It was the medieval legend of Parsifal and his search for the castle containing the Holy Grail that
gave a fledgling artists’ colony in Eltham its name; Montsalvat.
Montsalvat, the oldest continuous artistic colony in Australia, was established in 1934, a time when
the Australian arts community was dominated by men. Even today, the colony is primarily associated
with its male founding artists. Largely absent from public awareness are the incredible women who
were driving forces behind the design, construction, arts practice and culture of this unique artist
community.
It was a bit tougher for women in 30s, 40s and 50s Melbourne than it is today. Women were
certainly not expected to run away to Eltham to build gothic buildings and spires of stone and
mudbrick. Women did not drink and dance with other artists, and create beautiful jewellery,
paintings and textiles. Women certainly did not slop around in the mud making bricks. Nor did they
chip away at stone carving gargoyles. Or stay up late talking politics and poetry.
But some did.
Montsalvat is seeking to unearth the secret stories behind these women.
They include one of Victoria’s first anaesthetists, Victoria’s first building foreman (or forewoman!),
stone carvers, builders, jewellers, painters, textile artists and writers.
Montsalvat will be asking past and present Montsalvat artists, staff and residents, family members,
local artists and historians, and the public to come together to share stories and memories of our
founding women artists. The stories we gather will be used to inform the design of a permanent
public artwork in the grounds of Montsalvat. An art piece to celebrate their work and their influence
on what has become an enduring network of creative practitioners distinctive to this area of
Australia.
Our project is called Kundry: Women of Montsalvat. Kundry is a character that also exists in the
medieval Parsifal legend; as a wild woman/divine messenger, a feminine force and a seeker of
redemption. Her most famous incarnation is in Wagner’s opera, Parsifal, where she is an amalgam of
several female figures in the Grail myths. Half good, half bad, she struggles and ultimately
overcomes the influence of an evil magician and finds the redemption she seeks. She serves as a
bridge between worlds, natural and divine.
Montsalvat is proud to have reached the final selection stage of the Victorian Women’s Public Art
Program, and needs your vote to make this project a reality.
To be successful, we need as many votes as possible before 8 December.
Please vote for The Women of Montsalvat.
To vote for this project, select the second-last box: The women of Montsalvat, and hit Submit.
Voting closes midnight Sunday December 8.
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