Welcome from the Headmaster

Art is a very necessary interruption, for it can cause us to stop awhile and engage with another’s interpretation. We are taken from a preoccupation with self to the perspective of others, and in so doing we connect with experiences, skills and priorities that are different from our own.

The connection, it must be said, is not always made, for as one wit noted, some contemporary art can be painted by the untalented, sold by the unscrupulous and viewed by the bewildered. Mind you, this is not just a recent phenomenon. Henri Matisse’s painting Le Bateau hung upside down in the Museum of Modern Art in New York for 47 days in 1961 with all 116,000 visitors being completely oblivious. An apocryphal story is also told of Picasso, who was found by a friend to be disconsolately working on one of his paintings. Hoping to cheer Picasso up his friend declared “It’s a masterpiece”. Picasso replied “No, the nose is all wrong and it throws the whole picture out of perspective.” “Then why not alter the nose?” said the friend. “Impossible” replied Picasso, “I can’t find it.”

It is my hope that you find what you want within the Prep Fathers’ Art Show at The King's School. The art here is painted by the talented, sold by the scrupulous and viewed with genuine pleasure.

I love this art show. It is not just because of the quality of the art, it is because of the feeling of shared endeavour, with the mother becoming a waiter, the father a salesman, and the school a community. My favourite picture at the Art Show is that of the happy banter amongst the helpers. My favourite artist is the magnificent team of helpers, for they have created a wonderful pastiche called The Prep Fathers’ Art Show. This masterpiece is considered by this critic to be one of the best examples of communal enterprise to be found in any school within Australia. Enjoy!

Dr Tim Hawkes
Headmaster
The King's School
August 2011

Welcome from the Head of the Preparatory School

Dear Visitors,

‘A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.’
Hedy Lamarr

Surely Hedy Lamarr would add that a good King’s School Art Show does this to the Nth degree! Indeed for 32 years The King’s School Art Show has been celebrating friendship and inspiring its visitors. Many of you are now long-term friends of the Art Show. You have visited numerous times and might use this event as a vehicle for re-connecting with your friends and with the School. A special welcome to you! If you are a first-time visitor to the Art Show I extend an equally cordial welcome to you. I hope that you enjoy yourself thoroughly and might become a long-termer!

‘Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.’
John Ruskin

The Art Show is quite a work of art in its own right. It only succeeds because many hands, heads and hearts combine to make it so. It is therefore also a celebration of community. An event of this magnitude cannot reach fruition without impressive teamwork and networking. I express my sincere admiration and thanks to each and every member of the extensive Art Show team.

In your visit today don’t miss:

• the $15,000 King's School Art Prize, which recognises and encourages emerging Australian artists of outstanding potential
• the art exhibition, embracing some 700 outstanding paintings for sale
• craft and gourmet foods, presented via attractive market stalls at the front of the Prep School
• the stylish jewellery exhibition, once again displayed in the Prep School's impressive Grimes Centre for Science and Technology
• our Art Show Café, in and near the fountain courtyard
• various live musical performances, courtesy of our budding student musicians
• if you visit on Sunday, some eighteen hundred lovingly restored historic motor vehicles of the All British Club
• for children and teenagers, all the action of our terrific fun fair, both on Saturday and Sunday

I am pleased to acknowledge the generous sponsorship of the National Australia Bank ... the preferred banker of The King's School.

I also wish to convey my gratitude to Marsh Estate for their generous provision of the wines for the Art Prize and Opening Night functions. I encourage you to sample their extended range at the tasting stand.

Many thanks for joining us today. We hope you find our celebration of friendship infectious and return to us next year!

Keith Dalleywater
Head of the Preparatory School

Welcome from the President of the King’s School Preparatory School Fathers’ Association

Dear Friends of The Kings' School Preparatory School,

Welcome to our 32nd Annual Art Show.

Who could have imagined all those years ago the legacy that our Art Show would be creating for future generations of Prep School families?

Whilst the Art Show is our premiere fund raiser it is also the event that brings the whole of The Kings’ School community together over one weekend.

The success of the Art Show relies on this community spirit - and I would like to acknowledge and thank all of the Mums and Dads who contribute in various ways over the weekend, along with the Art Show committee members, who have worked tirelessly throughout the year.

The Fathers' Association strives to provide a connection between the School and its community, to foster fellowship between families and to raise funds.

Some of the projects we have contributed to include heating the Prep School pool, refurbishing Horrocks Hall and construction of the state-of-the-art Inquiry Learning Centre. Funds from this year's Art Show are being earmarked for the building of a new sports pavilion for the Price fields.

I hope you enjoy your visit to our school and to Art Show 2011.

Theo Groutsis
Fathers' Association President

Read more about the History of The King's School.