South West artists’ connection to WA heritage to be celebrated at exhibition

The Australian Heritage Festival will feature South West artists to showcase the unique connection between art, heritage and architecture in a new immersive experience. Art collector and heritage enthusiast Thomas Murrell will tell the stories behind a display of historic stained glass and a nationally significant collection of women’s art at Fairview, Subiaco’s finest heritage mansion. Nine personal tours of one of Perth’s finest historic mansions will be hosted by Mr Murrell From Friday to Sunday. Artists will include Joy Tomcala, Dr Joan Janet Bayliss and Mavis Lightly. Mr Murrell said it was a rare and special opportunity for passionate art, architecture and heritage lovers to enjoy a new experience. “The theme of my tours will be Connections where I will be celebrating the rich and diverse talents of the women artists in my collection and how these connect back to their goals and aspirations,” he said. “Heritage is about prosperity, opportunity and curiosity. “The great dichotomy of my art collection is the fact it is housed in a very ornate Queen Anne Federation style house built in 1915 by a man who wanted to express his new found middle class prosperity yet the walls are lined by highly talented women artists who remained largely invisible and unrecognised during their careers. I want to right this injustice. “I also want to share the exceptional work of a talented team of craftsmen who have spent the past three years restoring this unique house and in particular how historic stained glass can be used for contemporary living.”