James Glover in trademark shirt sleeves and sleeveless jumper during one of his art classes at the Wonthaggi Technical School.
By Catherine Watson
ARTIST, teacher, an early conservationist, a man who spoke his mind … James Glover made quite an impression on Wonthaggi from the time he arrived as a young teacher in the early 1940s.
His artistic legacy is celebrated in a new book co-written by his daughter, Jill Miles, and Arnis Heislers. The Art of Living: Life and Artistry of James Glover will be launched at the Wonthaggi Library at 11.30 am on Saturday.
ARTIST, teacher, an early conservationist, a man who spoke his mind … James Glover made quite an impression on Wonthaggi from the time he arrived as a young teacher in the early 1940s.
His artistic legacy is celebrated in a new book co-written by his daughter, Jill Miles, and Arnis Heislers. The Art of Living: Life and Artistry of James Glover will be launched at the Wonthaggi Library at 11.30 am on Saturday.
All his known works of art (paintings, sketches, etchings, and calligraphy), fine copper and silver work, poetry and prose are included and fully illustrated in a beautifully crafted book of 160 pages.
It includes accounts from past students, artist and teaching colleagues and those he influenced as a long-time resident with diverse interests from local history to conservation.
Glover (1911-76) grew up on a farm in Poowong, coming to Wonthaggi in 1942. He taught at the Wonthaggi Technical School (later high school) for 31 years until 1973.
Bill Robertson first met him in 1958, when he (Robertson) arrived at the school as a 21-year-old teacher. By that time Glover had been teaching art at Wonthaggi for 15 years and his classroom, Room 17, was his fiefdom.
“In the classroom he’d take off his coat and wear a short-sleeved shirt with a sleeveless jumper. He always had a cigarette holder in his mouth, and his Gladstone bag was vital equipment.”
The two soon became good friends. Bill recalls Glover as a talented artist, a respected teacher and a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly, neither misbehaving students nor pompous headmasters.
“At staff meetings, Jim would get to his feet and say ‘Sir …’, and you knew something was going to happen.”
His blackboard drawings were legendary, as was his love of the T square in his art lessons.
Paul Cummings, a student at the school in the late 1960s, recalls “Mr Glover” as a great artist and extremely articulate. By that time he was getting on in years and he could also be a little scary to the younger pupils.
It includes accounts from past students, artist and teaching colleagues and those he influenced as a long-time resident with diverse interests from local history to conservation.
Glover (1911-76) grew up on a farm in Poowong, coming to Wonthaggi in 1942. He taught at the Wonthaggi Technical School (later high school) for 31 years until 1973.
Bill Robertson first met him in 1958, when he (Robertson) arrived at the school as a 21-year-old teacher. By that time Glover had been teaching art at Wonthaggi for 15 years and his classroom, Room 17, was his fiefdom.
“In the classroom he’d take off his coat and wear a short-sleeved shirt with a sleeveless jumper. He always had a cigarette holder in his mouth, and his Gladstone bag was vital equipment.”
The two soon became good friends. Bill recalls Glover as a talented artist, a respected teacher and a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly, neither misbehaving students nor pompous headmasters.
“At staff meetings, Jim would get to his feet and say ‘Sir …’, and you knew something was going to happen.”
His blackboard drawings were legendary, as was his love of the T square in his art lessons.
Paul Cummings, a student at the school in the late 1960s, recalls “Mr Glover” as a great artist and extremely articulate. By that time he was getting on in years and he could also be a little scary to the younger pupils.
Painting and words by James Glover An early conservationist, Glover had one of the first native gardens in the district. His love of the natural landscape community and local history is a dominant feature in his artwork and his poetry and prose.
Co-writer Arnis Heislers said Glover used these works to send a message to the community promoting environmental appreciation and conservation at a time when there was little of it and clearing of vegetation was rife.
He never owned a car and felt sorry for those who did. “He walked everywhere,” Bill Robertson recalls. “The only time I remember Jim asking if we would drive him somewhere was to the opening of the Poowong swimming pool. He had been invited as his family had donated the land.”
As well as teaching, he was known in the community for his interest in and knowledge of local history ( he was inaugural secretary of the Wonthaggi & District Historical Society) and work for community well-being (a life governor of Wonthaggi Hospital).
One of his best known artistic works is the mosaic in the foyer of Wonthaggi Secondary College (formerly the technical school). The large piece was designed by Glover and created by students over six months using thousands of light laminex pieces. It shows a poppet head, mullock dump and Cape Woolamai together with symbols of school education, including his legendaryT square.
With the school set to move to a new campus in 2020, and the old site to be handed over to Bass Coast Shire Council, the future of the mosaic is still to be decided.
The Art of Living: Life & Artistry of James Glover by Jill Miles (nee Glover) and Arnis Heislers will be launched at the Wonthaggi Library at 11.30am on Saturday, October 6. Keynote speakers Bill Robertson and Sam Gatto. There will be a small display of Glover’s artwork. Everyone is welcome.
Co-writer Arnis Heislers said Glover used these works to send a message to the community promoting environmental appreciation and conservation at a time when there was little of it and clearing of vegetation was rife.
He never owned a car and felt sorry for those who did. “He walked everywhere,” Bill Robertson recalls. “The only time I remember Jim asking if we would drive him somewhere was to the opening of the Poowong swimming pool. He had been invited as his family had donated the land.”
As well as teaching, he was known in the community for his interest in and knowledge of local history ( he was inaugural secretary of the Wonthaggi & District Historical Society) and work for community well-being (a life governor of Wonthaggi Hospital).
One of his best known artistic works is the mosaic in the foyer of Wonthaggi Secondary College (formerly the technical school). The large piece was designed by Glover and created by students over six months using thousands of light laminex pieces. It shows a poppet head, mullock dump and Cape Woolamai together with symbols of school education, including his legendaryT square.
With the school set to move to a new campus in 2020, and the old site to be handed over to Bass Coast Shire Council, the future of the mosaic is still to be decided.
The Art of Living: Life & Artistry of James Glover by Jill Miles (nee Glover) and Arnis Heislers will be launched at the Wonthaggi Library at 11.30am on Saturday, October 6. Keynote speakers Bill Robertson and Sam Gatto. There will be a small display of Glover’s artwork. Everyone is welcome.