MELBOURNE, AUGUST 29, 2008” McCulloch’s Encyclopedia of Australian Art, widely referred to as the bible of Australian art, turns 40 this year and this significant milestone in Australian publishing is being celebrated with a series of events around the country and three important new releases.
Dad’s lifetime’s work on the Encyclopedia has instilled in us the value of comprehensive research and impartiality, yet with personal insight, and which we continue in our editions of the Encyclopedia and other books, said Susan McCulloch. I am proud to see my father’s original work live on, unique in Australia. After many years in the field and many, many thousands of kilometres, I’m also proud to see my own work, now joined by that of my daughter Emily, become a significant reference in McCulloch’s Contemporary Aboriginal Art. And I am very proud to see my Emily’s first solo book achievement, this year in New Beginnings: Classic Paintings from the Corrigan Collection of 21st Century Aboriginal Art.
Each book has given us an ideal vantage point from which to gauge the development of Australian art in all its forms over the past 40 years, said Susan McCulloch. There is much to celebrate.
The first 40th birthday release is a new companion publication to the Encyclopedia, McCulloch’s Encyclopedia Australian Art Diary 2009, which features more than 120 illustrations from the Encyclopedia in a beautifully designed and stylish publication.
In Alice Springs on September 27, to coincide with the leading Desert Mob Exhibition & Market Place 2008, the eagerly awaited new edition of McCulloch’s Contemporary Aboriginal Art: the complete guide, will be launched. One of the most popular books on Aboriginal art, in its unique melding of art book and guide, this highly illustrated guide traces the huge growth in modern Aboriginal art through its regional differences and explains how the art is sourced, bought and sold.
On November 12, the lavish New Beginnings: Classic Paintings from the Corrigan Collection of 21st Century Aboriginal Art, which showcases some of the masterpieces of contemporary Aboriginal art from the collection of the leading art benefactor, collector, patron and businessman Patrick Corrigan, will be launched by Thérèse Rein in Brisbane.
Other events to mark these 40th birthday releases will be held at 6pm Monday, October 6 at Melbourne Fine Art in Melbourne; 6pm Friday, October 24 at Art Sydney; and a public forum at in Perth at 2pm Saturday, November 15.
As well, Susan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs are also celebrating the launch of their unique new art and publishing company McCulloch & McCulloch Australian Art Books which combines curatorial services, art consultancy, judging, education and other art services with publishing a range of high-quality, accessible books on Australian and Aboriginal art often in partnership with arts centres, galleries, collectors, tertiary institutions and others.
For details of titles and to purchase by phone, fax or online, visit www.mccullochandmcculloch.com.au
