Design masters in Geelong

September 12, 2018 BY Jessica Nicol

To celebrate Geelong’s status as a UNESCO City of Design two exhibitions have arrived at the National Wool Museum; Masters: Art of the Precious Metal Object and Marion Hall Best: Interiors (‘A room for Mary Quant’ display room designed by Marion Best) pictured.

Masters of design have arrived in Geelong with two bold new exhibitions opening at the National Wool Museum (NWM) to celebrate the city’s status as a UNESCO City of Design.

Masters: Art of the Precious Metal Object is a premiere Australian exhibition showcasing spectacular design, exceptional works and authentic practice from 11 masters of contemporary Australian goldsmithing, silversmithing and enamelling.

Guest curated by the award-winning Geelong-based Gold and Silversmith, Victoria Edgar and NWM director Padraic Fisher, Masters: Art of the Precious Metal Object will reveal the exquisite artistry and contemporary craftsmanship in modern Australian jewellery making.

Mr Fisher said the exhibition will feature over 60 pieces of “exquisite pieces” from 11 of Australia’s master goldsmiths, silversmiths and enamel artists – with many of the works created specifically for the exhibition.

Running alongside the exhibit is an exhibition celebrating the career of one of the first independent and most influential Australian interior designers, Marion Hall Best.

Marion Hall Best: Interiors is a travelling exhibition from Sydney Living Museums and described as electrifying, vital and avant-garde.

Best’s interior decorating schemes were unashamedly modern – with her interior decorating style vibrating with colour through her signature glazed painted finishes on walls and ceilings.

She is attributed with introducing international modernism to the Australian market through importing furniture and furnishings from all over the world.

Mayor Bruce Harwood said as an iconic Geelong destination, the National Wool Museum played a pivotal role in the city becoming a UNESCO City of Design.

“This exhibition ‘double bill’ boldly acknowledges the past, present and future of Australian design and I highly recommend that locals and visitors to the region experience these two fantastic exhibitions at the National Wool Museum,” Cr Harwood said.

Masters: Art Of The Precious Metal Object will run from September 14 until January 2019 with Marion Hall Best: Interiors running from September 14 until November 2018.

For more information go to nwm.vic.gov.au or phone 5272 4701.