About the exhibition

This Australian War Memorial travelling exhibition, Stella Bowen: Art, Love & War, sheds new light on the accomplishments of Stella Bowen, the great Adelaide-born and trained artist.

Having left a comfortable Adelaide middle-class life in 1914 in search of further artistic training and inspiration in Europe, Bowen spent the next thirty-three years seeking her own form of expression. This quest led her from England to France, America and eventually back to England and into the heart of the literary and artistic milieu. It was here where she met the writer, Ford Madox Ford, with whom she fell in love and bore a daughter.

The past two decades have witnessed a growing interest in the work of women artists. More than an other painter, Bowen’s extraordinary life-story today epitomises the struggle women experience juggling motherhood, a career and, in the case of Bowen, the role of muse. A need for independence was a dominant theme in her 1941 autobiography, Drawn from life, and the subject of Drusilla Modjeska’s recently published book, Stravinsky’s Lunch in which the author explores the parallel lives of Stella Bowen and the modernist painter Grace Cossington Smith.

Although recognised for the work she produced as an official war artists during the Second World War, the depth and richness of her oeuvre has previously been little seen. This is the first retrospective exhibition of her work to be held, and comprises seventy-two works painted in Australia, France and England.

Included in the exhibition are some of her best-known war paintings, the most compelling being the group portrait titled, Bomber crew, 1944 – the subjects of this picture tragically failed to return to their squadron from their operation. Other major works include Reclining nude, 1927, Self-portrait, c.1929, Provencal conversation, 1936 and numerous previously unknown important works from private collections such as the intriguing portrait titled Le masque, c.1930.

Admission charges

Guided Tours

until 4 August:  2 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
after 7 August  12 noon on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 2 pm on Saturday & Sunday

Meet at the entrance to the exhibition. Entry charges apply - see above

Private Tours
Get a group together of ten people or more and have your own private tour.
Telephone 8207 7075 or 8207 7090 to be put in touch with the Gallery Guide Booking Officer

Talks, & Lectures

Friday 19 July at 11 am
Stella Bowen: Art, Love & War
Lola Wilkins, Head of Art at the Australian War Memorial and curator of the exhibition, talks about the life and times of the artist.
Free with exhibition entry

Sunday 25 August at 1 pm
Painting Ghosts: Stella Bowen's war art
Cathy Speck talks about Stella Bowen’s exploration of the psyche of Australian airmen defending Britain and these extraordinary vignettes into wartime life. Cathy Speck is an art historian and writer who lectures at the University of Adelaide.
A free lecture in the Art Gallery Auditorium

Sunday 22 September at 1 pm
Adelaide from a distance
Jane Hylton, Consultant Art Curator and contributing writer to Stella Bowen: Art, Love & War, talks about Stella Bowen's enduring relationship with Adelaide and her family.
A free lecture in the Art Gallery Auditorium

Thursdays through September at 1 pm
The Artist's Eye
Three South Australian artists comment on selected works in the exhibition
Thursday 5 September       Di Longley
Thursday 12 September     Dee Jones
Thursday 26 September     Kay Lawrence
Free with exhibition entry

Stella Bowen, Australia, 1893-1947 Green End, c.1940 oil on wood panel 20.6 x 26 cm   © copyright

Events for families and children

Sunday 28 July, Sunday 25 August & Sunday 22 September at 12 noon - 3 pm
Family Drop-in Days
Bring the children and enjoy free art and craft activities, live performances, Eye Spy tours for kids and special tours designed for family groups. Held on the fourth Sunday of each month.

Eye Spy Club
The Eye Spy Detectives lead children on wonderful, mysterious and fun explorations of paintings, sculpture, prints and photographs in the Gallery. For a one off membership fee of $2, children aged 5-10 years become life long members of the Club. Held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Meet the Detectives at the North Terrace entrance at 3 pm

Members' Events

Friday 19 July at 6.15 pm
The Private Viewing
Lola Wilkins, Head of Art at the Australian War Memorial and curator of the exhibition will share her rich knowledge of the artist and her works in this special after hours event for Members and their guests.
Tickets: members $25, non-members $30 and includes a light supper
Bookings: call Karina on 8207 7050

Wednesday 18 September at 6.15 pm
Peter Churcher: the war artist today
Peter Churcher is the Official War Artist appointed by the Australian War Memorial to work with the Royal Australian Navy in the Gulf and with the Royal Australian Air Force in the Indian Ocean. Peter will talk about his experiences in these battle zones and how they have affected the way he approaches his painting.
Tickets:  members $25, non-members $30 and includes a light supper
Bookings: call Karina on 8207 7050

Education

School group booking information
Admission for school groups is $20 per class size group. Free to country and listed disadvantaged schools. All teachers and supervising adults receive free entry
Groups must be booked by telephoning 8207 7033

Free screenings

During the exhibition there will be regular screenings of the following videos in gallery 25

Tales from a Suitcase - George Gittoes
Thanks to Will Davies of Look Television
Daily screenings throughout the exhibition

The Modern Movement to World War II
Development of abstraction, modernism, surrealism, symbolism. (1988) 24 mins.
Daily screenings: 18 July - 25 July
Courtesy of the South Australian Video and Film Library

Kathe Kollwitz: Expressionists and the Bauhaus
German artist, Kathe Kollwitz vividly portrayed the cruelty and senselessness of World War I and the agony of World War II. (1972) 19 mins.
Daily screenings: 18 July - 25 July
Courtesy of the South Australian Video and Film Library

To see what other events and activities are on at the Gallery,
click here to go to the Calendar of Events

At the Bookshop

Catalogue
An illustrated catalogue written by Lola Wilkins accompanies the exhibition and is available from the Gallery Bookshop for $39.95 (discount applies for members)

Merchandise
A range of postcards, greeting cards, notebooks, fridge magnets and mugs will be available from the Gallery Bookshop. Stella Bowen's autobiography Drawn from Life and Drusilla Modjeska’s book  Stravinsky's Lunch will also be available. For more information about the Gallery Bookshop, click here

Sponsors