Acquired: works of landscape and legacy

A THRILL is the way Creswick artist Craig Barrett describes the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s recent acquisition of two of his works.

The gallery has acquired Barrett’s Berry #1 Mine, and his associated Madam Berry West Mine paintings, both of which depict historic gold mining impacts in the landscape north of Creswick.

In addition to this, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Member for Ballarat Catherine King has selected the Berry #1 Mine painting to feature on her seasonal Christmas cards this year.

The local artist painted the two oil on linen works in 2019 as part of his more extensive Berry Consols series originally exhibited at the Eureka Centre in 2021, and at the Central Goldfields Gallery in Marybrough last year.

Art Gallery of Ballarat director Louise Tegart said Barrett’s paintings bring together the region’s gold rush and geological history, and the aesthetics of the mining industry.

“Showcasing the work of local artists as well as images of the region we live in is a critical part of the gallery’s remit and purpose,” Ms Tegart said.

“While we have a large number of historical views of this landscape in the collection, Barrett’s paintings are a contemporary view of this region’s history providing visitors to the gallery with insights into the long-term effects of mining on the land.

“These paintings enrich the gallery’s significant collection of local artists and artworks of this region’s history and character. Upon reopening, we will add these to our rotating display in our permanent collection galleries.”

The acquisition represents the fifth public collection in which Barrett is represented, with work at the National Gallery of Victoria, Shrine of Remembrance, State Library of Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery.

“It is a real buzz to be recognised into this community,” Barrett said following the Ballarat acquisition.

“It’s a thrill because you know you are going to get a wider audience. That’s very meaningful.

“There’s a whole lot of things that came together with Berry Consols series – the geology, the environmental legacy, history of the mining and the visual impact which I responded to mostly I would say.”

Barrett moved to Creswick from St Kilda nine years ago.

Following recent travels he is now working on a newly inspired series, but the outlook hasn’t always been quite so rosy for the artist.

“Last year I went through a bit of a dark patch and couldn’t work for several months,” he said.

“I was spending a lot of my time camping out on Country and reading a lot of poetry. I recommend when people go through a dark patch that they get help. It helped me. I am working again.

“They (the new works) are works from my various campsites up north in the Wimmera and Mallee, of massive burnt red gums. It became a bit of a metaphor for myself I think, scarred but still standing.”

Over the last 25 years Barrett has become a recurrent exhibitor at Melbourne’s Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, and is again looking to exhibit as he begins work on his latest series.

“I’ve only just started this new series but I’m excited about it,” he said.

“The Art Gallery of Ballarat acquired the Berry #1 Mine and I offered to donate the second work, Madam Berry West, to keep the pair together.”