Jack Absalom
Encyclopedia
Jack Absalom is an Australia
n artist, author and adventurer.
Born in Port Augusta, South Australia
, he worked in the North Mine at Broken Hill, New South Wales
, where he has resided for the past 50 years. He was brought up in the Nullarbor, west of Port Augusta, South Australia
and from an early age developed a wide knowledge of the Australian outback
from Indigenous Australians
(Aboriginals) who still existed in tribes at that time.
In 1972, Absalom made a trip to the Flinders Ranges
with a group of artists. Although he had never before painted, he felt a great urge to paint the landscape and a natural talent was discovered. He was one of the members of the Brushmen of the Bush
– a group of five artists who exhibited in Australia
and all over the world for many years raising money for charity. In April 1997 he opened his gallery in Broken Hill which showcases his oil paintings, prints, publications, DVDs and a his magnificent opal collection. Each year Absalom disappears into the Australian outback
for two months to paint.
He also starred in a number of television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) covering survival techniques and documentaries on the Australian outback
, including “Absalom's Outback” when he travelled to remote outback
locations in a Chrysler Sigma
.
Absalom has been the recipient of various awards, including “Australian Achiever of the Year Award” 1988 and the “Advance Australia Award
” in 1995 both acknowledging his contribution to art; “Broken Hill Citizenship Award” for his promotion of Broken Hill; and “Medal of the Order of Australia” (OAM
) in 2006 for service to the visual arts as a painter and to the community through fundraising for a range of charitable organisations.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n artist, author and adventurer.
Born in Port Augusta, South Australia
Port Augusta, South Australia
-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
, he worked in the North Mine at Broken Hill, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, where he has resided for the past 50 years. He was brought up in the Nullarbor, west of Port Augusta, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and from an early age developed a wide knowledge of the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
from Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
(Aboriginals) who still existed in tribes at that time.
In 1972, Absalom made a trip to the Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
with a group of artists. Although he had never before painted, he felt a great urge to paint the landscape and a natural talent was discovered. He was one of the members of the Brushmen of the Bush
Brushmen of the Bush
Brushmen of the Bush was a painting group of five artists who got together in Broken Hill, New South Wales in 1973. It was active until 1989. The five members of the group were Pro Hart, Eric Minchin, Jack Absalom, John Pickup and Hugh Schulz....
– a group of five artists who exhibited in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and all over the world for many years raising money for charity. In April 1997 he opened his gallery in Broken Hill which showcases his oil paintings, prints, publications, DVDs and a his magnificent opal collection. Each year Absalom disappears into the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
for two months to paint.
He also starred in a number of television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) covering survival techniques and documentaries on the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, including “Absalom's Outback” when he travelled to remote outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
locations in a Chrysler Sigma
Chrysler Sigma
The Chrysler Sigma is a version of the Mitsubishi Galant automobile that was built by Chrysler Australia in Adelaide from 1977. When Mitsubishi Motors Australia took over Chrysler Australia's manufacturing facilities in 1980, they renamed the vehicle the Mitsubishi Sigma...
.
Absalom has been the recipient of various awards, including “Australian Achiever of the Year Award” 1988 and the “Advance Australia Award
Advance Australia Award
The Advance Australia Foundation was established in 1980. The AAF recognised "individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the growth and enhancement of Australia, the Australian people and the Australian way of life"....
” in 1995 both acknowledging his contribution to art; “Broken Hill Citizenship Award” for his promotion of Broken Hill; and “Medal of the Order of Australia” (OAM
OAM
OAM is an acronym that may refer to:*OA&M, Operations, Administration, and Maintenance*Oamaru Aerodrome, New Zealand*Object access method*Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca, an observatory in Spain*U.S...
) in 2006 for service to the visual arts as a painter and to the community through fundraising for a range of charitable organisations.
Works
- Absalom's outback paintings, 1983, ISBN 978-0-86788-005-2
- Safe Outback Travel, 1988, ISBN 978-0-86788-028-1
- Jack Absalom's Barbecue Cookbook, 1990, ISBN 978-0-86788-184-4
- Absalom: Paintings 1972-1996, 1996, ISBN 978-0-646-28427-9
- Outback Cooking in the Camp Oven, 1997, ISBN 978-0-86788-281-0
- Jack Absalom's Gallery, 2003, ISBN 978-0-646-42961-8
- Jack Abdalom's Outback Journeys DVDs