Exhibitions

Retrospective touring exhibitions

1999 – 2002 and 2008 – 2012

For an artist to have an historical collection of their work displayed in a public gallery is a great honour. Such retrospective shows are only bestowed on artists who have made significant achievements within the visual arts. To date, Davson has had two retrospective collections which have featured in over 20 public gallery showings.

• With Gratitude For The Light toured from April 1999 to May 2002.
• Her second major retrospective Davson ~ World Leaders & Enlightenment toured from 2008-2011.
• Both retrospective exhibitions had their first shown in the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery in Queensland.

Evolution of Davson’s first major retrospective exhibition tour

1996 – 1999

Davson’s retrospective exhibitions have occurred due to a progression of extremely supportive events.

• Most of Davson’s art was sold before it was created. This meant art works were delivered directly to their owners, with no opportunity for the paintings to be exhibited. Davson received requests from various art galleries for showings, but she rarely owned sufficient pieces to exhibit.
• Then in 1996, some of Davson’s clients offered to lend their paintings back to the artist, in support for her charity, Artists For Life, which promoted awareness for endangered species.
• Davson’s With Gratitude solo exhibition in 1996 in the Renaissance Sydney Hotel was the foundation exhibition that later evolved into the major retrospective collection With Gratitude For The Light. 

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• For this initial exhibition she borrowed 4 major works from Coro Corp Limited in New Zealand, 14 paintings from the Rooty Hill RSL Club & Resort and one painting each from Cathay Pacific Airways, Swiss Design & Décor and Konica. Also included were several paintings borrowed from private collections.
• (Held in conjunction with the exhibition were two black tie dinners and other functions. One of the dinners was held in support of a charity founded by Davson, Artists For Life endangered species awareness, and had as its guest speakers Horst Rechelbacher, Founder and Chairman of the Aveda Foundation and Member of the International Green Cross Committee, and Robert Hill, a Senator for South Australia, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Federal Minister for the Environment.)
• Pleased with the enthusiasm shown for the exhibition, and the care and professionalism with which Davson handled their art works, these clients and collectors encouraged Davson to display their paintings in other exhibitions.
• In August 1998, Davson held a solo exhibition in the Newcastle Town Hall, promoting the charity Life Without Barriers.
• This larger exhibition with its Black Tie Dinner raised over $10,000 funds for people with disabilities. Along with the loaned works from the With Gratitude exhibition, it featured works on loan from James Fairfax AO, Interforwarding International and the Cardiff Workers Club (now Panthers Cardiff). This brought together the core art works and patrons for Davson’s first major retrospective exhibition.
• To provide funding for the planned retrospective exhibition, in 1998 a Newcastle based collector, Kevin Brown, funded the production of a Limited Edition Print from Davson’s painting Together We Can. Davson added an original drawing to many of the prints, and their sale subsidised much of the costs of touring the exhibition.
• Davson received expressions of interest from regional art galleries in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This major retrospective collection With Gratitude for the Light was firstly shown a the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery in Queensland in April 1999.

“Davson’s work not only brought an impressive and thought-provoking exhibition to the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, it also brought her expertise in professional arts management. Davson gave generously of her time and professional arts practice expertise in formal discussion meetings with the President of the Art Gallery Society, Committee Members, professional and voluntary gallery staff, elected and executive members of Stanthorpe Shire Council.”  Tom Knobel, Shire Economic Development Manager, Stanthorpe Shire Council, QLD [/read]

A second major retrospective exhibition of her work

• With Gratitude For The Light was enthusiastically received in all venues. This inspired other collectors of her art to encourage preparations for a second major exhibition of her work.
• Wishing to promote peace and harmony within local communities, Davson agreed another such exhibition. She also called on the support of her celebrity affiliations for this 2nd major survey exhibition titled Davson ~ World Leaders & Enlightenment.