Montsalvat, the oldest continuous artistic colony in Australia, was established in 1934, a time when the Australian arts community was dominated by men.
Defying cultural expectations, Montsalvat’s founding women ignored restrictive presumptions about a women’s place in society and instead dedicated their lives to painting, sculpture, writing, textile design and building the glorious stone and mud buildings that make up Montsalvat.
Little is publicly known about them.
They include one of Victoria’s first anaesthetists, Victoria’s first building foreman (or forewoman!), stone carvers, builders, jewellers, painters, textile artists and writers. We’re unearthing the secret stories behind these women to create a permanent artwork for all the world to see.
We’ll be asking past and present Montsalvat artists, staff and residents, family members, local artists and historians, and the public to come together to share stories and memories of our founding women artists. The stories we gather will be used to inform the design of a permanent public artwork in the grounds of Montsalvat. An art piece to celebrate their work and their influence on what has become an enduring network of creative practitioners distinctive to this area of Australia.
Montsalvat is proud to have reached the final selection stage of the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program, and needs your vote to make this project a reality.
It’s time for Lily, Sonia, Helen, Sue and Myra to have their moment in the sun.
For more information click here
