Bet you didn’t know that Toowoomba is home to one of the country’s most significant art collections? Well, it is.
The Lionel Lindsay Gallery and Library Collection in Toowoomba is one of the most outstanding collections in regional Australia and of national significance. This year the Lionel Lindsay Gallery and Library Collection celebrates its 60th anniversary with a new exhibition, Bill Bolton’s Vision – 60 Years On at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, itself a gorgeous experience. The exhibition runs through until July 21.
This is just ANOTHER reason Toowoomba is so hot right now! Just 90 minutes from Brisbane, Toowoomba is of course home to the famous Carnival of Flowers in September, but it’s also a regional city with a thriving street art scene, food scene, fantastic events, a rich cultural calendar and of course, a Winter season that truly allows for boots, scarves, leather coats and gloves to be worn!
Back to the art. This visionary collection contains over 400 works of art with extensive holdings of Lionel Lindsay’s internationally-renowned works on paper and masterworks by leading artists including Rupert Bunny, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts. The library collection, with some 3,000 manuscripts, maps and books (including many rare and first editions), is an exceptional collection that presents a unique snapshot of Australian history and literature. A series of events, tours and special hostings at the gallery will be held throughout the exhibition. The exhibition has been curated by Jayson Althofer.
Imagery here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/025bpmmgy9g7h6v/AACKox6RZ_ONrnOEUW6mve_Ka?dl=0
Bill Bolton’s Vision – 60 Years On at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
Exhibition now showing and through to July 21
531 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba Phone 4688 6652
Detail and events: https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-publications/media-releases/13707-bolton-australiana-collection-marks-60th-anniversary
Sunday Session – Sunday, 9 June at 1.30pm
A collection of geniuses: Bill Bolton and the Lindsay family, presented by Jayson Althofer.
Twilight Tour – Thursday, 18 July at 5.30pm
From the vault: Up close and personal with Lionel Lindsay’s prints, presented by Jayson Althofer, Bolton Library Services officer; Tiffany Shafran, Coordinator Exhibitions and Public Programs; and Shona Burgess and Rob Bolton, Trustees of the Lionel Lindsay Gallery and Library.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION AND THE BOLTONS
Established by Toowoomba business and cultural identities W.R.F. (Bill) and Marion Bolton in 1959, and opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, it represents both the tastes and cultural interests of the Boltons and their desire to celebrate the work of Australian artists and writers as well as early European explorers and cartographers of Australia. The art gallery and library were named in honour of leading Australian artist Lionel Lindsay with whom the Boltons developed a close friendship after greatly admiring his work. Its strength is that it was lovingly and passionately assembled and is therefore a highly unique collection.
Bill and Marion’s passion for sharing the collection was brought to fruition in 1959 when The Lionel Lindsay Art Gallery and Library was officially opened in Toowoomba by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Since 1994 it has had its home at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery and key holdings have been loaned to several regional and state galleries, the State Library of Queensland and the National Gallery of Australia. The Boltons were prominent in the cultural and business life of Toowoomba, and this collection, held in trust, has the goal of enriching the cultural life of Toowoomba region and is an extraordinarily generous legacy for the community and for visitors from around the world. Bill’s nationalist vision was particularly inspired by the artist Lionel Lindsay (1874-1961) and the writer Henry Lawson (1867-1922), and he wanted visitors, especially, in his words, ‘girls and boys of the old town of Toowoomba’, to ‘catch the fire of Lindsay and Lawson.’
After Bill’s death in 1973, Marion maintained her care for the collection. This included increasing its holdings, welcoming and guiding visitors, and answering inquirers, whether in person, by letter or by telephone. When it seemed that the collection was going to be permanently ‘lost’ to Brisbane, she helped to lead the way to have it restored to Toowoomba and rehoused in a purpose-built facility. That facility, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, has housed, conserved, exhibited and given free public access to the Lindsay Collection since shortly after its own official opening on 19 March 1994.
