PATTERNS OF COLLECTING | FROM THE BOWER at The Johnston Collection

PATTERNS OF COLLECTING | FROM THE BOWER at The Johnston Collection is a touring exhibition presenting the artwork and items from the unique personal collections of four contemporary Victorian artists, Loris Button, Deborah Klein, Louise Saxton and Carole Wilson.

The artists are linked by their studio practice, their regional locations and connections and their love of gleaning. Their studio collections range from curiosities, natural history specimens, memorabilia, discarded books and china, fabric, carpet and lino, and old tools of trade.

The definition of a bower includes the idea of an enclosed space; a 'sanctuary' and a space in the natural world, in which objects are gathered.  It has a connection to the garden - to plants, birds and insects and Australia is home to at least seven different types of bowerbirds.

In medieval times the bower referred to a woman's private space.  Aspects of these meanings can be found, to greater or lesser extents, in the works of this particular group of artists, gathered together in this joint exhibition into one large ‘bower’ creating a space in which the private becomes public.

A selection of each artist’s studio collection is installed alongside and responds to William Johnston’s astonishing collection to make this exhibition one not to be missed.