Location: Mackley Members' Room
This exhibitions features a showcase of artist's sketches and paintings, presidential memorability and VAS catalogues, photographs and newsletters of the era.
The early 1960s at VAS was a time of thinking ahead.
A vision of the future was presented to the Society by President Laurence Scott Pendlebury (1962-64). An inspiring, heartfelt, persuasively worded brochure signed by him was circulated amongst the membership as a part of the 'Keep it Open' campaign. it encouraged excited discussion and much debate—it was a way into the future.
Half a century later Laurence Scott Pendlebury's hopes and ideas became a reality under President Eileen Mackley AM VAS FVAS.
Ever since Scott Pendlebury's original vision for the Society, presidents who followed continued the work to fundraise and eventually, thanks to the determination and generosity of Eileen Mackley AM VAS FVAS, we have this beautifully restored building.
Now decades later in 2022, under the guidance of current VAS President Richard Impey, we are enjoying the rewards of that 1962 appeal by Scott Pendlebury to 'keep the door open'.
Banner image: 'Clarkes Cottage', oil by Laurence Scott Pendlebury, VAS Permanent Collection.
To hear Anne Scott Pendlebury talk about her father's painting, view the youtube interview here.
Born in Melbourne in 1914 Laurence was a teenager when he received a Bursary from the late Sir Keith Murdoch. This encouraged him to study art full time and he was accepted into the National Gallery School Melbourne. After WW2 he taught at Swinburne College of Technology, eventually becoming Head of the Art Department and establishing the highly regarded Film and Television School. He was a VAS Council member and President from 1962-1964. His awards include the Dunlop prize (1950, 51, 53 and 54). The Gibson prize (1956), the Caltex Prize (1957) and the AGNSW Wynne prize (1956, 57 and joint Winner 1960 and 1968).
He was joint winner of the VAS AOTY in 1975 and is represented throughout Australia in a number of significant Collections.
Laurence Scott Pendlebury
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.