Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO will officially open Margaret Olley Memorial Garden at Murwillumbah
Legendary Australian painter Margaret Olley's ashes were laid to rest in a new memorial garden which officially opens on Saturday by the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO. FULL DETAILS >>>
Gold Coast
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Margaret Olley’s famous Duxford St home studio featured a beautiful garden which reflected her love of flowers and plants as subject matter of her painting.
This has inspired the development of the Margaret Olley Memorial Garden (MOMG) at the Tweed Regional Gallery.
Situated in the grounds of the Gallery and capitalising the stunning location, the Memorial Garden is a living tribute to the artist and a wonderful compliment to the Margaret Olley Art Centre.
In launching the MOMG, the Gallery can share the news that Margaret’s ashes are interred here in the Garden, marking a fitting final resting place in the grounds of the Gallery’s Margaret Olley Art Centre.
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Designed by two local landscape designers, Dan Plummer and Belinda Smith, of Plummer & Smith, the MOMG cleverly incorporates aspects of Margaret's home studio, including the paved terraces which mimic the patterns of the many kilims in her studio.
There are seating areas for reflection near the memorial site/plaque marking the location of Margaret's final resting place.
The MOMG provides additional usable outdoor space for the many visitors to enjoy the views of the Tweed landscape from the Gallery site.
Margaret held the Tweed close to her heart and the thoughtful construction of the garden will have patrons easily imagine what the artist appreciated in this magnificent region.
It is 10 years since Margaret's passing and this Memorial Garden is wonderful way to celebrate her extraordinary life.
The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO will officially open the MOMG.
Late artist Margaret Olley's home recreated
Dame Bryce also opened the Margaret Olley Art Centre in March 2014, as her final public duty during her term as Governor General so it is fitting that she open the new addition the Gallery.
Margaret's birthday is 24th June, so this was a lovely date to celebrate all that Margaret gave to the arts and regional galleries in particular.
The Gallery and Tweed Shire Council acknowledge the generosity of the Margaret Olley Art Trust, and the Tweed Regional Gallery Foundation Ltd in funding the Margaret Olley Memorial Garden.
The MOMG is adjacent to the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio, which continues to host and inspire artists from across the country, including the successful recipients of the Master Fine Arts (Painting) National Art School (NAS) graduates who benefit from the Gallery's partnership with the NAS.
Artist Nicholas Harding will attend the opening and speak of his experiences at Tweed Regional Gallery, participating in our AIR Studio program and responding to the re-creation of Margaret’s home studio here.
The Margaret Olley Art Centre opens
A memorial plaque indicates the location of Margaret Olley's final resting place in the grounds of the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.
‘Very special man’: Coast mourning loss of colourful character
April 12, 2021
A GOLD Coast artist famed for using bright colours to paint his beloved hometown in France has been remembered by family as a “very special man”.
Pierre Bernabeu died on March 29 of a heart attack.
The father-of-two was famous for using bright colours to paint the Provence in France and became so popular with Australian artists he was dubbed the “artist of Provence”.
Daughter Barbara Bernabeu said there was a special reason her father included birds in his landscape paintings of the poppy, lavender and sunflower fields of the Provence.
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“The four birds are myself, my brother and my mum and himself,” she said. “That was his trademark, they were in all his painting.
“It’s beautiful. He was a very special man.”
She said as well as having a successful career as an artist, her father launched a book which included poems he wrote for each of his paintings.
He also synchronised acclaimed Australian films Gallipoli, Mad Max and The Man from Snowy River.
“Dad had a stroke in 2003 but that didn’t stop him from having exhibitions and launching his book Words of Love on a Palette of Provence which is at the Red Hill Gallery in Brisbane.
“We will still be selling that and his artworks because we want to keep his legacy going.”
Mr Bernabeu was cremated during an intimate service. His ashes will be scattered at The Spit at Southport just his parents were, Ms Bernabeu said.
He is survived by his wife Louise Bernabeu and his children Barbara and Gregory.
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