- Sharon Davson
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[[File:Sharon Davson and Tom Burlinson.jpg|thumb|Sharon Davson (left) with actor Tom Burlinson Sharon Silver Davson (born 26 April 1954) is an Australian artist, born in Gatton, Queensland. Davson has lived in many parts of Australia, however, she has now lived in Newcastle, New South Wales, for over a decade.
Contents
Career highlights
- In Australia, major retrospective exhibitions of her art have toured in 18 public art galleries across Australia.
- The Davson ~ World Leaders and Enlightenment retrospective exhibition is currently touring in public art galleries.
- Sports champions and entertainment legends including Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Jack Brabham, James Belushi and Stephen Stills have contributed to her creative initiatives for arts, peace and the environmental movement. Davson is most well known for her paintings and other visual arts, however, she is also a moving keynote speaker.
- Davson's art is represented in the collection of HRH Prince Phillip in London, England; and among other international collections, World Book Encyclopedia in Chicago and PNC Financial in Pittsburgh USA are corporations that have commissioned her art.
- The poet Celia Berrell has written over 80 poems inspired by the art of Davson.[1] Several of these have been published, with others being prepared for a series of book publications of poetry and art.
- 1983 - television documentary filmed in South Australia[2] 901 To Innamincka was filmed about Davson, her art and adventures in South Australia. It included footage of her SOLO journeys across much of Australia with her dog, in an ex-government bus towing a horsefloat complete with horse and motorbike. This footage featured remote desert locations and old gold mines, as well as modern open cut coal mining sites with Davson sketching.
- In 1990, Davson started the Artists For Life endangered species awareness charity.[3] This organisation conducted art exhibiitons, festivals, and events in Australia and New Zealand.
- In 1992, Davson started the Hands Up initiative and launched this international project to assist endangered species, and later world peace causes. Neil Diamond launched the project with her at National Press Conference.[4] With this project Davson conducted activities and events in Germany, the United States, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia, and over 400 world-champion athletes, celebrities, and entertainment leaders participated with Davson by donating their handprints to her creative and charitable causes, including Sir Cliff Richard, Paul Newman, Carl Haas, John Mayall, Dame Cleo Laine, Eartha Kitt, Tom Burlinson, Layne Beachley, Kelly Slater, Pat Farmer, Olivia Newton-John and many more.
Davson's Hands Up[disambiguation needed
] initiative has since been copied around the world to raise funds for many charitable causes.[5]
- 1993 - Indianapolis 500: Davson was invited by Carl Haas of the Newman Haas Racing Team to do her Hands Up at the Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Newman Haas Team owners were Carl Haas and the celebrated actor Paul Newman. Driving for this multi-World Championship Indy team at that time were Formula One World Champions Sir Nigel Mansell and Mario Andretti. At this Indy 500, racing champions and other celebrities participated with Davson to assist endangered species awareness.
- 1994 - ATP World Championships, Frankfurt, Germany: Davson was invited by the ATP to organise Hands Up for endangered species activities in Frankfurt, Germany, with the eight ATP World Champion tennis finalists and other tennis professionals at the ATP World Championships. Boris Becker, Peter Sampras, Michael Chang, Stefan Edberg, and others participated.
- 1996 - Gifts Long Beach, USA: Davson's art and her work to support endangered species awareness were themes for the Aveda Corporation International Conference held at Long Beach, USA. Her painting titled, Gifts, was displayed at the entrance to the Long Beach Convention Centre in Los Angeles. Davson was commissioned to create the painting by Horst Rechelbacher, Founder and Chairman of the Aveda Foundation and Member of the International Green Cross Committee (of which Mikhail Gorbachev was Chairman). Aveda Corporation produced T-Shirts for this international convention displaying the painting's image.
- In 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: during the Commonwealth Games, Davson curated and exhibited in an art exhibition at the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel. The exhibition contained selected art from Indigenous heritage Australian artists in association with the Outback Art Gallery, Newcastle. Functions held in association with the exhibition included a dinner in the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel attended by members of the Malaysian Royal Family.
- In 1998 and 1999, Egypt: Davson participated in two tours of Egypt with her fashion designs in the Great Australian Fashion Show. In January 1999, the Great Australian Fashion Sho' held events in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Hurghada, and on a cruise ship on the Nile in Egypt. Then, in conjunction with Sheraton Hotels the Great Australian Fashion Show returned to Egypt with shows in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada, and an open-air show at the Isis Temple in Aswan, and shows again on a luxury three-day cruise on the Nile. Davson's garments were featured in these two tours of Egypt in 1999 and an Australian tour including Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, and Adelaide in 1998.
- From 1984 to 2001, Davson mostly created works of art on commission for corporations, resorts, and clubs. These works included paintings, large etched or leadlight glass pieces, silk-screen prints, and woven works for Cathay Pacific Airlines, Time Life Books, the Rooty Hill RSL Club and Resort,[6] among many others.
- 1999 - the Gatton Shire Davson Art Gallery:[2] In her original hometown, the elected local government authority named their new public art gallery the Gatton Shire Davson Art Gallery, in recognition of Sharon Davson and her family's contribution to the arts. It officially opened in 2000 with a major retrospective exhibition of Davson's art titled With Gratitude for the Light. The gallery closed in 2008 after the amalgamation of the Gatton and Laidley Shire Councils into the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.[7]
- In 2000, Davson started the 48 Hours To World Peace and gained international recognition for her initiatives to assist world harmony, and as a distinguished humanitarian, at the ILUA Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
- 2003 - International Magazine Front Cover <80 countries: For six months, February to July 2003, Davson’s painting On The Ark of Salvation featured on the front cover of the Sukyo Mahikari International Journal (head officed in Japan), a monthly magazine sold in over 80 countries.
- Davson has participated in many ventures to assist others. One such venture in 2002, was painting life size fiber-glass cows for the Cow Parade held in Shepparton, Victoria.[8]
Public collections - art gallery museums
- Hikaru Memorial Museum, Takayama, Japan
In 1996, a large painting titled With Gratitude Comes Growth by Davson was gifted by the Australia-Oceania Region of Sukyo Mahikari to the Sukyo Mahikari Headquarters in Takayama. After the establishment of the Hikaru Memorial Museum in Takayama, the painting became part of its official public collection. In 2005, a prototype World Peace flag Davson had designed along with a bound biography on her art also entered the collection. The painting has been exhibited in other related public buildings including SUZA, the Main World Shrine, during the first International Conference for Spiritual Elevation held in 2005.
- Tamba City Council collection, Tamba, Japan
In 1989, a work by Davson was gifted by the City of Hawkesbury Council, NSW Australia to the Tamba City Council, Tamba, Japan.
By 1989, Davson's art was represented in 40 public art gallery/museum collections -
- Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Australia
Since 1989, the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin has had a significant oil painting titled Reflections by Davson in its permanent collection. This painting was loaned by the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory for the three year retrospective exhibition tour of Davson’s art titled With Gratitude For The Light. The exhibition was shown in fourteen regional art galleries in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia from 1999 to 2002.[9]
Davson’s art is been represented in the permanent public collections of:
- Regional Art Galleries, Australia
the Perc Tucker Regional Art Gallery, Townsville, Queensland; Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, Stanthorpe, Queensland; Win Davson Art Gallery and Museum including Ian Fairwether Memorial Art Gallery and Museum, Gatton, Queensland; Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Muswellbrook, New South Wales; Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, New South Wales; Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, New South Wales; New England Regional Art Gallery, Armidale, New South Wales; Lake Macquarie Regional Art Gallery, Speers Point, New South Wales; Bathurst Regional Art Gallery,[10] Bathurst, New South Wales; Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria; Millicent Art Gallery, Millicent, South Australia; Devonport Regional Art Gallery, Devonport, Tasmania.
- University Art Gallery Collections, Australia
Australian National University, Canberra; Northern Territory University, Darwin, Northern Territory; Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland; University of Western Sydney, Richmond, New South Wales.
- City Council Art Collections, Australia
Katherine, Northern Territory; Lockyer Valley, Queensland; Toowoomba, Queensland; Coffs Harbour, New South Wales; Cootamundra, New South Wales; Gosford, New South Wales; Greater Taree, New South Wales; Hastings, New South Wales; Hawkesbury, New South Wales; Kempsey, New South Wales; Wyong, New South Wales; Young, New South Wales.
Major retrospective/survey art exhibitions
Retrospective exhibitions are held in public museum art galleries: (non-commercial galleries—for these exhibitions art is borrowed from existing collections and is therefore not for sale in the exhibiting gallery)
2008 and continuing - Davson ~ World Leaders and Enlightenment
This is a multi-million dollar survey collection of Davson’s art. It comprises 50 works by the artist from 1973 to the present. The paintings, drawings, etchings, silk-screen prints and limited edition woven works that comprise the exhibition have been borrowed from numerous collectors. This large representative exhibition is touring in public art galleries and venues.
Currently, the Davson ~ World Leaders and Enlightenment exhibition is showing in the Millicent Art Gallery [11] in South Australia. It was opened by Mayor Mark Braes of the Wattle Range Council on 28 May 2010. The Millicent Art Gallery owns in its permanent collection a significant number of early works by Davson which the Millicent Art Gallery have loaned for a winter exhibition in the Davson Arts Museum peace and environment centre in Newcastle, New South Wales.
Earlier in 2010, it was the opening exhibition for the Davson Arts Museum peace and environment centre [12] (named to honour the achievements of this artist) in Newcastle, New South Wales. It was opened by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate.
It was also the opening exhibition for the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre[13] in Davson's original home town of Gatton, Queensland, in 2009. Officially opened by Wayne Wendt, Queensland State MP.
In 2008, the exhibition tour opened in the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, Queensland. This gallery had previously shown the opening exhibition of Davson’s first touring retrospective, With Gratitude For The Light, in 1999. This Davson ~ World Leaders and Enlightenment was presented by Newman Haas Lonigan Racing, owned by Paul Newman and Carl Haas, and officially opened by Stanthorpe Mayor Glen Rogers, who also added his handprint and message to the Wall for Peace affiliated with the exhibition in the gallery.
Leo Sayer, international singing star and a Patron of Davson ~ World Leaders and Enlightenment, was the guest speaker at the official opening function for this First Preview exhibition in November 2006. Cessnock Mayor John Clarence officially opened this Preview Exhibition of 20 selected works from the collection. It was displayed in the Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin, New South Wales, from 5 October 2006 to 10 January 2007.
1999 - 2002 - Davson ~ With Gratitude for the Light
This major retrospective exhibition of Davson’s art toured in 14 public regional art galleries in Australia from April 1999 to May 2002. Davson ~ With Gratitude for the Light had over 60 works in its collection and spanned more than 25 years of her art.[14]
Art for this major retrospective exhibition was borrowed from many public, corporate and private collections including: the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the Ian Fairweather Memorial Art Gallery and Museum, the Win Davson Art Gallery and Museum, Konica Australia, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Time Life Warner, Coro Corp. New Zealand & Hawaii, the El Largo Resort, the Nelson Bay RSL Club, Pittwater Village, and James Fairfax AO.
1996 - With Gratitude
Davson’s With Gratitude exhibition in the Renaissance Sydney Hotel was the foundation retrospective exhibition in the evolution of larger Davson ~ With Gratitude For The Light exhibition.
For this exhibition, Davson borrowed paintings from her clients, including 4 major works shipped from New Zealand, 14 paintings from the Rooty Hill RSL Club & Resort, one each from Cathay Pacific Airways, Swiss Design & Décor, and Konica.
Held in conjunction with the exhibition were two black tie dinners and other functions. One of the dinners was held in support of a charity founded by Davson, Artists For Life endangered species awareness, and had as its guest speakers Horst Rechelbacher, Founder and Chairman of the Aveda Foundation and Member of the International Green Cross Committee, and Robert Hill, a Senator for South Australia, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Federal Minister for the Environment.
1990 - Melting Transitions
Davson was invited to exhibit a survey exhibition of her art in the Manning Regional Art Gallery in Taree in April 1990. This was the artist’s first survey exhibition to be assembled and shown in a public regional art gallery. Titled, Melting Transitions, it contained significant works from 1974 to 1990. At the request of the Manning Regional Art Gallery, Davson gifted an original etching from her exhibition for their permanent collection.
Assisting others
Among the many things Davson has supported over the years, is the Young and Emerging Artist Awards in Newcastle. In 2007, she donated the $3,000 Works On Paper Award.[15]
External links
- ABC interview at Davson ~ World Leaders & Enlightenment exhibition.
- Official site of a not-for-profit public arts, peace and environment centre named after her.
- Images of Davson's art with Australian poetry.
- Official site for the artist.
References
- ^ http://www.sciencerhymes.com.au/environmental-poetry
- ^ a b http://zoomsummary.com/people/Davson_Sharon_689249065.aspx
- ^ http://www.greenleft.org.au/1992/41/3987
- ^ http://www.scratchmysoul.com/connectionwithsoul.aspx?id=40839&eventid=
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7638382725
- ^ http://www.penrithaccommodation.com.au/penrith-accommodation-news/1991/6/17/rooty-hill-rsl-to-build-a-15m-resort-complex/
- ^ http://www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/AZSERVICES/ARTGALLERY/tabid/79/Default.aspx
- ^ http://geocaching.com.au/cache/ga0811
- ^ Davson ~ the Artist, a biography edited by Celia Berrell.
- ^ http://www.bathurstart.com.au/collection/artgallerycollection/easytablerecord/4-gallery-catalogue/643.html
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/05/28/2911808.htm?site=southeastsa
- ^ http://www.davsonartsmuseum.com/page.aspx?id=1
- ^ http://www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/documents/OC_28102009_MIN_AT.pdf
- ^ http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter23/in300803musexp.html
- ^ http://www.newcastleartspace.org/assets/docs/NEAP_EntryForm08web.pdf
Categories:- 1954 births
- Living people
- Australian artists
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