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| Ben Trupperbaumer signing his new Folio of prints with master printmaker, Ron McBurnie of Monsoon Publishing in Townsville. |
See our first exciting exhibition for 2019 in the Special Collections display cases on level 1 of the Mabo Library in Townsville this month as we celebrate Ben Trupperbaumer's recent donation. You won't regret taking the time to explore this artistic gift of great historical importance to North Queensland.
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| Ben Trupperbaumer |
Artist, Gerhard Bentrupperbaumer was born in Bielefeld, West Germany, 1948. Between 1968-72 he studied art at the Kunsthochschule, Bielefeld. In 1973-74 he joined the German Volunteer Service abroad in Cameroon, West Africa, where he worked on a project to reintroduce traditional arts and crafts into the community. Further overseas experience followed with a period teaching in Kathmandu, where he met his future wife. On moving back to Joan’s home region at Mission Beach in 1979, he commenced exhibiting his artworks under the name Ben Trupperbaumer. He currently resides on the Atherton Tableland.
Ben has given to Special Collections a group of original materials which represent both his art practice and his previous work as a North Queensland environmental activist. His wonderful donation consists of 3 intimately connected parts:
1. A full set of the Newsletters of the MRCD: The Movement for Responsible Coastal Development which was the first incorporated conservation group based in Mission Beach existing from 1990 – 1992. Ben was one of the founders and in support of the groups’ activities he created a series of original artist prints – wood cuts which were not only sold to raise funds but also featured on the cover of the group’s Newsletters as displayed here.
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| This page from the donated Print Folio shows the covers of all of the MRCD Newsletters and the Annual Report. |
2. A new Folio of nine woodcuts made by Ben Trupperbaumer in support of the MRCD and produced by Monsoon Publishing beginning in 2016 under the guidance of master printmaker, Ron McBurnie.
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| One of the original artist prints from the new Folio with its corresponding woodblock in the foreground. |
3. The nine, unique woodblocks used to produce the 9 woodcut prints featured in the new Folio. The woodblocks have been made from various Australian grown timbers including Sandalwood, Ebony and Gidgee.
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| One of the woodblocks created by Ben Trupperbaumer. |
Stay tuned for more posts about this wonderful donation during March. The exhibition is available during the
Mabo Library opening hours. To access the Library's Special Collections talk to the library staff or send an email to specialcollections@jcu.edu.au
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