May Gibbs – an exhibition celebrating 100 years of Gum-Nut Babies

The City of South Perth Historical Society is celebrating a centenary of May Gibbs becoming a published author in Australia with a special exhibition featuring her first Australian books, Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies at Heritage House Cultural Centre from Saturday 15 October to 31 January 2017.

Some information from the Historic Society:

May lived much of her youth in South Perth and drew inspiration for her early stories from the Western Australian bush. May arrived in Sydney in 1913 with a large portfolio of art gleaned from her year’s spent in the local bushland.  Within months the first Gum-Nut babies appeared peeping out from behind gum leaves in the Christmas 1913 cover of the Sydney Mail, illustrations for The Magic Button by Ethel Turner and Little Bush Poppy by Edith Graham.  May created at this time her iconic Gum Leaf bookmark, from the Western Australian Marri ‘Red Gum’ the most prolific of local trees (and the gumnut we know so well) which she placed in copyright in Dec 1913, a series of cheeky and nostalgic Post Cards for troops in 1914 saw the emergence of May’s little bush sprites named ‘the Spirit of the Bush’ which developed into her first two children’s books, Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies in 1916.

Society President Lynn O’Hara said generations of children, their parents and grandparents world-wide have enjoyed May’s stories of the Gum-Nut and Gum-Blossom Babies who loved to play tricks on their bushland friends.

“Through her stories and art May Gibbs introduce Australians of all ages to the beauty and uniqueness of the Australian bush and our society is proud to mark this important anniversary with a display of her work” we would wish to acknowledge the wonderful support of the City of South Perth and their extensive May and Herbert Gibbs Art collection. Mrs O’Hara said.

TO VISIT

Opening Hours

15 October 2016 – 30 November 2016
Tue – Sun, 1 pm -4 pm
Fri, 10 am-4 pm

1 December 2016 – 31 January 2017
Fri, 10 am – 4 pm
Sat – Sun, 1 pm – 4pm

Location

Heritage House Cultural Centre
Cnr Mends Street and Mill Point Road
South Perth, WA, 6151

For more information

City of South Perth Historical Society
9367-9243
http://www.southperthhistoricalsociety.org/

Public Art in Our City

The City is seeking community input into where, why and what types of public art we would like to see within the City of South Perth.

We know that May Gibbs now sits in Windsor Park for visitors to enjoy on their way from the ferry to the Zoo… but where else might we find inspiration from our past visiting us today?

Feedback closes this Friday 21 October, so if you have any thoughts to contribute on where we can integrate our history and heritage into the public art around our City, add your ideas to the Feedback Map.

Visit the City’s Public Art Strategy page on Your Say South Perth to have your say.