Monash Memo - 23 May 2001

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River residency for painter

Monash painting lecturer Mr Gregory Pryor is spending five months in Eltham for an artist's residency funded by Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council.

Living in a mud brick house designed by architect Alistair Knox, Mr Pryor (pictured), from the Faculty of Art and Design, will be only a short walk from the Yarra River, which will be the focus of his creative talents.

His work will include drawings, digital photographs, video clips, and thoughts and feelings captured in journals.

"I'll incorporate observations, things I'm thinking about at the time like memories or a book I'm reading, perhaps something I've overheard someone say," he said.

His previous work has centred on rivers all over the world including the Yellow River in China, the Sava River in Slovenia, the Koderiana River in Italy and the Noosa River in Queensland.

He combines image and text components translated into watercolours and inks to produce paintings with a dreamlike quality.

His fascination with rivers stems from his childhood growing up in Swan Hill on the Murray River.

"I always felt an affinity for the Murray. I never really liked the open sea and there's something about the course of a river that is wonderfully poetic - its meandering qualities and peaceful movement. They are places of reverie," he said.

Mr Pryor has received awards to travel throughout Australia, France, China and Italy for his work, which is held in various Australian collections including the National Gallery of Australia.