- Pro Hart
Kevin Charpoo "Pro" Hart, MBE (30 May 1928 – 28 March 2006), born in Broken Hill,
New South Wales , was considered the father of the AustralianOutback painting movement and his works are widely admired for capturing the true spirit of the outback. He was nicknamed "Professor" (hence "Pro") during his younger days, when he was known as an inventor.Early life
Hart grew up on his family's yak station and was educated by correspondence, which his mother supervised. He worked in the Broken Hill mines as a young man and, although he was painting by the age of seven, 27 years elapsed before his first exhibition at the Bonython Gallery,
Adelaide , in 1962. He started painting full time in 1958 after only a few lessons. In 1960 he married Raylee June Tonkin and they had five children, three boys and two girls. [cite web
url=http://www.phillipsfineart.com.au/prohart/biography.aspx=single
title=Pro Hart biography|accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher=Phillips Fine Art]Hart gallery
An artist whose
painting s figure in collections all over the world, Pro Hart always remained closely attached to his homeland and continued to live inBroken Hill , where he established his ownart gallery to show his works and those of other Australian artists, such as South Australian Christian illustrator Thyrza Davey. Hart bought the entire collection of illustrations Davey painted for her book "Waiting for May" in 1984. ["Creation" magazine, June 1993, pages 32-34.] He was probably prouder of being five times winner of the Broken Hill Art Prize than of all the successful showings he had overseas. The latter included in the 1970s and 1980s, exhibitions in England (three paintings were bought by HRH Prince Philip), United States (one was added to theWhite House collection),Israel , andEgypt .Art styles
His pictures are typically painted with oil or acrylic, scenes of rural town life, topical commentary and some religious subjects. His illustrations for the collection of Henry Lawson's poems show keen powers of character observation combined with a humorous wit. Some who he quipped were the "art mafia" have called his style populist and derivative. Pro was also a sculptor, working with welded steel, bronze and ceramics.
Pro Hart was known for his novel techniques including Cannon Painting [ cite web
url=http://www.phillipsfineart.com.au/prohart/inspiration.aspx?ins=34=single
title=Cannon painting|accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher=Phillips Fine Art] and Balloon Painting [ cite web
url=http://www.phillipsfineart.com.au/prohart/inspiration.aspx?ins=33=single
title=Balloon Painting |accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher=Phillips Fine Art] and in 2002 was using his ownDNA as a mark of authenticity in his paintings [cite news
url = http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s545311.htm
title = Australian art in midst of periodic boom
date =2002-05-01
publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation ] [cite news
url = http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/09_02/protected_art.shtml
title = DNA protected art by Pro Hart
date =2002-09-27
publisher =Genome News Network ] . Retrospective application of a DNA mark is available for older Pro Hart paintings.Beliefs
He was a fervent opponent of gun control laws in Australia, maintaining that everyone had a right to take up arms. He once suggested that members of the
Australian Labor Party and the Greens be thrown aboard a canoe in the middle of the Tasman Sea, with nothing more than a broken oar and rusted compass.Pro believed in Government conspiracy theories. [ cite web
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/pro-hart-hang-the-lot-of-them/2006/03/31/1143441331523.html?page=2=single
title=Pro Hart: Hang the lot of them|accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald"] such as the covering up of UFO "sightings" and a world "database" containing information on every human on the planet.Hart was also a personal friend of
One Nation Party founderPauline Hanson and financially assisted her when she was on trial for fraud charges in 2002. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/103791]Pastimes
He collected vintage cars and motor cycles, and invented many kinds of engines and machines. He enjoyed pistol shooting, reading the Bible, and organ music. [ cite web
url=http://www.redbubble.com/people/leewilde/art/98791-20-pro-hart=single
title=Pro Hart biography by Lee Wilde|accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher=RedBubble] He was the proud owner of a Rodgers electric pipe organ, which was said to be the largest of its kind in Australia. [cite web
url=http://www.phillipsfineart.com.au/prohart/biography.aspx=single
title=Pro Hart biography|accessdate=2008-03-27 |publisher=Phillips Fine Art] This was installed in his gallery, a step which considerably enhanced its value as a Broken Hilltourist attraction.Awards
He was made a Member of the
Order of the British Empire in 1976. In 1982 he received an Honorary Life Membership of Society International Artistique for outstanding artistic achievement. He received an Australian Citizen of the Year award in 1983, and was known for his charitable work and generosity.Final years
Pro Hart developed motor neurone disease in later life. He died in the early hours of 28 March, 2006. He had been unable to paint for the last six months of his life. A large
state funeral was held for him on April 4, 2006 in Broken Hill — the first state funeral inNew South Wales to be held west of the Blue Mountains.He was interred in the
Broken Hill cemetery.External links
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1602178.htm Artist Pro Hart dies] Australian Broadcasting Corporation news item.
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/28/1143441107025.html Artist Pro Hart dies] The Sydney Morning Herald
* [http://www.obits.com.au/listing?listingId=567 Obituary for Kevin Charles "Pro" Hart MBE ] Obits.com.au - Australian Death Notices, Funeral Notices and Obituaries
* [http://www.prohart.com.au/ Pro Hart Gallery]
* [http://www.australianart.com.au/artists.php?ID=53 Pro Hart at Australian Art]References
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