General News
5 November, 2024
Art talk coming up at the gallery
Residents will be able to discover the life and times of one of the region’s earliest golden figures with the Central Goldfields Art Gallery’s latest art talk.
The presentation explores the adventures of Lola Montez, an Irish born dancer who arrived in Australia in August, 1855 after gaining great political power in Bavaria by catching the eye of King Ludwig I and performing across Europe and America.
She gained heavy notoriety in the Central Goldfields in February 1856 following her performance at the Victoria Theatre and publicly whipping the editor of the Ballarat Times, Henry Seekamp, after the paper published a scathing review.
Ms Montez continued her tour across the goldfields in Bendigo and Castlemaine from April 1856.
Art talk presenter and senior lecturer in history at Federation University, Dr David Waldron, said this only scratches the surface of her story.
“Lola Montez remains a compelling figure of study, not only for her notorious ‘Spider Dance’ but for the cultural waves she stirred in colonial Australia,” he said.
“Lola’s legacy lives on as a symbol of defiance and allure. She scandalized yet captivated audiences in 1856, creating a powerful narrative of rebellion against societal norms.
“Her performances still echo today as a fascinating blend of spectacle and moral controversy, reminding us of the tensions and passions of the gold rush era.”
During her tour across Victoria, Ms Montez was presented with a golden brooch currently on display in the gallery’s Art of Gold exhibition on loan from the National Gallery of Australia.
Central Goldfields Shire Council manager tourism, events and culture Rosalie Hastwell said the lecture is a sparkling addition to the historic showcase.
“We are delighted that Dr Waldron will be visiting Maryborough to share his knowledge about one of the very well-known and celebrated women from the goldfields history in our region,” she said.
“One of the fascinating things about the gold rush in Central Victoria was that there was a much higher number and greater contribution made by women here compared to other gold rushes across the globe.
“But in many ways, the real stories of their lives are still less well known than the stories of men in the region.
“Dr Waldron’s talk will help to bring to light more about the real lives of women in history as he unpacks some of the myths and shares some of the fascinating facts of Lola Montez’s life.”
The Lola Montez: A Cipher in History, Hidden Behind Scandal and Sensation art talk at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery commences at noon tomorrow, November 6. Entry is $5.
For more information and to book, call the art gallery on 5461-6600 or email cgsc.art@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au