Art Gallery of Ballarat

Virtual Storytelling Tour

with

Anne E Stewart

Anne E Stewart has been telling stories in the Art Gallery of Ballarat for over fifteen years and can often be seen leading a group of interested listeners around the various galleries inside. This virtual tour now continues just inside the door as you look up the imposing stone stairs.

As you look up you’ll notice that either side of the stairs there stands two Chinese Urns, like sentinels standing guard. Dragons are perched on the urns as if ready to fly off and other animals are also intricately moulded into the bronze. If you look carefully round the bottom of the left urn you will see the animals from the Chinese zodiac. Click below to listen to the story of How the years were named for the animals.

Also Google “Chinese Astrology” to find what animal year you were born in.

Pair of Incense Burners; (circa 19^th Century)

Click play to hear How the years were named for the Animals

Now we are off to the Colonial Gallery at the top of the stairs, on the south wall you will see

John Mather’s painting, Picnic Point near Brighton,

This painting is just down the road from my Nan’s old house. The red cliffs put me in mind of a little known Ghost Story from St Kilda as told to me by my mum. The cliffs in my story are called Point Ormond and are the site of a memorial Cairn to the Glenhuntly pioneers, they were once known as the Red Cliffs.

Listen here to the Ghost of St Kilda Beach

Peter Booth was born in England and migrated to Australia with his family in 1958. He is a figurative and surrealist painter, and one of the key late-20th century Australian artists. His work is characterised by an intense emotional power of often dark narratives, and esoteric symbolism.

Peter Booth, Painting 1981

This painting always reminds me of the story of Cuchulain the Hound of Ulster. It is set in Ireland in its days of past glories when a mighty warrior came to his prime, Cuchulain the Hound of Ulster.

Listen here to Cuchulain the Hound of Ulster