Above: George Baldessin  Bather 1978  Lithograph

The Union Studio is proud to present an exhibition of lithographs by some of Australia’s best known artists in this new gallery in the heart of Castlemaine. This is the first time in over 30 years the complete Bodfford Terrace folio has been exhibited.

This folio of eight lithographs, printed in 1978, has significance in the history of the Australian Labor Party and in Australian art. John Brack, Len French, Frank Hodgkinson, Franz Kempf, Clifton Pugh and John Olsen, all of whom had been known nationally for some time, were joined by two younger artists, George Baldessin and Les Kossatz, to produce the unusually long ‘run’ of prints.

The brainchild of Peter Redlich, then President of the ALP Victorian Branch, the purpose of the project was to purchase and develop Bodfford Terrace as the new party headquarters. Architect Evan Walker identified the terrace in Drummond Street in Carlton as a suitable building for the purpose, and it provided a headquarters for the branch for many years. The name of the folio commemorates the building.

Peter Redlich asked Judith Pugh to run the fundraising project, and she managed everything from commissioning the artists and printers to arranging the launch by Sir Richard Kirby, President of the Arbitration Commission, at an exhibition at Melbourne University Gallery.

Exhibition Launch
by Judith Pugh
Sunday 3 April 2pm