Rae Alexander Lecture 2017 | Dr Richard Haese on the landmark exhibition The Field at the National Gallery of Victoria

James Doolin, United States 1932–2002, lived in Australia 1965–67, Artificial landscape 67/5, 1967, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with funds provided by the National Gallery Society of Victoria, Governor, 1985 (AC11-1985)

James Doolin, United States 1932–2002, lived in Australia 1965–67, Artificial landscape 67/5, 1967, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with funds provided by the National Gallery Society of Victoria, Governor, 1985 (AC11-1985)

This year’s 20th annual La Trobe University Art History Alumni Rae Alexander Lecture will be presented by leading art historian Dr Richard Haese. He will explore the landmark exhibition, The Field on the 50th anniversary of this remarkable showcase.

The Field is regarded as a landmark exhibition in Australian art history – a radical showcase of 74 abstract and conceptual, colour field, geometric and hard edge paintings and sculptures. Influenced by the American origins of abstract art, the exhibition opened to much controversy at the NGV in 1968 with its silver foil-covered walls and geometric light fittings, boldly launching the careers of a generation of young Australian artists including Sydney Ball, Peter Booth, Janet Dawson and Robert Jacks. The Field Revisited will be on exhibition at the NGV in May 2018.
Dr RICHARD HAESE is an art historian and is currently a research associate in the School of Historical and European Studies at La Trobe University. He studied art for four years at the South Australian School of Art, completed an honours degree in History at Adelaide University and tutored in Australian History at Monash University, where he a completed a PhD in History in 1979. He lectured in Art History at La Trobe University 1975-2006.

He is the author of Rebels and Precursors: The revolutionary years of Australian art, which won the NSW Premier’s Award for non-fiction in 1982. This was later followed by Permanent Revolution: Mike Brown and the Australian Avant-Garde 1953-1997. Together these two books trace the history of the Australian avant-garde from 1915 to its eventual demise around 1990. He curated Power to the People, the retrospective exhibition of the work of Mike Brown at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1995.

Date: Thursday 19th October.

Time: Pre-lecture drinks from 5:45pm, Lecture to begin at 6:30pm

Venue:Clemenger Auditorium, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3000
(enter via the North Entrance via the Arts Centre Forecourt)Map Link:Google map

Cost:Standard: $35, La Trobe Art History chapter members: $30, NGV members: $30, Concession: $33
Student: $20

RSVP: Register online by Monday 16 October

Website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/events/all/2017-rae-alexander-lecture

 

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