Art Appreciation 2025

Course Coordinator Alan Roberts

Margaret Christie Studio

This new Art Appreciation class will explore the world of art, primarily through documentary and film in a dynamic and engaging way. These documentaries will provide valuable insights into the lives of artists, the historical and cultural context of artworks, and the evolution of art movements.

During semester one we will focus on Impressionist Artists with further art movements included at a later stage. There will be ample opportunity to debate and discuss the artist and their art. In addition to a major artist being portrayed, two additional short films will be shown in the second half of the class which will focus on a particular art subject, for example a painting, sculpture or an artist community. These short films will contrast with the main subject of the lesson to provide a broader exposure to the world of art.

It is also hoped that local artists will join us to discuss their art and provide an insight into their motivations, inspirations and technique’s.

Topics:

About the Co-ordinator:

Over the past 19 years Alan has presented several Armchair Travel videos, Historical documentaries and now coordinates the Military History and Art Appreciation courses. Where has all his diverse range of interests come from?  Alan grew up in Coventry England, which was badly damaged during WW2.  Along with exposure to the damage caused by war, Alan met artists and musicians who were prominent in rebuilding the art scene in Coventry mainly around the bombed-out shell of the Old Cathedral. Although no artist or musician himself, he enthusiastically joined the art and music clubs of the time. He travelled to exhibitions and met with others with a similar interest and came in time to appreciate the visual arts. He attended the unveiling of Epstein’s wonderful sculpture “St Micheal and the Devil” on the east wall of the New Coventry Cathedral and Graham Sutherland’s Tapestry “Christ in Glory” in the nave of the New Cathedral, which you either love or hate. All of this led to a lifelong interest in Art. Travel was the next thing on Alan’s menu, and this again came about from his time in Coventry. He along with a group of other young people, were sponsored by Coventry council to travel to Germany, to represent the city at a twining ceremony with Dresden, which also had been extensively bombed during the war. This opened his eyes to different cultures and sparked his interest in all things foreign. Alan was lucky to start a career in the IT industry and this led to him and his now wife Susan to be posted overseas. Whenever possible, they took the opportunity to explore the local country and widen their travel experience. Without a doubt, the highlight of Alan and Susan travels was the  tour of Tibet.  A tragic country, with very ancient traditions, set in a majestic but difficult physical environment, sad but spectacular. When Alan and Susan were offered the opportunity to transfer to Canberra, they jumped at the chance and now call Australia home. Or more accurately Tewantin with its fabulous U3A.