Itsy Bitsy Art History: Pro Hart « ~beyond bluestockings~

It’s time for a bit of Australia.

Interesting snippets:

His real name was…. Kevin. He was dubbed “Professor” by his friends, as he was always inventing things. This is how he came to be “Pro” Hart.
Even though three of his works were purchased by HRH Prince Philip, one of his paintings hangs in the White House, and his works are held by galleries the world over, the Australian art elite were inclined to lift their collective noses at his style.

He was a distance ed. student ( Coooool! ) and grew up on a sheep station near Broken Hill.
After completing his formal education, he went to work in the mines.
He painted, sculpted with metal, used cannonballs of paint to fire at canvasses, and drop balloons full of paint in his artistic explorations.

He collected Rolls Royce cars (and…umm…. painted them.)
He was a conspiracy theorist, and once suggest that the ALP and the Greens be thrown aboard a canoe in the middle of the Tasman Sea, with nothing more than a broken oar and a rusted compass. That’s not why I chose him – honest!
And lastly…..who could forget this advertisement?

I regret that I couldn’t find a single resource aimed at children on Pro Hart, so I have created a simple Pro Hart crossword you can download, with Pro Hart Crossword Answer Key. I have no idea why, but they will open in a new window, and you can download from there.

If you would like to futher enrich your studies of this Australian art icon, you could always find a Rolls, and let your dear children have a go at painting it in Pro’s outback style. Or you could visit someone with with light coloured carpet and follow the insect theme. The possibilities are endless….

Fee Says:

October 5, 2009 at 11:13 pm

I LOVE that TV ad – it’s one of my all-time faves. Pro Hart is fantastic. I always wondered what the “Pro” stood for – now I know.

Thanks for another interesting art history lesson Mrs BB.

Fee x

Whitney Says:

October 6, 2009 at 5:52 am

I’m liking the painting where the horses have wheels instead of hooves. My three-year-old would be fascinated by that…

Beyond Bluestockings Says:

October 6, 2009 at 6:52 am

Fee, Yes, it’s a classic. There is a take off by the Chasers in a memorial which is worth hearing for the reaction of the crowd of school kids nearby:

Whitney, I had to hunt to find a pic of that particular painting. I saw it as a child (just a picture of it in a book) and it was, to say the least, a fascinating awakening. I have always thought of Pro Hart as “the man who paints horses with wheels”.

It was a treat watching my own childrens’ reaction to it

Melanie Says:

October 6, 2009 at 7:50 am

COOL! OOH…I love Pro Hart! So essesntially Australian, and his work is full of such vivid colours. We are learning about him too at the moment and having fun creating our own Pro-inspired art work! Did you know he actually invented his own canon style gun that could fire paint balls at blank canvas? My children are already planning to hang blank paper on the backyard fence and propell paint at it! Ah the joy of learning!!
Melanie

Homeschoolmum4Christ Says:

October 6, 2009 at 3:33 pm

I spent much time looking at Pro Hart’s works when we visited Broken Hill, and we bought one of Hugh Schulz’s paintings – he was a naiive painter.
Blessings,
Jillian
<

Ruby Says:

October 6, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Can you believe I have never seen the carpet ad? the send up is great too.
I’m one of those Aussies in two minds about Pro. some of his stuff I love (like the Opera House above+ I am not a fan of the horses on wheels
I have a lovely book of Banjo Patterson poems illustrated by Pro Hart. Again, I think some are great but to me some of those classics just don’t fit with the wheels! You have reminded me to dig it out to show my boys. Now, they are sure to appreciate wheels on horses!

Susan Says:

October 6, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Pro went to the same church that I did when I was first born again! He wasn’t just a great artist and inventor but a real down to earth guy.

I really must tell you a wonderful story. Our Youth Group had a Car Rally night. It’s a bit like Amazing Race and we drove all over B.Hill and Silverton finding clues and acquiring particular items needed to finish the car rally.

Well, here it was at 9pm on Friday night and we needed… an ant. Yes, an ant. pray tell, where would one get an ant at 9pm?

So, we hooned our way up to Pro’s place and rapped on the door. His wife answered the door…and she obliged by getting Pro. he gave a wry little laugh and drew one of his famous ants on a piece of paper for us!

Suffice to say we were the only car who managed to *find* an ant that night.

Many years ago I just never *got* his artwork. It wasn’t *pretty*, in my mind so I had no appreciation for it. It wasn’t till I learned a little about him, and met him in real life that I looked closer at his art. I really do appreciate it now. However, I think it’s very much an acquired taste- most people either like it or they don’t!

October 6, 2009 at 4:44 pm

He also painted a HUGE mural on the back wall of the South BH Anglican church. This mural depicted the whole story of creation and the gospel. I have an old picture of it somewhere…I’ll try to locate it, scan it and upload it! It is truly amazing!

October 6, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Wow Susan!
A great connection and memories of one very well known Aussie!

October 7, 2009 at 9:38 am

Melanie, I did know about the cannon, but I didn’t know it was his own invention.

So…are you going to let the kiddos smoosh spaghetti on your carpet?

Jillian, I’d love to go to the gallery and see the collected works there – what a treat!

Ruby, you’ve never seen the ad? How did that happen? And you don’t like the horses with wheels? Perhaps I might not either if I had first seen it as an adult, but honestly, as a child it was such a wonder and delight I’ve never forgotten it.

Susan, I knew I’d be able to draw you on this one! Thanks for sharing your story with us – what a great experience!

I think learning about the man has made me like him the more, and perhaps that has influenced my appreciation of his art. Certainly it was a relief to learn about someone about whom there were no sordid details to leave out. It was this that inspired me to choose Pro for this post, the quote about the ALP and the greens was just a bonus

kseverny Says:

October 8, 2009 at 8:52 am

this guy clearly has a lot of talent, thanks for sharing this

October 8, 2009 at 4:13 pm

Richard, did you watch the Pro Hart Carpet Ad in the you tube link?

You are just the man to try something like this. You have art, and you have food. One would think it would be a natural conclusion! (supposing of course, that you also have..carpet : ) )

Let me know if you attempt it