The Diana Bowden Shell Jewellery Exhibition complements arts festival play.
In an amazing "coup", curator , Simon Poole, not only brings you a wonderful exhibition of jewellery and memorabilia from those pioneering days in Port Douglas but also treasured pieces of jewellery in pristine condition, some of which will be available for purchase! It's an interesting and romantic story...
Beautiful pieces of Diana’s jewellery have been sourced from private collections for the exhibition. The Bowden’s daughters, Melissa and Kate, have lent unseen pieces of their mother’s work along with photographs and memorabilia of the time Max and Diana lived in Port Douglas. A Creative PartnershipIt was a creative partnership with Max grinding, cutting and polishing the shells for Diana to assemble the jewellery from her designs. At first the shells were gathered locally but as the business grew imported shells were used. In a short time Diana’s jewellery was sold Australia wide, London, Hawaii and New York. They opened the Nautilus Boutique and established a small factory, employing a dozen local women, in Murphy Street, Port Douglas.Diana and Max were a gregarious couple and generous hosts. Many celebrities, from the Governor of Queensland to artists like Donald Friend and Ray Crooke, Zoologist Gerald Durrell, Vivienne Leigh and Robert Helpmann found their way up the coastal track to enjoy the Bowden’s company and Diana’s legendary food. This led to the establishment of the Nautilus Restaurant. Fifty years on the restaurant maintains the reputation for quality dining. Exotic Fruit and FlowersIn later years the manufacturing side of the business was closed but Diana continued to make selected pieces until her death in 1988. Max established a tropical garden surrounding their home and pioneered the exotic fruit and flower export industry from Port Douglas to the southern state capitals.
This exhibition will reacquaint the local community and visitors with the significant role played by Max and Diana Bowden in shaping of the culture and history of Port Douglas and the region. It is presented in conjunction with "Max and Diana of the Nautilus", a play written by Jack Heywood. The exhibition also offers the opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces of Diana’s extra-ordinary shell jewellery from a finite supply not seen in public for over twenty years. EXHIBITION DETAILSThe Diana Bowden Shell Jewellery ExhibitionPort Douglas Community Centre. Mowbray Street, Port Douglas Saturday 3rd October – Sunday 11th October Official Opening: Tuesday 6th October at 6.30pm Enquiries: This project has been made possible by the financial assistance of the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between Arts Queensland and the Cairns Regional Council 
To top of Diana Bowden Shell Jewellery Exhibition
|
