- Art Collection Updates
- Works of Art
- Yvonne Audette, Sun's Rebirth
- G W Bot Hieroglyphs (Requiem)
- Arthur Boyd
- Alexander Boynes: Changing Places
- Robert Boynes, Observer and Observed
- Robert Boynes, Those Lifeless things
- Jan Brown, Magpies
- Hilary Crawford, Sugar Town and other works
- Fred Cress A Hidden Place
- Ray Crooke , The Islanders & Girl at Table
- Ante Dabro Reclining Figure
- Greg Daly Dawn & Dusk
- Neville Dawson: Dr Tom Calma
- Diane Firth, Bimbimbie
- Graham Fransella, Figure in the Sand
- Sally Gabori My Country
- Bernard Hardy, Canberra Series
- Bernard Hardy, Woolwinder
- Libby Hathorn by Myriam Kin-Yee
- Bevan Haywood Final Showdown
- Napanangka Katungka Kutjarr Kunya at Intinti
- Dale Huddleston, Mural
- Michael Johnson Ellamatta Mauve
- Abie Loy Kemarre Bush Medicine Leaf Dreaming
- Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Untitled, Awelye
- Warren Langley, The Collective Memory
- Doug Lawrie, Untitled Round Vase
- Michael Le Grand, Yo-yo.
- Sue Lovegrove: Vanishing #352
- Tim Maguire, Untitled
- Queenie McKenzie Mooloogoor Hills
- Ann Marie McMahon, The Two Walyers
- Sally Morgan The Circle and other works
- Ngoia Pollard Napaltjarii: Water Soakages near Nyrripi
- Walangkura Napanangka Kutungka Napanangka at Papunga
- Trevor Nickolls, Bird
- Sir Sydney Nolan: Night and Desert Landscapes
- Tiger Palpatja Wanampi Tjukurpa
- Ningura Papurrula Women's Ceremonies
- Peter Pedriau, Coverer in Yellow
- Minnie Pwerle, Women's Ceremonies
- William Robinson , Twin Falls
- Darby Jampijimpa Ross: Emu & Water Jukurrpa
- Tom Rowney, Black, White and Grey Merletto Bowl
- William Sandy, Bush Bean Dreaming
- Jörg Schmeisser, Here and Now, Echoes of the Past
- Brian Seidel, Autumn Pond and Tropical Pond
- Michael Taylor, Showers
- Imants Tillers: Home Visitation III
- Freddie Ngarrmaliny Timms, Mud Springs
- Mykal Zschech, various works
- Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono Mural paintings
- David Voigt Ravenhill Gate and other works
- George Gittoes, The Henna Tattoo
- Sydney Nolan: Mask VIII
- Judith Clingan, Shearing Top Naas
- Eris Fleming, Hillside Paddock
- GW Bot, Threnody
- Ante Dabro, Untitled Drawings
- Robin Nelson Drawings
- Colin Jordan, Intruder
- Stan De Teliga, Kydra River
- Dianne Firth, Black Opal
- Jack Featherstone, Alpine Ash Bark Painting
- Karla Dickens Second Skin
- One by Geoffrey Drake-Brockman
- Sculpture 19 by Derek F Wrigley
- Robin White wood cut series
- Graham Eadie,, Various works
- Peter Laverty, Seascape
- Paul Cavell, Postcard Incident
- Frank Hodgkinson, Black Cockatoo
- Brian Hirst Flat form Teal
- Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri Marrawa
- Tommy Watson, Untitled, 2013 & 2016
- Sándor Györfi, Ignaz Semmelweis sculplture
- Jimmy Baker, Kalaya Tjukurpa
- Ian Henderson, Where is your heart and other works
- Maringka Baker: Kalinpil
- David Miller: Inarki
- Robert Hannaford, Jean Blackburn
- Elizabeth Kruger: Blushing Banksias
- David Armfield, Morris's Vineyard
- Cecily Gibson, Untitled Stoneware Bowl
- George Baldessin, Ed25 & Untitled works
- Andrew Sibley, The Trolley Pushers and other works
- Keith Looby, Packaged Landscape
- David Rose- Magpie in Orange Tree
- Unknown artist: Japanese Wedding Kimono
- Salvatore Zofrea, Various Works of Art
- Basil Hadley: Over Under the Trees
- Dacre Henry Deudreath Smyth: Towards Captains Flat
- Nancy Parker, Main Street, Braidwood
- John Coburn, Various Works
- Geoffrey De Groen: Untitled
- Kenneth Jack: Normanton Station
- Elizabeth Rooney: Various Drawings
- Frances Jones: Still life works
- Margaret Olley: Interior
- Colin Moyston: Victoria Line
- Sven Hiroe: Various ceramic works
- Keiko Schmeisser: In the Fold and Stellar Reflections
- Les Blakebrough: In the Long Grass with Claudia Rose
- Anne Greenwood Untitled
- Bea Maddock Square II
- David Lu Spring Melody
- Cedric Flower Cooma Cottage and other works of art
- Sam Herman Red and Yellow Glass Vases
- Graham Kuo Harbour Mist and other Works
- David Schlunke Air
- Gillie and Marc: Love the Last Exhibition
- John Santry, Geese at Hill End
- Arthur Wicks, Stretcher
- Owen Piggott, Rock Platform
- Robert Pengiley, Various Works
- Heather Ellyard, Dust Storm
- Maximillian Feuering, Bellevue Hill Park
- William Fletcher, Banksia
- Richard and Dilys Brecknock, Various works
- Dick Roughsey, Various works
- Fred Jessup, Boats and Shells
- Jean Conron, Flower Study
- Kevin Conner, Self Portrait with Bird and other Works
- Charles Blackman, The Girl with Dark Plaits
- Reg Livermore: Hydrangea
- Frank Knight Red Kangaroo
- Brian Dunlop Various Works
- Dennis Baker, Kimberley
- Ronnie Tjampitinpa: Untitled
- Art Collection Management
- UC Website
- About UC
- Art Collection
- Works of Art
- Neville Dawson: Dr Tom Calma
Neville Dawson: Dr Tom Calma
The portrait of Dr Tom Calma by Neville Dawson is an extraordinary combination involving the artist and subject. Dr Tom Calma is portrayed in both profile and face on in rather an expressive pose with his right hand touching his chin as if in a moment of thoughtful contemplation. The left portrait in profile shows the subject in casual attire; his white shirt and hair contrasting strikingly against the dark red and black background. The portrait to the right shows Dr Tom Calma in his ceremonial attire as Chancellor of the University of Canberra against the same dark background. The diptych is infused with a range of meanings that reach out to different audiences. Both portraits contrast and complement each other in a way which respects the subject. It is painted in a manner, style and size reminiscent of the Old Masters. One can see perhaps the influence of Van Dyck’s triptych of Charles I whilst the contemplative pose is often used to represent meditation, study and thinking; attributes that are shared by many other portrait subjects in history.
Neville Dawson (b 1948) is currently the Art Master at Newington College, Sydney. He is perhaps best known for his portraits of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, produced between 1988 and 2010. His first portrait was part of his PhD thesis based on the Uluru Case. His paper stressed that no single theory about art or our relationship with it can really render an artistic practice invalid. Rather critical ideas from both past and present can and should be drawn upon simultaneously to assist in making meaning. This is consistent with the observation that artists and viewers alike appreciate artistic expression on many levels at once. These are clearly expressed in the Dr Tom Calma portrait. Dawson went onto portray Lindy Chamberlain in 1992 (which was exhibited in the Sydney Opera House in 2002 for the Opera ‘Lindy’) and 2010, which was entered for the Archibald Prize.
Like the 2010 Lindy contemplating Guy Boyd, the Dr Tom Calma portrait was entered for the Archibald Prize in 2015. The work of art is a faithful portrayal of Australia’s first indigenous university chancellor, Order of Australia recipient in 2013 and an advocate for human rights and social justice. Dr Calma has dedicated his life to improving the lives of all Australians and particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Having served as a Social Justice Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner and as a senior diplomat, Dr Tom Calma has championed the importance of empowerment through his work in education, training, employment, health, justice and development. He works to create opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard and to build partnerships to improve their health , well-being and economic independence. His landmark 2005 report calling for the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to be closed within a generation laid the groundwork for the Close the Gap campaign and COAG’s Closing the Gap response.
The diptych of Dr Tom Calma therefore holds major significance for both the University of Canberra and for the nation both culturally and aesthetically. It is a work of art from a renowned Australian artist that has the ability to infuse his portraits with different meanings and appeal to a wide audience whilst giving the subject the praise, dignity and respect of a leading figure in Australian Society.