Harold The Kangaroo's biography
A$5,450
of $5,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 10th Nov 2015 at 12:00AM.
We want to bring to the world the art, life and magic of Harold "The Kangaroo" Thornton, the "Greatest Genius Who Ever Lived", by asking you to help us fund some of the costs of preparing, publishing and launching Harold's biography by author Pienke Kal.
Pineke has said "what often happens with extraordinary people when they disappear out of site our memory of them also fades away, and that's why I decided to write the story of Harold, his life and his art".
Harold L Thornton aka "Harold The Kangaroo" was a prolific Sydney artist from 1946 to 2004. He lived in Amsterdam & the UK for over 10 years from the early 1970's. Whilst he was in Amsterdam he painted the front of the Bulldog Coffeeshop in 1975 which is now world famous, an icon in the city and a "drawing card" for tourists visiting from all over the world.
Over the years Harold had more than a dozen entries in the NSW Art Gallery painting awards including the Archibald Prize, the Wynne Prize and the Sulman Prize. He was a finalist many times with his first in 1946:
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/search/?q=harold+...
Harold also had many exhibitions with at least 13 in Sydney and 2 major exhibitions in Amsterdam. As well as an accomplished artist Harold was a brilliant mural artist and many of his murals still exist today in NSW such as in the Bucketts Way Motel in Gloucester, the McWillams Winery in Griffith, the original Bulldog Coffeeshop in Amsterdam, and even St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Port Moresby, PNG.
Some saw him as eccentric and even quirky but to his friends and his family he was the loveable 'Uncle Harold'. In the 1980's and '90's Harold became a well known character in Oxford Street, Surry Hills, Kings Cross and Paddington wearing his brightly coloured painted clothes, painted shoes, his painted leather pixie cap and his ornate painted walking stick. He appeared many times on Sydney TV variety shows including the Bert Newton and Don Lane shows and he was featured on the ABC's Australian Story in 1997 that can be seen here:
With many thanks to the ABC:
Harold was a cast member in Peter Weir's first film in 1968 called "Count Vim's Last Exercise" playing the lead role of Count Vim. He even dabbled in songwriting, was in a band a few times, wrote poetry, drew cartoons and wrote stories.
Before Harold set off for Europe he was a frequent visitor to the Yellow House Artists Collective in Potts Point which was set up and operated from 1970-1972 by a good friend of Harold's, well known Sydney artist Martin Sharp. Other notable members of the Yellow House were Brett Whiteley, George Gittoes, Ellis D Fogg, Albie Thoms, Greg Weight, Peter Weir, Bruce Goold, Jim Sharman, Antoinette Starkiewicz and others.
He was also well known by Sydney artist, designer and entrepreneur, Ken Done, who remarked in an article in the City Hub on the 22 March 1996, ‘’His work is absolutely unique, or as unique as an artist can be. When you see the body of Harold’s work, the early paintings he did in Darlinghurst and Paddington, you can understand the quality of his late work and the path he chose. He’s not burdened by any dogma’s or political attitudes. He doesn’t give a stuff for the art establishment, and that is very endearing.’’
Audio Interview with Harold - 1987:
To get an idea of what Harold was like you can listen to this interview of Harold conducted in 1987 by Barbara Blackman, author and patron of the arts and former wife of artist Charles Blackman:
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/244395
Dr Bob Brown & the Franklin River Protest:
Harold entered a portrait of Dr Bob Brown, founder of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society and The Greens political party, in the 1983 Archibald Prize. Harold went down to Tasmania to help out on the protest as they needed banners painted so they could get better coverage on the TV news. This painting now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Here is a video of the unveiling of the portrait with special guest Dr Bob Brown:
"Follow That Tree" - a video by Dale Truman:
Dale produced this video of Harold and says "Harold imparts his wit and wisdom with us as he explains why he is the greatest genius that ever lived. He is without a doubt one of the greatest characters I have ever known". (Caution there is nudity and possibly swearing).
About the Author:
Wilhelmina Kal, known affectionately as Pienke (pronounced Pinky), is a retired museum curator from Amsterdam and was very close friend of Harold's since his time in the city in the '70's. Pienke is Harold's biographer and has come to Australia every year for the last 6 years undertaking painstaking research for her book on Harold. Using family sources and discussions, Harold's friends, acquaintances and fellow artists, his own written notes and stories, newspaper and magazine articles, photos, paintings, recordings, archived film, discussions with art historians, gallery directors and curators, Pienke has finally completed her work and now has a publisher in Amsterdam who will publish the book in English.
The book is called "The Colourful Life of Harold Leslie Thornton alias The Kangaroo" and will be released in late November 2015 - this year. It will contain information on Harold's life, his early job as a signwriter, his love of the NSW rural town Griffith and other country towns, his move into art through a Sydney art school in the 1940's, his adventures in Amsterdam, the UK, PNG and even Moscow. It also contains a chapter that is Harold's "autobiography" that he wrote and an analysis of his artworks throughout his life by Dutch art historian, Erica Kubic-Vegter.
We are hoping that the publisher will launch the book in Australia in early 2016. The book will contain many full colour photos of his art throughout his life showing the many changes in genre. He once said "…What do I paint: I have many styles, and change to suit the subject. My real painting is psychedelic. I don’t follow the old masters, no, I am one."
Who Are We?
Chris Osborne - Australian project co-ordinator and Harold's great-nephew, casual researcher, helper and supporter of Pienke Kal, the author. This is my Facebook site for "The Harold Thornton Project":
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HaroldTheKangarooT...
Pienke Kal - Amsterdam-based author, a very close friend and confidante of Harold for over 40 years. Pienke, a former curator at the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) - Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, first met Harold when she urgently needed a large banner created for a museum exhibition and had heard of this Australian bloke down in the red light district who might be able to do it for her. There was one condition - Harold wanted to bring his dog, Captain Beefheart, to the museum while he painted the banner. Pienke and Harold became life-long friends from that day. This is Pienke's Facebook page that showcases Harold's artwork:
https://www.facebook.com/HaroldtheKangarooThornton
Others - there are many other family members and friends of Harold too numerous to mention here but some who have been very happy to contribute their knowledge and experience of "Uncle" Harold - they have included nephews Bruce Osborne and wife Maureen, Philip Thornton and wife Toni, and Greg Thornton and wife Maree.
Pineke has said "what often happens with extraordinary people when they disappear out of site our memory of them also fades away, and that's why I decided to write the story of Harold, his life and his art".
Harold L Thornton aka "Harold The Kangaroo" was a prolific Sydney artist from 1946 to 2004. He lived in Amsterdam & the UK for over 10 years from the early 1970's. Whilst he was in Amsterdam he painted the front of the Bulldog Coffeeshop in 1975 which is now world famous, an icon in the city and a "drawing card" for tourists visiting from all over the world.
Over the years Harold had more than a dozen entries in the NSW Art Gallery painting awards including the Archibald Prize, the Wynne Prize and the Sulman Prize. He was a finalist many times with his first in 1946:
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/search/?q=harold+...
Harold also had many exhibitions with at least 13 in Sydney and 2 major exhibitions in Amsterdam. As well as an accomplished artist Harold was a brilliant mural artist and many of his murals still exist today in NSW such as in the Bucketts Way Motel in Gloucester, the McWillams Winery in Griffith, the original Bulldog Coffeeshop in Amsterdam, and even St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Port Moresby, PNG.
Some saw him as eccentric and even quirky but to his friends and his family he was the loveable 'Uncle Harold'. In the 1980's and '90's Harold became a well known character in Oxford Street, Surry Hills, Kings Cross and Paddington wearing his brightly coloured painted clothes, painted shoes, his painted leather pixie cap and his ornate painted walking stick. He appeared many times on Sydney TV variety shows including the Bert Newton and Don Lane shows and he was featured on the ABC's Australian Story in 1997 that can be seen here:
With many thanks to the ABC:
Harold was a cast member in Peter Weir's first film in 1968 called "Count Vim's Last Exercise" playing the lead role of Count Vim. He even dabbled in songwriting, was in a band a few times, wrote poetry, drew cartoons and wrote stories.
Before Harold set off for Europe he was a frequent visitor to the Yellow House Artists Collective in Potts Point which was set up and operated from 1970-1972 by a good friend of Harold's, well known Sydney artist Martin Sharp. Other notable members of the Yellow House were Brett Whiteley, George Gittoes, Ellis D Fogg, Albie Thoms, Greg Weight, Peter Weir, Bruce Goold, Jim Sharman, Antoinette Starkiewicz and others.
He was also well known by Sydney artist, designer and entrepreneur, Ken Done, who remarked in an article in the City Hub on the 22 March 1996, ‘’His work is absolutely unique, or as unique as an artist can be. When you see the body of Harold’s work, the early paintings he did in Darlinghurst and Paddington, you can understand the quality of his late work and the path he chose. He’s not burdened by any dogma’s or political attitudes. He doesn’t give a stuff for the art establishment, and that is very endearing.’’
Audio Interview with Harold - 1987:
To get an idea of what Harold was like you can listen to this interview of Harold conducted in 1987 by Barbara Blackman, author and patron of the arts and former wife of artist Charles Blackman:
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/244395
Dr Bob Brown & the Franklin River Protest:
Harold entered a portrait of Dr Bob Brown, founder of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society and The Greens political party, in the 1983 Archibald Prize. Harold went down to Tasmania to help out on the protest as they needed banners painted so they could get better coverage on the TV news. This painting now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Here is a video of the unveiling of the portrait with special guest Dr Bob Brown:
"Follow That Tree" - a video by Dale Truman:
Dale produced this video of Harold and says "Harold imparts his wit and wisdom with us as he explains why he is the greatest genius that ever lived. He is without a doubt one of the greatest characters I have ever known". (Caution there is nudity and possibly swearing).
About the Author:
Wilhelmina Kal, known affectionately as Pienke (pronounced Pinky), is a retired museum curator from Amsterdam and was very close friend of Harold's since his time in the city in the '70's. Pienke is Harold's biographer and has come to Australia every year for the last 6 years undertaking painstaking research for her book on Harold. Using family sources and discussions, Harold's friends, acquaintances and fellow artists, his own written notes and stories, newspaper and magazine articles, photos, paintings, recordings, archived film, discussions with art historians, gallery directors and curators, Pienke has finally completed her work and now has a publisher in Amsterdam who will publish the book in English.
The book is called "The Colourful Life of Harold Leslie Thornton alias The Kangaroo" and will be released in late November 2015 - this year. It will contain information on Harold's life, his early job as a signwriter, his love of the NSW rural town Griffith and other country towns, his move into art through a Sydney art school in the 1940's, his adventures in Amsterdam, the UK, PNG and even Moscow. It also contains a chapter that is Harold's "autobiography" that he wrote and an analysis of his artworks throughout his life by Dutch art historian, Erica Kubic-Vegter.
We are hoping that the publisher will launch the book in Australia in early 2016. The book will contain many full colour photos of his art throughout his life showing the many changes in genre. He once said "…What do I paint: I have many styles, and change to suit the subject. My real painting is psychedelic. I don’t follow the old masters, no, I am one."
Who Are We?
Chris Osborne - Australian project co-ordinator and Harold's great-nephew, casual researcher, helper and supporter of Pienke Kal, the author. This is my Facebook site for "The Harold Thornton Project":
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HaroldTheKangarooT...
Pienke Kal - Amsterdam-based author, a very close friend and confidante of Harold for over 40 years. Pienke, a former curator at the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) - Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, first met Harold when she urgently needed a large banner created for a museum exhibition and had heard of this Australian bloke down in the red light district who might be able to do it for her. There was one condition - Harold wanted to bring his dog, Captain Beefheart, to the museum while he painted the banner. Pienke and Harold became life-long friends from that day. This is Pienke's Facebook page that showcases Harold's artwork:
https://www.facebook.com/HaroldtheKangarooThornton
Others - there are many other family members and friends of Harold too numerous to mention here but some who have been very happy to contribute their knowledge and experience of "Uncle" Harold - they have included nephews Bruce Osborne and wife Maureen, Philip Thornton and wife Toni, and Greg Thornton and wife Maree.
Photo - the Bulldog Coffeeshop Nr.90 mural - Amsterdam - 1975
Photo - Harold and one of his self portraits
Photo - Harold and his dog "LBM" - circa early 1960's
Photo - Harold and his dog "Captain Beefheart" - London 1975
Photo - Harold with " Van Dyke" and painting "Wicky Wacky Wo" circa 1960
Photo - Archibald Entry 1983 - "Dr Brown and the Green Old Time Waltz"
Photo - postcard for one of Harold's & Martin's exhibitions circa 1990
Photo - papier mache sculpture of Harold by Harold
Photo - Harold circa mid 1990's
Photo - cover of one of Harold's stories - 1992
Photo - Archibald Finalist 1948 - "Roy Rene - Mo" by Harold Thornton
Photo - one of Harold's mottos.....
How The Funds Will Be Used
The money raised through this crowdfunding proposal will go towards the preparation and publishing of the book and the Sydney launch event to be held in a suitable venue with a suitable guest. The breakdown of expenditure will look something like this:
- book pre-production costs $1000
- book production $3500
- book launch in Australia $500
At the moment the book launch in Sydney is planned for early 2016.
Please help us bring the rich life and history of this colourful man and his brilliant art to the wider public.
- book pre-production costs $1000
- book production $3500
- book launch in Australia $500
At the moment the book launch in Sydney is planned for early 2016.
Please help us bring the rich life and history of this colourful man and his brilliant art to the wider public.
The Challenges
To be able to raise the target amount.
To be able to secure a suitable venue and a suitable special guest for the Australian launch.
To be able to secure a suitable venue and a suitable special guest for the Australian launch.
Our thanks and gratitude
Our eternal gratitude for helping us get Harold's story out to the world and a special mention on the European and Australian "Harold the Kangaroo" Facebook pages.
0 chosen / 250 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Book Launch Invitation
An Invitation to the Sydney launch of the book and a very special mention on the European and Australian "Harold the Kangaroo" facebook pages.
2 chosen / 48 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Book pre-launch function
An invitation to a special pre-launch function where you can meet and talk personally to the author and our special guest, plus a very special mention on the European and Australian "Harold the Kangaroo" Facebook pages.
4 chosen / 46 available
Est. delivery is Jan 16
Signed copy of Biography
A signed copy of the biography from the author, plus an invitation to the pre-launch function to meet and talk personally with the author and the special guest; and a very very special mention on the European and Australian "Harold the Kangaroo" Facebook pages.
9 chosen / 1 available
Est. delivery is Feb 16