Friends donate two artworks to ANBG

About four years ago the Friends asked the Gardens if they would like to receive a gift of artwork chosen from the annual Botanical Art Exhibition. This gift would be from and by the Friends and the work chosen would need to be representative of the Gardens. Gardens management were very enthusiastic about receiving such a continuing gift.

Since then the Friends have given several such gifts, mostly hung in the Dickson Room across the hallway from the Theatrette, apart from one spectacular work by Wendy Antoniak hanging in the foyer of the Admin Building. The collection is growing well, particularly since we have chosen two artworks each year in 2015 and 2016.

The selection has been made by Dr Judy West, Executive Director of the ANBG, Lynden Ayliffe, the Friends representative on the Public Art Advisory Committee, and someone from the Friends Council, this year Rita Maclachlan. This year the committee chose two gorgeous artworks by Marjorie Roche and Vivien Pinder.

Lesley Jackman, President of the Friends, presented the artworks to Judy West today at a brief ceremony before the regular Thursday Talk. Vivien was present at the handover but Marjorie lives on the South Coast and not able to attend.

Marjorie Roche’s artwork is a very interesting scratchboard called “Lace leaf’ Brachychiton acerfolius (Illawarra Flame Tree)' (Photo : Graham Brown)

and Vivien Pinder's is a watercolour entitled ‘Callistemon pinifolius’ (Photo: Graham Brown)

Marjorie’s initial artistic interest was in porcelain painting and example of her work in this area was on display in the exhibition. She has been active in the Teaching Institute of Porcelain Art and also an active member of the Australian Porcelain Art Teachers (NSW), participating in international exhibitions and winning many prizes at the Royal Agricultural Show in Sydney. Botanical art has become a major interest in recent years with Marjorie enjoying the close contact with the subject and the fascination with detail.

Vivien is also a distinguished artist who describes herself as passionate about capturing the unique character of wildlife and flora. Her likenesses are created using a range of media – from colour pencils to ink, pastel to water colour and acrylic to oils. Vivien has held two solo exhibitions at Bungendore Fine Art and won awards with the Canberra Orchid Society, Artists Society of Canberra, Queanbeyan Art Society and Canberra Show.