Manly by Ferry: Treasures from the Vault
Immortalised in art, music and literature, the Manly ferry is embedded into the cultural fabric of Sydney and has long evoked all kinds of emotions and imagery. For over 140 years, artists have captured the Manly ferry journeying across Sydney Harbour in its ever-changing moods. Through seasons and across generations, its to-ing and fro-ing has set a familiar rhythm in the life of the city.
Manly by Ferry: Treasures from the Vault celebrates this quintessential Sydney icon and reveals insights into its evolution across the decades.
Drawing from MAG&M’s photography, painting, and museum collections, the exhibition explores the inherent duality of these much-loved vessels as they balance carrying care-free day-trippers and busy local commuters, across boisterous swells and peaceful waters.
Highlights include photographs by Max Dupain and Frank Bell, and paintings by Edward Fevyer, Harold Greenhill, Peter Kingston, and Wendy Sharpe.
The ‘Treasures from the Vault’ series shares some of the rich history and stories of place, and of the artists themselves, and features works acquired through MAG&M Society, the Theo Batten Bequest, Northern Beaches Council, and from the artists and donors through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.
Visitors are invited to share their favourite story of a Manly ferry journey in a special exhibition log on display throughout the exhibition.
Location: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, West Esplanade, Manly