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February 6, 2009
City of Bunbury art collection receives boost from Alcoa
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City of Bunbury Media Release
City art collection recipient of superb gift from Alcoa of Australia
The City of Bunbury art collection has been gifted 21 superb artworks valued at almost $400,000 from Alcoa of Australia.
The gift is the most significant addition to the City of Bunbury Art Collection since the foundation bequest by Sir Claude Hotchin in 1948.
The Alcoa Gift comprises artworks representing the work of 15 renowned Australian artists ranging from a late 19th century landscape in oils, to modernist aluminium and perspex relief sculptures from the 1970’s.
Featured among the gift are fine works from two of Australia’s best loved artists, Arthur Boyd and Sir Sidney Nolan.
Bunbury Mayor David Smith praised Alcoa’s generosity in making the extraordinary gift to the South West community.
“This is a truly remarkable gift, as these artworks would normally be well beyond the means of our collection,” Mr Smith said.
“Alcoa’s generosity means that works of art by some of Australia’s most important artists will be available for visitors and our community to enjoy."
The Bunbury gift is part of a wider $3 million donation by Alcoa of Australia to galleries and health care organisations across the country.
Alcoa’s Managing Director Alan Cransberg said one of Alcoa’s core values was to make access to the arts a reality for everyone and donating the corporate art collection certainly helped achieved that goal.
“Our philosophy is that there is little value in having famous pieces of art locked away in our corporate offices, when they could be in public places for the whole community to enjoy for generations to come,” he said.
“We strive to help build stronger communities. We believe creative communities are stronger communities and for that to become a reality, art is essential.”
Alcoa began collecting art in 1970. Since that time, its private collection has significantly risen in value, with many pieces becoming part of Australian history.
Featured among the Alcoa Gift are three works from members of the famous Boyd family including a large oil painting by Arthur Boyd (snr 1862-1940) from 1894; a bronze sculpture and works from his grandson Guy Martin Boyd (1923-1988) and a large outback landscape from Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd (1920-1999).
Arthur Boyd (jnr) became one of Australia’s most loved artists and was named Australian of the year in 1995. His landscapes paintings are highly sought after by public and private collectors.
Other artists featured include Ray Crooke and Western Australian, Robert Juniper.
City of Bunbury Art Collection curator Greg White said the Alcoa Gift greatly added to the scope, depth and value of the City’s 500 piece collection.
“This is a truly remarkable gift that greatly enhances the City collection and will help us develop it into one of the most significant regional art collections in Australia.” Mr White said.
The Alcoa Gift will be unveiled at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries on Friday evening and available for viewing until March 29.
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