Australia's Finest celebrating 40 yrs McClelland Gallery, Australia s leading Sculpture Park and Gallery set in 16 hectares of serene bushland, lakes and landscaped gardens in Langwarrin, is turning 40 in 2011 and plans to host a celebration on Saturday 18 June which will include a jazz band and the opening of the Elisabeth Murdoch Walk.
As the name indicates there are two historical elements to the organisation The Gallery was established in 1971 under the terms of the will of Miss Annie May Nan McClelland .
It was Nan s intention it was to bring to fruition her vision of the Harry McClelland Art Gallery and Cultural Hall on the site of her late brother s Langwarrin studio.
Harry was an artist and philanthropist who owned the property and played an instrumental role in the development of the arts community in Victoria.
A condition of the establishment of the gallery is that is provides free entry for visitors.
Harry s original studio is still located on the property and is now used to cater for the growing number of educational programs that McClelland runs that centre around Art and Nature.
In 1989 the Murdoch family established the Elisabeth Murdoch Sculpture Foundation to aid and encourage development of the McClelland Gallery as a sculpture park of international standard and significance.
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch is the McClelland Gallery Sculpture Park s most enduring and generous benefactor and as part of the 40th anniversary, McClelland will be opening the Elisabeth Murdoch Walk which will link iconic sculptures around the grounds and showcase the best of the natural surrounds.
McClelland s outdoor sculpture collection showcases over 70 works by prominent Australian sculptors such as Inge King, Lenton Parr, Clement Meadmore, Anthony Pryor and Norma Redpath along with, recent acquisitions including Rick Amor, Peter Corlett, Robert Owen, Lisa Roet and Ken Unsworth.
McClelland s three indoor exhibition spaces accommodate temporary exhibitions and collection displays of works on paper, photography, paintings and sculptures.
Curated and travelling exhibitions are exhibited primarily in The Elisabeth Murdoch and French Gallery.
The McClelland Room is used for exhibitions, which pertain to the history of the Gallery and Sculpture Park, such as works from the collection by Harry McClelland, the Centre 5 group of sculptors and other important components of the Gallery's collection.
The McClelland Library houses an important collection of text and reference books related to all aspects of Australian and International Art.
In particular McClelland holds an important collection of sculpture and sculptor reference books.
Visitors are able to peruse the collection in the library by contacting the gallery.
The collection can also be investigated online through the Frankston Public Library.