Bendigo & Heathcote Official Visitor Guide 2016

Bendigo Art Gallery
Art with HeartThe Seine at Suresnes. Alfred Sisley
Working at Australia’s best-known regional
gallery has given Tansy Curtin many
career highlights.
This year the curator will add the Marilyn
Monroe exhibition to her list of blockbusters.
She credits the world’s Marilyn memorabilia
collectors in helping her source and research
the costumes, film scripts, photographs and
ephemera being shown in Bendigo.
“One of the highlights for me would be the
early photographs of Marilyn/Norma Jeane
Baker as a young child,” Tansy says. “Each of
these images has been annotated by Marilyn
and offers us rare insight into her early life
before Hollywood stardom.”
Tansy is also well-versed on the early life of
the Bendigo Art Gallery; founded in 1887. One
of the oldest permanent works is also one of
her favourites – Too Late by Herbert Schmalz,
purchased in 1893. “It’s a grand Victorian-era
painting depicting a story of lost love,”
Tansy says.
Tansy’s first pick is The Seine at Suresnes
by French post-impressionist painter, Alfred
Sisley. “It is serene and unassuming with an
understated palette of blues, pinks and greens,”
she says.
bendigotourism.com heathcote.org.au Official Visitor Guide 17