Helen Playford's Art Profile

Life in Australia for Helen Playford began with a ship journey. “My parents took the bold step to migrate to Australia from Estonia in 1950, and arrived with hope in a suitcase at the port of Fremantle in Western Australia. The life of travel and journeys will continue to inspire me.”

HRH Princess Anne Portrait by Helen Playford

One of Australia’s portrait artists, recent works include a portrait of Princess Anne (presented to the “Not Forgotten Association” in London), portraits of distinguished lawyers and two QCs, success in the Doug Moran 2000 $100,000 National Portrait Prize (Tony with Fish Trophy) and various major commissions. An interest in history has lead to a series featuring early life in the goldfields of West Australia and the history of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Tony with Fish Trophy by Helen Playford

http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/moran/moran.swf
http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2003/s983481.htm

Helen has won numerous prizes, awards and scholarships during her studies of the arts. Graduating with a BA in Visual Arts from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia and a MA at Curtin University of Technolgy in 2002. Shown successfully in London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Perth, Helen Playford’s works are represented in many private collections, with television and radio interviews during her exhibitions.
http://www.ecu.edu.au/alumni/path_of_honour/PlayfordH.html
http://www.nvafriends.nl/index.php?cid=35&nid=196

Women in Law and Art 2001

(p32 Law Journal December 2001)

Art depicts the contribution to society from

Australia's first woman MP Edith Cowan

Edith Cowan's Portrait by Artist Helen Playford in the ECU Collection Joondalup West Australia

                                           

Julie Bishop

In 2001 nineteen Western Australian women in the law are depicted in a series of portrait paintings by Helen Playford commemorating the life and contribution to society of Edith Dircksey Cowan, Australia's first woman MP.

The Edith Dircksey Cowan Portrait Exhibition was opened by the Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Hon David Malcolm AC, on October 25 and remained on display at the Karrakatta Club in Perth, until November 2. The project was a joint initiative of artist Helen Playford and Hilary Silbert founder of the Edith Dircksey Cowan Commemoration. Today ECU university, is named after Edith Cowan.

Geraldton-born Edith Cowan (1861-1932) spent a lifetime in active citizenship, contributing to her community in many ways through a wide range of organisations and activities. She was the founder, commitee member or president of more than 50 organizations - including the Karrakatta Club, the oldest women's club in Australia.

At age 60, as a wife and mother of five children, she became the first woman elected to any Australian parliament, and subsequently donated her parliamentary salary to charity.

Edith Cowan was reponsible for the 1923 Women's Legal Status Bill which, among other things, allowed women to enter the professions - inlcuding the law - for the first time. During the debate on this Bill, she was asked: "Surely you do not want to bring woman down to the level of men?" To which she replied: "No, I want to raise the men to the level of women, that may be possible". It was this spirit, outstanding citizenship and willingness to contribute to society, that the exhibition's organisers sought to honour.

Helen's quote:"I wanted to do something as a tribute to this remarkable woman who led the way in allowing women to contribute their energies and interllect to society, by recognising and relflecting on women's achievements".

Helen Playford was a 2000-2001 finalist in the prestigious Doug Moran National Portrait Competition.

"Hilary, who had already founded the EDC Commemoration, administered the project and identified and approached the candidates. We wanted women in higher education and decided on the law as the selcted discipline. The participants were selected by Hilary to represent a diversity of age, cultural background, experience and expertise, type of practice and outside interests".

They include students, retireed, judges, interstate and country practitioners, sole pracitioners, practioners in small firms, national partnerships, government and corporates. Other careers they have follwed include teaching, politics, modelling nursing, midwifery, journalism and motherhood. Their numbers include a multi-medal winning Paralympian (Tracey Scott), a former refugee (Dubravka Frketic-Vasov), the first twin sisters to study law (Janine and Lee Carroll), first Asians (Tootsie Koh and Carolyn Tan), to contemporaneously graduate from the UWA Law School and subsequently gain admission to the bar.

The participants are: Ilana Atlas, Merryl Bennett, Julie Bishop, Janet Brogan, Janine Carroll, Lee Carroll, Val Cearns, Tracey Cross, Shauna Deane, Dubravka Frketic-Vasov, Andre Horrigan, Tootie Koh, Lucia Lombardo, Dianne Masel, Carmel Mckenzie, Carolyn Tan, Jane Thompson, Mary Ann Yates and the late Philippa Watt.

The opening at the Karrakatta Club, included invited guests deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and former WA National Party Leader Hendy Cowan, a decendant of Edith Dircksey Cowan.

Val Cearns










Shauna Dean






















Janine and Lee Carroll





Janet Brogan







Alana Atlas

During his official opening address, which inclued a potted history of Edith Cowan, the Chief Justice revealed that he too is decended from the Cowan history.

Kalgoorlie Colours and Shades 1993

The venue was the old Miners Building in Hannan Street. My inspiration for these series of paintings was the pioneering spirit of the early West Australians and the grit and determination of the miners, in finding their lives in the isolation of Kalgoorlie. I was invited to research from old newspapers that were in the basement of the Kalgoorlie Miner Building.
Title: 1927 Kalgoorlie Miner - Oil on Canvas

I can remember the excitment of finding these historic documents, and became engrossed in their daily lives, especially to discover their social lives so busy and full of many cultural and sporting events. Many bike races were very popular, hundreds of riders would gather in Hannan St. The Exhibition in 1993 was on the top floor of the Miners Building (the local paper being still produced from the same location).

Title: 1899 Exchange Hotel - Oil on Canvas

The Palace Hotel owner had a very attractive verandah around all the building, and it could be imagined people sitting in the cool shade having a drink and chatting about the latest gold finds. People still talk about the current gold price over the bar.

Title:1903 Palace Hotel - Oil on Canvas

Water was a very precious, but the making of beer, was a priority for all those dusty mouths and aching limbs. This is as close to production as they could manage, even though the demand was unlimited. At least the delivery was not very far.
Title 1907 Standard Brewery - Oil on Canvas

This hardy trio of trappers with their glinty eyed dogs provided fresh meat for the expanding gold mining town of Kalgoorlie.
Title 1904 Three Rabbiters - Oil on Canvas



This character typifies the 'tough spirit' of the earlier pioneers.
Wood was a scarce commodity, for fires and cooking, especially once the local 'on hand supply' was easily used. Enterprising Abrahams made him self a valueable member of the mining community.
Title 1906 Armless Abrahams - Oil on Canvas




This was the best mode of travel and carrying of goods in the dry inland, the camels were plentiful, as a legacy from the arab traders. Notice how they dressed in their 'Sunday Best' for the occasion.
Title 1905 The Wilson Family - Oil on Canvas




After the rains, the everlasting sprang to life in the desert areas. What a better way to take the dog out for the day and enjoy a family outing. Note how high the flowers were surrounding the family dog.
1900 Goldfields Picnic - Oil on Canvas



Later in the century homes were being established, even thought building materials were scarce. This would be a typical scene of the husband coming home for lunch on his bike, while the dog entertains us by sitting up and holding a pipe in this mouth.
Title: 1921 Miners House - Oil on Canvas



Tennis for this group was the way to spend their time was relaxing by hitting a ball around the courts. I'm not sure about the date for this painting.  It was the era of blazers for the men and stylish hats for the women.
Title 1900 Tennis Players - Oil on Canvas




Racing day was a big event on the social calendar, as it still is today, the racing stand still exists. The ladies enjoyed dressing in their best to lean on the picket fence, that divided the public from the horses.
Title 1910 Steeple Chase - Oil on Canvas





What a great day to 'drop you daks' and jump in with your mates, and have your photo taken. No shyness, just 'good fun' for the boys.
Title 1917 Kalgoorlie Bathers - Oil on Canvas




This must have been a very proserous business with a team for four horses to do the deliveries. How proud the men look with their long white aprons, alongside their horse and covered carriages.
Title 1911 Bricknell Grocery - Oil on Canvas





The poultry markets, must have been very early in the morning, to avoid the dust, heat and flies. Plenty of choice, for a Sunday roast.
Title 1914 Poultry Markets - Oil on Canvas

Dance of the Trees - Burswood Exhibition 1992