Margery Hummel Bennett-Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Out of The Equation” SIEV-X                             Acrylic and Oil on Pastel                96.5cm x 109cm

 

Born 1934  Melbourne  Australia

 

Occupation:

Artist & Teacher

 

Education:

1985-89    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) – Painting

 

1979-81  Monash University, Melbourne

Bachelor of Arts Studies

 

Media:

Acrylic, oil, gouache and various mixed media. Lithographic prints.

 

Experiences related to art:

1997-2004       Teaching, Council of Adult Education (CAE)

1992-1997        Teaching Holmesglen College of Tafe, Melbourne.

1991-1996          Produced lithographic prints, Australian Print Workshop

1981-1986     Council Members, Victorian Artists Society  (VAS)

1980-1987     Teaching VAS

1980-2004     Teaching Mentone-Mordialloc Art Group

1975-2004     Teaching privately, currently in Fitzroy, Melbourne

 

 

Honours and awards:

1972-1991          Numerous Council and Local awards

 

Solo Exhibitions:

1999                Chiara Goya Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne

1983                Colonial House, Brighton, Melbourne

1981                Mentone Galleries, Mentone, Melbourne

1977, 1978      Munster Arms Gallery, Melbourne

 

Group Exhibitions:

2002      The Albury Art Prize 2002, Albury Regional Art Gallery, NSW

2000      The Albury Art Prize 2000, Albury Regional Art Gallery, NSW

1999      James Farrell Self Portrait Exhibition, Castelmaine Art Gallery, Victoria

1998      The Bathurst Art Purchase, Bathurst Regional Gallery, NSW

1996      The Fremantle Print Award, Fremantle Arts Centre, WA

1994      Jacaradna Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW

              The 12th Biennial Prints Acquisitive, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery,

              Victoria

1991     10h Spring Festival of Drawing, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery,

              Victoria

 

Important Collections:   

Melbourne City Council                                                                                     

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council         

Mordialloc City Council                               

Hawthorn Teachers College                             

Alice Foundation                                             

Private collections

Works on Paper Collection

Brighton City Council

St Kevin’s College, Toorak

Methodist Ladies College

Commonwealth Art Bank

Grafton Regional gallery Drawing Collection

Bathhurst Regional Gallery

Albury Regional Gallery

 

 

 

Artist’s Statement:

 

As the Australian borders were closed the asylum seekers on the Tampa became the first victims and will remain forever in the Australian political consciousness.

 

In 2002 another asylum seeker vessel sank on its way to Australia. The SIEV-X and its fate has been the subject of a Senate enquiry.

 

“Out of the Equation, SIEV-X” is paying homage to Amal Hassan Basry, a brave Iraqi women. A survivor of the tragedy, she had worked tirelessly for truth and justice.

 

Amal had a recurring dream. She is walking. It is dark. She sees a door. She opens it and can see paradise. Inside she sees all those who perished in the disaster. “In the dream they are happy”, she says, “but I do not want to go in.  I close the door and return to life. My true dream is to live with my family in peace”.

 

At present Amal’s dream is shattered. Amal and her family remain in limbo between a terrifying past and an uncertain future.

 

Reference: Article by Arnold Zable (Eureka Street), April 2003, “Perilous Journeys”, http://sievx.com/articles/disaster.