Ballarat School of Art

Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Introduction to Stone and Plate Lithography 23 & 24 August 2014

In August 2014 I was invited by Jimmy Pasakos to visit Ballarat School of Art - part of The Federation University. The School occupies a number of buildings on the Camp Street campus, on the corner of Lydiard Street and Sturt Street in the centre of the town - including the Old Post Office, the former Magistrates Law Court, the Old Library and in two modern buildings called The New North and The New South. The second oldest art college in Australia- the school offers courses in Fine Art, Design, Theatre and Performance Studies.

The print workshop is well equipped and has facilities for etching, relief printing, stone and plate lithography. Jimmy Pasakos who manages the studio is keen for artists to visit, to make work, give lectures and teach workshops. The School's Artist in Residence scheme provides accomodation in the 'penthouse appartment', which has fabulous views of the town from the top floor of the old law court building.  Jimmy Pasakos is also director of Goldfields Printmakers and a committee member of The Print Council of Australia

Ballarat is an interesting town, approximately 70 miles north west of Melbourne, about an hour and a half on the train from Southern Cross Station. The town grew rapidly during the Nineteenth Century as gold was discovered and the wealth generated resulted in handsome Victorian architecture. The Art Gallery of Ballarat which is next door on Lydiard Street is considered to have one of the best public collections of Australian Art outside Sydney and Melbourne. The gallery also has a extensive collection of prints, drawings and rare books.