THE Art Gallery of Ballarat has put on show what\u2019s being described as the most significant addition to the collection in over thirty years with nearly fifty works donated by a private collector.<\/p>\n
Dr Graeme Williams gifted the gallery works from his 250-piece collection early last year that went on display last Friday.<\/p>\n
Titled A precious gift: The Graeme Williams donation, the benefactor was inspired to offer the works after a near-death experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can see them all in the one room today and I realise this is the one moment they\u2019re all together. It\u2019s good because I don\u2019t know what could happen in life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t buy them as an investment otherwise I wouldn\u2019t give them all away. I want them all in a good home. I want them in a place where the public can access them.\u201d<\/p>\n
A retired architect Dr Williams, and accumulated much of his collection from Australian art dealers Charles Nodrum Gallery and Niagara Galleries.<\/p>\n
His collection includes works from artists like Sidney Nolan, Frederick Williams and John Brack.<\/p>\n
The donation was made in memory of Dr William\u2019s deceased children Antony and Tess, who are acknowledged on the labels of every work.<\/p>\n
Art Gallery of Ballarat director Louise Tegart said the donation is \u201ca welcome gift\u201d to the gallery\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for not only artists we\u2019ve had in the collection but there\u2019s different works by those artists,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, David Fraser. We\u2019ve got a number of his prints but there\u2019s a beautiful drawing there, but also a number of artists we didn\u2019t have in the collection.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of public collections, they\u2019re built through private donations but it\u2019s often after people have passed away. Graeme\u2019s taken a very different approach and given it while he\u2019s still living.\u201d<\/p>\n
A precious gift: The Graeme Williams donation will be on display until Sunday, 16 October.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Art Gallery of Ballarat has put on show what\u2019s being described as the most significant addition to the collection in over thirty years with nearly fifty works donated by a private collector. Dr Graeme Williams gifted the gallery works from his 250-piece collection early last year that went on display last Friday. Titled A […]<\/p>\n