Johnstone Gallery facts for kids
The Johnstone Gallery was a special art gallery in Brisbane, Australia. It was owned by a couple named Brian and Marjorie Johnstone. From 1950 to 1972, it was the most important gallery in Brisbane for showing new Australian art. Many famous artists displayed their work there.
Contents
A Look Back at the Johnstone Gallery
How the Gallery Started
Brian Johnstone first had a gallery called Marodian Gallery in 1950. It was in a shop in Spring Hill. After a disagreement, he opened the Johnstone Gallery.
From 1952 to 1957, the gallery was in the basement of the Brisbane Arcade. This space used to be an air-raid shelter! In 1958, the gallery moved to its final home in Bowen Hills. It was a special building surrounded by a beautiful rainforest garden.
Brian and Marjorie Johnstone showed art by many of Australia's top artists. These included Sidney Nolan, Margaret Olley, Charles Blackman, and Arthur Boyd. Margaret Olley's exhibition in 1962 was a huge success. All her paintings sold out on the first day! This was a record for an Australian woman artist at the time.
The Gallery and Theatre
The lovely rainforest garden at the gallery was also used for plays. In 1962, a theatre group called Twelfth Night Theatre put on a play there. The Johnstones loved the idea of having art and theatre together.
They helped create a new, permanent home for the Twelfth Night Theatre. It was built right next door to the gallery. Construction started in 1969, and the theatre opened in 1971. Brian Johnstone was very happy about it. He wrote to artist Sidney Nolan that the theatre made their art space "nicely rounded off." The theatre is still open today.
What Happened Next
The Johnstone Gallery closed its doors in December 1972. Sadly, the gallery buildings were later taken down. The beautiful rainforest gardens were also lost when new houses were built. Brian Johnstone continued to work as an art consultant for a few years.
After Marjorie Johnstone passed away in 1993, her family gave the gallery's records to the State Library of Queensland. This collection is called the Johnstone Gallery Archive. It includes scrapbooks, gallery files, letters, and photos. It helps people learn about Australian artworks and artists.
Photographer Arthur Davenport took many pictures of the artworks and gallery displays. You can see these photos in the State Library of Queensland's collection. The State Library has also recorded stories from artists and gallery owners who worked with the Johnstone Gallery.
In 2021, the Johnstone Gallery Archive was added to UNESCO's Australian Memory of the World Register. This means it is recognized as a very important part of Australia's history.
