Members' and Others' News

Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
Photo: Andrew Frolows.

Matcham Skipper, sculptor and jewler. Born New Zealand, October 14, 1921. Died Melbourne, February 24, aged 89. 

The work of this diversely skilled artist is represented in the collections of state galleries around Australia and internationally including, the National Gallery in Canberra, the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, The British Museum and The Montreal Museum. He received many major commissions including his last sculpture, a 2.4m bronze statue, ‘Young Man Awakening’ which was commissioned by Eltham Cemetery Trust to commemorate the graveyard’s 150-year anniversary.
Matcham Skipper’s entry into the world of art began at ‘Montsalvat’, a not- for- profit artist centre, under the tutelage of the founder, Justus Jorgensen. The centre which is still in existence and located in Eltham, Victoria, is where Skipper thrived in the later years of his life, taking residence there, creating art and teaching. He was part of the bohemian world of the post war decades and his home was a renowned artist meeting point where artists including David and Arthur Boyd, John Perceval and actor, Barry Humphreys met for dinner and debate.
His sculptures of mostly nudes are peppered throughout Montsalvat. His wrought-iron Screens (1962) can be seen at the front entrance to the Australian National University’s H. C. Coombs building. Skipper was particularly known for his figurative jewelery based on medieval themes. Most of his jewellery was made using the lost wax casting technique and featured figures of lovers, sometimes including large stones. Skipper has been credited with being a pivotal figure in helping to pave the way for jewellery to be seen as an art form.
His techniques for creating his beautiful jewellery were learnt outside of Montsalvat during WWI, when as a conscientious objector, he was made to work in a munitions factory. There he learned how to use the tools necessary for foundry work that gave him the skill set to make jewellery.
Although having international acclaim, his works were well appreciated in Australia where he was bestowed the Churchill fellowship and in 1997, received an Emeritus Award from the Australia Council for his lifelong contributions to the visual arts and craft.
Information for this article was sourced from:
www.elthameastps.vic.edu.au/http://diamond-valley-leader.
http://www.craftunbound.net http://www.powerhousemuseum.com

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Passing of Mrs. Helen Ridley, ASV Life Member

Helen Ridley was an ASV member for many years. She used to make small, rather charming works and regularly showed them in ASV Annual Exhibitions. A warm and friendly person, she was modest about her work.
We truly appreciate the loyal support of members such as Helen, and the Committee would like to express our sympathy to her family and friends.

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Overseas Travellers

Overseas Travellers Please submit Photographs and a short article on any Sculpture or other worthwhile Art that you see while travelling. (Digital images must be saved as JPEGs of 300 dpi, over 1 MB in size, and be able to be opened in PC format.)

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Welcome to Our New Members
Andrew McCutcheon and Muniandy Ragappen

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Sculptor Organisations in Other States:
NSW: www.sculptorssociety.com
Queensland: www.sculptorsqld.org.au

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Sponsors of this Society include:
Dalchem, Ronald Pitcher, trustee of Margaret Gunnersen Thomas Estate, Bulleen Art & Garden, Daniel Meszaros Architects, Without Pier Gallery, Kooyonga Chapel Winery, Mary van den Broek and IMG (International Management Group of America Ltd).
Note: although all editorial material is checked thoroughly for accuracy, neither the editors, nor the Society can accept responsibility for information in this publication that may be ambiguous or incorrect.

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 Next Issue out in April 2011

Interviews with our foremost Australian sculptors + an artist from another discipline

Available from the NSW Art Gallery, Art Gallery of SA, Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, some regional galleries, Magnation and selected book stores and newsagents. Will also be available soon on-line at www.sculptureandtheenemies.com.au.
Enquiries to SCATE@netcall.com.au.

Angela Valamanesh
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral #A, 2007
Unglazed Ceramic 4 parts
31x 97x 6 cm