportunity to gain insight into Egypt’s exhilarating sewn street art.

Dr Sam Bowker is the Senior Lecturer in Art History and Visual Culture at Charles Sturt University. Beyond developing Australia’s leading ‘Islamic art and design’ subject for university students, he has curated diverse international exhibitions and published widely on the history of khayamiya (Egyptian tentmaker applique).

Thursday 17 July 2025
THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND: The Architecture, Art and Textiles of Uzbekistan
Presented by Chris Aslan
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Explore Uzbekistan’s blend of ancient and modern, from the glittering mosques of Samarkand to the Soviet architecture of Tashkent with cultural revivalist, author and international tour leader, Chris Aslan. This presentation includes exciting opportunities to discover the Savitsky Museum’s avant-garde art collection, the revival of Islamic miniature painting in Bukhara, and the resurgence of Uzbekistan’s traditional handicrafts. This presentation also offers an understanding of how tourism shapes the production of these crafts and offers a perfect introduction for future travellers to Uzbekistan.

Chris spent his childhood in Turkey and in war-torn Beirut and is currently based in Cambridge. His career extended from the sea, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Oxford. He established a UNESCO workshop reviving fifteenth century carpet designs and embroideries which became the largest nongovernment employer in town. He was kicked out as part of an anti-Western purge and recorded his experiences in “A Carpet Ride to Khiva”.

Thursday 14 August 2025
FABER AND FABER – 90 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN COVER DESIGN
Presented by Toby Faber (UK) 
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Join Toby Faber as he presents the history of cover designs by Faber and Faber, founded in 1925, and one of London’s most important literary publishing houses. This lecture highlights the company’s legacy of combining great literature with stunning design, and features cover illustrations by celebrated artists such as Rex Whistler and Damien Hirst. Toby is the grandson of the founder and former managing director of Faber and Faber, and so provides a personal and insightful look into the artistry that shaped its success.

An experienced lecturer, Toby Faber began his career with Natural Sciences at Cambridge, followed by investment banking, management consulting and five years as managing director of the publishing company founded by his grandfather, Faber and Faber. Toby is also non-executive Chairman of its sister company, Faber Music.

SPECIAL HALF INTEREST DAY – FABERGE & STRADIVARI

Friday 15 August 2025
Presented by Tony Faber
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 10am
Members $25, Visitors $35

Explore the brilliance of Carl Fabergé and Antonio Stradivari in two captivating lectures. Fabergé’s jewelled Easter eggs, crafted for Russia’s emperors, symbolise Romanov opulence. Stradivari’s violins and cellos, unmatched in beauty and tone, continue to captivate musicians worldwide. These lectures offer insights into luxury, artistry, and timeless craftsmanship.

Lecture 1: 10:00-11:00am
The Imperial Easter Eggs of Carl Fabergé – Before The Revolution
During 1885–1916, Carl Fabergé made 50 jewelled eggs – presents from Russia’s last two emperors to their wives. These are the most famous surviving symbols of the Romanov Empire. Fabergé was given artistic freedom in their creation, and had only to satisfy three rules: be egg- shaped; contain a surprise to delight its recipient; and differ from any predecessor. The result? Unparalleled treasures demonstrating ingenuity and creativity. Their maker’s relentless search for novelty also yielded a fabulously quirky illustrated history of the Romanovs’ decline ahead of the 1917 Revolution.

Morning Tea: 11:00-11:30am

Lecture 2: 11:30-12:30pm
The Genius of Antonio Stradivari
250 years after Antonio Stradivari’s death, his violins and cellos remain the world’s most highly prized instruments. Loved by great musicians and capable of fetching fabulous sums when sold, their tone and beauty are legendary. While every subsequent violin-maker has tried to match them, not one has succeeded. How can that be? This lecture explores that central mystery by following some of Stradivari’s instruments from his workshop to the present day. It is a story that travels from the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York, and from the breakthroughs of Beethoven’s last quartets to the first phonographic recordings.

Thursday 11 September 2025
PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN – From Monet to Matisse
Presented by Lydia Bauman
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Explore the connection between art and gardens in this lecture by Lydia Bauman, an accomplished art historian. From Monet to Matisse, artists have drawn inspiration from gardens, making them the subjects of their work. As the modern garden has evolved, through innovations like hybridization and glasshouses, new art movements have arisen and developed. From the 1860s onwards, Lydia will trace how changes in gardens have influenced art and offer fresh insights into how nature and creativity intersect.

Lydia was born in Poland and studied for her BA in Fine Art at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. She has since divided her time between painting and exhibiting as well as lecturing widely to adult audiences. She has taught at London’s National Gallery for more than 35 years.

Thursday 23 October 2025
KOH-I-NOOR – The Most Famous Diamond in the World
Presented by Georgina Bexon
Venue & Time: Berry Uniting Church Hall, 71-77 Albert Street Berry, 7.30pm
Visitors $25 and Student Visitors $15

Join art historian Georgina Bexon for a captivating journey through the history of the legendary “Mountain of Light” diamond. From its discovery in an ancient Indian riverbed to its current place in the Tower of London, this lecture unveils a tale of intrigue, power, and political manoeuvring. Explore how this diamond’s fascinating story is intertwined with the Mughal Empire and the British Crown, in a presentation that includes how the work of certain artists has captured its dramatic legacy.

Georgina Bexon is an international art historian, a Consultant Art Historian at the Oriental Club in London and a tour guide at Tate Modern. Georgina holds an MA in Arts Management and Policy from City, University of London and an MA in Art History from SOAS, University of London. Georgina is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Asiatic Society.