A BRIEF HISTORY
Lilian Pedersen |
Mona Elliott |
Frank Sherrin |
Len Shillam |
Four of the six founding members. The portrait of Mona Elliott is By Mavis Vernon. However, there is some conjecture about whether this portrait is Mona or Lilian. Some older members believe it is Mona whilst a relative believes it is Lilian.
The Half Dozen Group of Artists, originally comprised six members of the Royal Queensland Art Society who broke away and formed their own group in 1940. The main advocate for the move seems to have been Lilian Pedersen. The other five members were Mona Elliott (the first chairperson), Frank Sherrin, Rosalie Wilson, Leonard Shillam and Ann Ross. Their first exhibition was held in the Randall Room at the Brisbane City Hall in 1941. Although it has retained its traditional name of 'Half Dozen', it has for many years maintained between one and two hundred members.
Through the nineteen-forties, fifties and sixties this nucleus of six artists was joined by a "younger generation" of aspiring artists, including Lloyd Rees, Margaret Olley, L. J. Harvey, Margaret Preston, Kenneth McQueen, Jon Molvig, Melville Haysom, William Robinson, Donald Friend, Vida Lahey, Daphne Mayo, Roy Churcher, Mervyn Moriarty and John Rigby. These artists were later to become some of the most recognised Queensland artists of our time.
Membership was initially restricted to a maximum of thirty-five. Artists wishing to join were accepted upon invitation and were expected to present a folio of work for adjudication. TODAY, the criteria for membership centres on an applicant's genuine desire to develop skill and understanding, and if possible, to participate in self-development through the weekly and other workshops provided. The applicant needs the nominations of two financial members and to be accepted by the Management Committee, although this may change at different times. The Group, with former Vice Regal Patronage (since its inception), now has a membership of well over a 100 artists, and is continuing to grow.
In 1975 The Half Dozen Group established its Studio in the "cellar" beneath the church hall of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point. This venue had been the stamping ground of many now well-known artists - Irene Amos (a Vice Patron of the Group), Jon Molvig and Roy Churcher to name just a few. (See list below.) The build-up of impacted paint on one of the pillars of the building's foundation bears witness to the history of this studio. A booklet entitled "The Paint Tree" by Muriel Shaw can be viewed at the Fryer Library, Queensland University (The Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc., Box 11 Folder 10) and at the Queensland State Library, Art Heritage Section.
HDG-Artists FIRST ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION was held in September 1941.
THE HDG-ARTISTS STUDIO
Through the nineteen-forties, fifties and sixties this nucleus of six artists was joined by a "younger generation" of aspiring artists, including Lloyd Rees, Margaret Olley, L. J. Harvey, Margaret Preston, Kenneth McQueen, Jon Molvig, Melville Haysom, William Robinson, Donald Friend, Vida Lahey, Daphne Mayo, Roy Churcher, Mervyn Moriarty and John Rigby. These artists were later to become some of the most recognised Queensland artists of our time.
Membership was initially restricted to a maximum of thirty-five. Artists wishing to join were accepted upon invitation and were expected to present a folio of work for adjudication. TODAY, the criteria for membership centres on an applicant's genuine desire to develop skill and understanding, and if possible, to participate in self-development through the weekly and other workshops provided. The applicant needs the nominations of two financial members and to be accepted by the Management Committee, although this may change at different times. The Group, with former Vice Regal Patronage (since its inception), now has a membership of well over a 100 artists, and is continuing to grow.
In 1975 The Half Dozen Group established its Studio in the "cellar" beneath the church hall of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point. This venue had been the stamping ground of many now well-known artists - Irene Amos (a Vice Patron of the Group), Jon Molvig and Roy Churcher to name just a few. (See list below.) The build-up of impacted paint on one of the pillars of the building's foundation bears witness to the history of this studio. A booklet entitled "The Paint Tree" by Muriel Shaw can be viewed at the Fryer Library, Queensland University (The Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc., Box 11 Folder 10) and at the Queensland State Library, Art Heritage Section.
HDG-Artists FIRST ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION was held in September 1941.
THE HDG-ARTISTS STUDIO
37 Quarry Rd, Sherwood.
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In October 2014 the HDGA moved to a permanent new home at 37 Quarry St, Sherwood. Prior to this last re-location, the group's studio was at Montrose, Consort St Corinda, (pictured below left). The group had occupied a long term studio (pictured below right) at St Mary's, Kangaroo Point between 1975 and 2011. Since making the Quarry Street studio home, the HDGA has made significant upgrades to the studio, including professional lighting for the interior's work and exhibition area, exterior safety lighting and an anti-graffiti mural.
Consort St, Corinda, Studio
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HDGA artist, Harry Millner's painting of the Kangaroo Point Studio
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Many well known Queensland artists have been members of the HDGA . Below are just some of those artists:
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L.J. HARVEY
Gil JAMIESON Hubert JARVIS Vida LAHEY George LUKE Ada LUDLOW Kenneth MacQUEEN Daphne MAYO Jon MOLVIG Hal MISSINGHAM Winifred Mary TOWERS Mervin MORIARTY Mary NORRIE Daisy NOSWORTHY Margaret OLLEY Margaret PRESTON |
Betty QUELHURST
Lloyd REES John RIGBY William ROBINSON Ann ROSS Muriel Florence Snell SHAW Jeannette SHELDON Frank SHERRIN Kathleen SHILLAM Leonard SHILLAM James WIENEKE George WILLIAMSON Rosalie WILSON |
Life Members
Wendy ALLEN
Dell HARRINGTON
Charles LUDLOW (Deceased)
Valerie WARING
George WILLIAMSON
Thomas YORKSTEN
Anna REYNOLDS