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New Home for Mural
Newcastle Herald 25/08/20212
Amy Edwards
Newcastle born artist John Olsen gathered his emotions as he stood in front of his artwork at Newcastle Art Gallery yesterday evening.
Olsen painted the 1964 ceiling mural titled The Sea Sun of 5 Bells for his friend Dr Ann Lewis and it was unveiled last night as part of the gallery's latest exhibition.
"I'm knocked out by this. I haven't seen it in such a long time and I'm astonished by the size and the freshness of the paint," Olsen said.
"Ann and I were good friends and it's a wonderful thing that she has done to leave it to the gallery."
Olsen and his son, gallery owner Tim Olsen, opened the exhibition titled Almanac: The Gift of Ann Lewis AO. Almanac is a Museum of Contemporary Art travelling exhibition featuring the works donated by the late Dr Lewis to the MCA, Newcastle Art Gallery and Moree Plains Gallery.
The Mural The Sea Sun of 5 Bells featured in Dr Lewis's Rose Bay home for 45 years and was left to Newcastle Art Gallery last year as part of her estate.
It was left to Newcastle because it is the city where Olsen, aged 84, was born. Olsen, who won the Archibald Prize in 2005 for his self portrait, was born in Dawson Street, Cooks Hill, not far from the Newcastle gallery. Dr Lewis originally commissioned the work for her dining room ceiling.
Roughly five metres wide and consisting of three panels, this is the first time it has been on public display. It was added to the touring exhibition once it arrived at Newcastle Art Gallery where a custom-made case houses the three panels. This will be the last chance to view the work of art - on show until November 11 - before it is hung on the ceiling of the redeveloped Newcastle gallery in 2014.