MEDIA RELEASE Friday 19 August 2022
TREASURES FROM THE VAULT: Manly by Ferry Presents an exhibition 2 Sept – 16 Oct 2022 at Manly Art Gallery & Museum featuring photographs by Max Dupain and Frank Hurley and paintings by Peter Kingston and Wendy Sharpe that capture scenes of Manly Wharf and Sydney Harbour.
Immortalised in art, music, and literature, the Manly ferry is embedded into the cultural fabric of Sydney and has long evoked all kinds of emotions and imagery.
In September and October, Manly Art Gallery and Museum (MAG&M) celebrates a quintessential Sydney icon and reveals aspects of Manly Ferry’s evolution across decades.
For over 140 years, artists have captured the Manly ferry journeying across Sydney Harbour in all its ever-changing moods. Through seasons and across generations, the Manly ferry’s to-ing and fro-ing has set a familiar rhythm in the life of the city. This next show features over 30 works from MAG&M’s photography, painting, and museum collections, exploring the inherent duality of these much-loved vessels. They are after all vessels that balance ferrying carefree day-trippers and busy local commuters through both boisterous swells and peaceful waters alike.
Part of the ‘Treasures from the Vault’ series, this exhibition is designed to reveal some of the rich history and stories of Manly, and of the artists themselves who called this part of Sydney home. Treasures from the Vault features works acquired through MAG&M Society, the Theo Batten Bequest, Northern Beaches Council, and artists and donors through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.
Why go? This exhibition evokes a sense of nostalgia and invites viewers to reflect on the enduring appeal of the Manly ferry, and ponder its impact on our city life.
How do I participate? Visitors are invited to share their favourite story of a Manly ferry journey in a special exhibition log on display throughout the exhibition.
Highlights: Photography by Max Dupain, Frank Hurley, and Frank Bell that capture distinct scenes of Manly Wharf and Manly Cove. Historical signage ‘Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care! Tourist brochures and memorabilia plus posters featuring the famous SS South Steyne. Watercolours depicting scenes of Manly Cove and paddle steamers in the late 19th century. Paintings by marine artists Robert Carter and Charles Bryant plus contemporary works by Nick Hollo, Peter Kingston, and Wendy Sharpe reveal changing moods of the Harbour.
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