Ralph Trafford Walker Artist

Ralph Trafford Walker  Australian Artist

Ralph Walker, (1912 – 2003) was an Australian draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor of enormous industry and great talent. In his long life of 93 years he created thousands of drawings and hundreds of pieces of sculpture ranging from life size figures to miniatures that he worked in the palm of his hand. The hallmark of his work is a deep understanding of form through drawing and a haunting poetic sense of intimacy – moving towards soliloquy and loss. Ralph designed the relief panels for the Sydney Mitchell Library main doors. These panels had aboriginal subjects. Ralph was one of the first Australian artists to give aboriginal people integrity and honour through his work.  Among the many examples of his public art Ralph created works for the Australian War memorial in Canberra having been an official war artist during WW2. Those who have written with admiration for the work of Ralph Walker include fellow artist Fred Williams, Richard Leplastrier architect and historian Manning Clarke and yet the work of this major artist is relatively unknown. With his artist/writer  wife Jean he lived in a rambling, self-designed, house among Angophoras near Sydney Harbour. His son, Ian Walker, himself an artist, with the assistance of his talented family is cataloguing and preserving Ralph’s work.  I have fond memories of Ralph and Jean dating back to the 1960s when I got to know them through my uncle Richard Ashton. There was lively knowledgeable conversation on the subject of art and vigorous debate. From 1937 to 1941 he was a student at The Julian Ashton Art School, where he studied under Henry Cornwallis Gibbons.

Ralph, gentle and kindly, was never happier than when he could be reclusive in his purpose built Studio Yurt at the bottom of the garden. Here he was not to be interrupted whilst creating his little figurines and firing them in the kiln. He was a lover of the human form and of the bush.

Jean wrote two bestselling books on designing Australian bush gardens and was a close friend and supporter of the Bradley sisters, Joan and Eileen, who were like her, pioneers in the field of bush regeneration. Their bush care involvement was in response to the depletion of the natural habitat including that of the Sydney Blue Wren, a sculptural inspiration of Ralph and Jean.

Paul Delprat

The Principality of Wy Crest and Seal

WY PRINCIPALITY CREST

Created by Prince Paul of Wy in 1960 the Crest of the Principality of Wy is an elegant combination of Armorial Bearings having special significance. The Delprat Crest is the central element, and, together with the crown and the Latin enscription; “Ex Municipalis Vincit”, is borne on the Palette Shield, which has artistic provenance, all charges being framed by composite legendary creatures of antiquity. 

This iconic emblem has served as the Official Seal of the Principality of Wy, The Artists’ Principality, since the secession of the Principality in 2004 and is displayed solely by Serene Permission of The Court of the Principality of Wy.

Equerry

Principality of Wy Greetings for 2012

We of Wy send our best wishes to all, especially those who love art and seek peace and harmony.

May your new year be gloriously happy.

It has been announced that The American Hubble Telescope, examining distant stars, has identified a number of possibly inhabitable planets. Is it possible, visionary people ask, that there could be an exoplanet  in a distant galaxy where peace rules and all is harmonious?

As part of the Creative Imperative, The Artistic Principality’s own Galileo telescope is located on our satellite “Hi Wy”. It is in orbit and in the fog of space has identified what we would substantiate as such a wondrous place, “Planet Wy”.

Planet Wy

An artist Princess of Wy has created an image of the planet. It looks bumpy because it is very small (like the Principality of Wy) and the mountains are quite large. Note the Loch Ness Rabbits (ears only are seen above the water) and the Bridge of Tiaras. More informative drawings are ensuing.

The envisaged Planet Wy is an ideal role model for world leaders.

On Planet Wy young manga artists write the rules for peace in picture form so that those speaking different languages all immediately understand. Out of this picture simplification emerges a new universal artistic language -

At a recent function at Wy Prince Paul announced this event to the great delight of residents and invited diplomats.

The Lord Astronomer Serene is currently engaged in serious studies at a galactic level. He paused to caution that there is a huge leap between artistic interpretation and scientific veracity.

As a scientist he shares our optimism regarding the qualities of a planet of peace as an inspiration for all mankind.

Equerry