2019 A BOY'S OWN STORY | SUMMER AT THE JOHNSTON COLLECTION

30 September 2019 ‐ 4 February 2020

By tradition, our annual exhibition is based on our benefactor, William Johnston’s own craft‐related skills, in which he was encouraged to make things at an early age. Johnston, the son of a bootmaker, was a competent knitter, and was taught basic sewing and tailoring skills, as well as upholstery, all of which led him into an early career in soft furnishings.

For our 2019 exhibition we will mix‐it‐up again, do a mind shift and invite male artists and creatives to make works for A BOY’S OWN STORY.

The intention of A BOY’S OWN STORY is constructed on a too often repeated assumption, both internally and externally, ‘that men did not and do not have any manual skills in knitting and sewing.’ In fact, many men had these skills which have been traditionally and customarily acceptable throughout time.

We will maintain our collaborations with makers, inviting, supporting and encouraging them to create new works based on old objects. We encourage challenges to traditional making, thinking and practice through contemporary
responses to the Collection, along with more traditional responses that reflect historical techniques, materials and making.

Inspired by the Collection, a gift from William Johnston to the people of Victoria, our annual Summer exhibition responds to traditional ways of making through contemporary makers’ thinking and practices.

In order to explore new contemporary practices and ideas, this project provides creative opportunities for new works to be showcased in a remarkable public venue.

Featuring work by Douglas McManus, Chris O'Brien, Troy Emery, Noel Button, Lucas Grogan, Steve Campbell‐Wright, Edward John Scollay (1917–1985), George Compeigne Campbell (1917‐2007), Kevin Smith, Tristan Brumby‐Rendell,
Luke Hockley, David Pearce, Trevor Smith, Terry Williams, David Collyer, along with his father A. Keith Collyer (1917‐1983) and grandfather Archibald Collyer (1883‐1939).

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Irina Agaronyan | p. 03 9416 2515 | 
e. admin@johnstoncollection.org | w. johnstoncollection.org

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