The Art of Phil Whatmore (1945-2012)

This event has already occurred.

Saturday, 25th June 2016
9:00am till 5:30pm

Lockyer Valley Art Gallery Gatton, Gatton
Queensland

Author

Call: Dave McEvoy on 0428781604.
Email: Dave McEvoy at ali@mmnet.com.au.

Cost: FREE

"ARTIST,SKYDIVER, CRIPPLE, SAINT"
- AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY THE LATE PHIL WHATMORE — "ARTIST,SKYDIVER, CRIPPLE, SAINT" - AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY THE LATE PHIL WHATMORE

This is a POWERFUL, PEACEFUL AND EXTREMELY COMPELLING exhibition of paintings and we sincerely hope that by sharing Phils work with the world, that we will also share and ignite in others the positive and adventurous spirit that he lived by. A spirit born of determination, courage, faith and above all love" "A treasure trove of raw talent " PHIL WHATMORE- An artist from an early age who went on to study painting. He was a keen sportsman and became an Australian Champion Skydiver representing his country at world level, however in 1974, aged 29, his competitive skydiving career (and almost his life) was cut short when 11,000 volts of electricity surged through his lower body when his parachute was blown into power lines near Beaudesert in Queensland. Phil suffered crippling injuries and burns and lost the use of his legs, but chose calipers and walking sticks over a wheelchair. After a long recovery he started painting again and his prolific, subtle and striking landscapes, portraits, aerial activities and abstracts became well known around the Gatton, Laidley and Scenic Rim areas of south-eastern Queensland. His faith and determination was undeniable and despite all odds, he managed to fulfill his passion for skydiving again and completed many jumps in later years, but in May 2012 tragedy struck and the parachuting, arts and local communities were horrified when Phil was killed in a parachuting accident near his home at Gatton. He was 67. His family asked Phils good friend Dave McEvoy to help deal with Phil's lifetime collection of paintings. "When I went to Phil's house and looked into the shed that he used as a studio, it was like entering an Aladdin's cave," Dave says. "I discovered over 400 paintings that had been stacked against the walls. Phil rarely sold or gave away his paintings and didn't exhibit his work, even though he was constantly encouraged to do so," said Dave. "Phil was as humble about his talent with a paintbrush, as he was quiet about his physical pain and his unbelievable generosity to those less fortunate than himself, " Dave said. With the help of Phil's friends from the Gatton arts community, Dave McEvoy has lovingly catalogued, cleaned, restored and framed over 150 of Phil Whatmore's paintings and many of these, along with a colourful book which outlines Phil's life and his art, will be launched at the Lockyer Valley Art Gallery, Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 34 Lake Apex Drive Gatton Qld 4343. "ARTIST, SKYDIVER, CRIPPLE, SAINT" is a free exhibition which will run from May 21st to June 25 th 2016. It is expected that the collection will tour Queensland in coming years, but in the meantime, David McEvoy has built a large gallery to permanently house many of Phil's paintings at Ramblers Parachute Drop Zone at Toogoolawah Qld.

person attending

Address:

Lockyer Valley Art Gallery Gatton

34 Lake Apex Drive, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia

Flag this event as inappropriate