Description

Extended Data

Birth Place

Sheffield, UK

Biography

Sculptor, was born in Sheffield, daughter of Jewish parents who migrated to Western Australia in 1923. In 1924 she was enrolled in 'Clay Modelling’ at Perth Technical School under J. W. R. Linton. The syllabus required: – Drawing from the decorative casts, heads and figures, after this a short course of artistic anatomy; then painting from still life, drawing and painting from the life, and the study of composition. Modelling will be carried on in conjunction with these Art Classes. A Landscape Class will be formed for those who wish to take up this particular branch of art. A separate day will be set apart for this work, when students will be taken to some convenient sketching ground, where they may study from nature. Students also studied Design, which included: ... historic ornament and principles of ornament, the drawing of scale plans, elevations and sections of the work to be designed, and detailed drawings of the different parts. ... Where the student wishes to apply the knowledge and skill acquired to his or her daily occupation, special attention is given to encourage the development of original design for that purpose. The courses tried to cover the needs of designers for industry and other subjects were taught on demand. Linton for instance taught miniature painting on porcelain to those who were interested. Additional subjects introduced with the five-year Associateship included Geometry, Art & Architectural History, Architectural Drawing, Modelling from Life, Anatomy, and History of Art-crafts. A number of the students in the modelling class were talented at making portrait busts. Those who went on to make a name in this field included Mr F. Steitz, Finley, Jamie A. B. Linton and Eva Benson. Finney made busts of eminent persons. In 1926 she exhibited a study of a child. In 1928 she exhibited a bust of Mrs E. Kowadlo . In 1929 her exhibits included the Governor Sir William Campion, the Premier Mr Collier, the Lord Mayor, Rabbi Freedman, Archbishop Riley and Archbishop Clune . During the Depression she returned to England where she made figurines. She was injured in a bombing raid During World War II and returned to Western Australia in 1946. She was active in the Labour Party. In 1963 she returned to making sculpture. Some of her best known works are the portrait of Sir Walter Murdoch at Murdoch University, the portrait of Edith Cowan at Edith Cowan University, Dame Florence Cardell Oliver and others in the Parliament House Collection, Sir Harry Howard , Sir Claude Hotchin , Senator Dorothy Tangney , Aboriginal children from Sister Kate’s Home in the Western Australian Museum and Tommy Windich and Tommy Pierre in the collection of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. Writers: Erickson, Dorothy (Dr) Note: primary biographer Date written: 2011 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 1908

Summary

Sculptor, was born in Sheffield; daughter of Jewish parents who migrated to Western Australia in 1923.

Gender

Female

Died

1991

Age at death

83