Wednesday April 10, 2013
It is a laughing matter
The long-awaited publication of a book on two of Australia’s most renowned bird artists Neville Henry Cayley and his son, Neville William Cayley was launched at Mosman Library on Monday 8 April 2013 to an enthusiastic crowd of art and bird lovers.
Presented in a fun way as an interview with the author, Penny Olsen and Cayley collector, David Crane we were given an evocative peak into the lives of these two men.
We also opened the exhibition of Cayley paintings which fascinated and intrigued the audience. And as I wandered around the exhibition I heard stories of people growing up with much loved Cayley birds on the wall, of Cayley art rolled up in the bottom of wardrobes, of Cayley prints purchased that turned out to be originals and originals that turned out to be prints!
To celebrate the book the library gathered many works by Cayley & Son borrowed from private collections. There are even works by Cayley Snr’s copyist Tom Flower and we invite you to pick the differences!
Also on view is an amazing collection of ephemeral material including postcards, playing cards, Christmas cards and booklets such as those commissioned by the petroleum company Shell in the 1930s.
These art works have not been on public exhibition before and will never be exhibited together again. So it is a rare opportunity not to be missed.
- Photos: book launch & exhibition opening
- Video: Penny Olsen, author of Cayley & Son, and David Crane, Australiana collector and Cayley enthusiast, in conversation
- 360 degree panorama: virtual tour of the exhibition
These paintings are on view until 20 April 2013.
