SMH: Lunch with Don Harwin in the NAS Cafe

SMH: Lunch with Don Harwin in the NAS Cafe

2022-04-13

Article by Linda Morris. Photo by Sam Mooy.

It’s been two weeks since the MP farewelled the NSW Parliament, and two days since the former arts minister was named as a board member of the Australian Council for the Arts for a three-year term, among a rush of party appointments before the election.

Harwin takes his seat at the cafe at the National Arts School after his career swap. He is sporting a neat stubble beard and suit jacket with kerchief.

The NAS Art/Bar and Kitchen is a casual hangout for students and artists within the sandstone walls of the Old Darlinghurst Gaol. There is no menu to speak of – the eclectically decorated cafe serves barista coffee and largely vegetarian and vegan fare at student prices. Harwin orders a cappuccino.

‘A beautiful place to be with a moving story underneath’
‘Eye opening and very very thoughtful’
‘[This show] evokes feelings of acceptance and peace’
– quotes from NAS Gallery visitor feedback

Last week to visit `The Neighbour at the Gate`! - closing next Saturday 18 October. Visit link in bio to learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit to see the exhibition everyone is talking about.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 11

Open post by nas_au with ID 18114104434542131

‘A beautiful place to be with a moving story underneath’
‘Eye opening and very very thoughtful’
‘[This show] evokes feelings of acceptance and peace’
– quotes from NAS Gallery visitor feedback

Last week to visit 'The Neighbour at the Gate'! - closing next Saturday 18 October. Visit link in bio to learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit to see the exhibition everyone is talking about.

Join our online information session to find out exactly what makes our Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) ideal for emerging artists.

New scholarships will be available to students entering the BFA (Hons), with further details to be shared later this year.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 10

Open post by nas_au with ID 18089551555886998

Join our online information session to find out exactly what makes our Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) ideal for emerging artists.

New scholarships will be available to students entering the BFA (Hons), with further details to be shared later this year.

...and that`s a wrap! Congratulations to all our Year 11 Visual Arts students who participated in the 2025 HSC Intensive program, Module 2.

We loved welcoming you to our campus for the last five days of creativity and hard work.

Best wishes for all your future endeavours as budding artists. We can`t wait to see what you create next.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 7

Open post by nas_au with ID 18099283192651420

...and that's a wrap! Congratulations to all our Year 11 Visual Arts students who participated in the 2025 HSC Intensive program, Module 2.

We loved welcoming you to our campus for the last five days of creativity and hard work.

Best wishes for all your future endeavours as budding artists. We can't wait to see what you create next.

Fondly remembered by a generation of TV viewers as the creator of `Mr Squiggle`, Norman Hetherington OAM (1921-2010) was a student at the National Art School from 1937-1941.

Co-scripted by his wife, Margaret, `Mr Squiggle` ran on the ABC for 40 years becoming the longest running children’s TV program in the world.

Norman Hetherington’s daughter Rebecca Hetherington co-hosted Mr Squiggle and in 2002 helped her father with his first solo exhibition (curated by NAS alumna Toni Warburton) at the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre in the Blue Mountains.

Rebecca donated many of Norman’s works to the NAS Collection, including his poster (designed and painted when he was 17 years old) for the first known film by NAS students. `Love Laughs at Death` screened at NAS from 30 September-5 October 1938, and while the film itself has been lost, a photo and newspaper article about it were kept by actor and NAS alumna Shirley Jones.

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra (@nationalmuseumofaustralia) is showing the free exhibition `Mr Squiggle and Friends` until October 13.

---
Norman Hetherington
(1921-2010)
NAS student 1937-1938; 1939-1941

`Mr Squiggle`, etching, 12 x 9.5 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2023, National Art School Collection

Photographer unknown. Students Jim Swan, Shirley Jones and Jack Edwards from the film `Love Laughs at Death`, made and screened at NAS in 1938. This photograph was displayed on the front page of ‘The Labor Daily’, 3 September 1938. Jim Swan was the producer, Shirley Jones an actor, as was Jack Edwards who played the ‘Crazy Scientist’.

`Love Laughs at Death`, 1938 , gouache on cardboard, 63 x 55 cm , Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2020, National Art School Collection

`Screws`, 1937, ink on card, 11.5 x 12 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

`Man in suit`, 1937, gouache on card, 32 x 14.5 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

`Colour for men`, gouache on paper, 38 x 27 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 5

Open post by nas_au with ID 18045690332340733

Fondly remembered by a generation of TV viewers as the creator of 'Mr Squiggle', Norman Hetherington OAM (1921-2010) was a student at the National Art School from 1937-1941.

Co-scripted by his wife, Margaret, 'Mr Squiggle' ran on the ABC for 40 years becoming the longest running children’s TV program in the world.

Norman Hetherington’s daughter Rebecca Hetherington co-hosted Mr Squiggle and in 2002 helped her father with his first solo exhibition (curated by NAS alumna Toni Warburton) at the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre in the Blue Mountains.

Rebecca donated many of Norman’s works to the NAS Collection, including his poster (designed and painted when he was 17 years old) for the first known film by NAS students. 'Love Laughs at Death' screened at NAS from 30 September-5 October 1938, and while the film itself has been lost, a photo and newspaper article about it were kept by actor and NAS alumna Shirley Jones.

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra (@nationalmuseumofaustralia) is showing the free exhibition 'Mr Squiggle and Friends' until October 13.

---
Norman Hetherington
(1921-2010)
NAS student 1937-1938; 1939-1941

'Mr Squiggle', etching, 12 x 9.5 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2023, National Art School Collection

Photographer unknown. Students Jim Swan, Shirley Jones and Jack Edwards from the film 'Love Laughs at Death', made and screened at NAS in 1938. This photograph was displayed on the front page of ‘The Labor Daily’, 3 September 1938. Jim Swan was the producer, Shirley Jones an actor, as was Jack Edwards who played the ‘Crazy Scientist’.

'Love Laughs at Death', 1938 , gouache on cardboard, 63 x 55 cm , Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2020, National Art School Collection

'Screws', 1937, ink on card, 11.5 x 12 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

'Man in suit', 1937, gouache on card, 32 x 14.5 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

'Colour for men', gouache on paper, 38 x 27 cm, Gift of Rebecca Hetherington, 2022, National Art School Collection

Final weeks to visit The Neighbour at the Gate, closing Saturday 18 October.

Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.

Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at the link in bio.

Please note: the gallery is closed for Labour Day Monday 6 October

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 3

Open post by nas_au with ID 18093176833759781

Final weeks to visit The Neighbour at the Gate, closing Saturday 18 October.

Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.

Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at the link in bio.

Please note: the gallery is closed for Labour Day Monday 6 October

Enjoy 20% off a Summer School Short Course with code FLASHSALE20

Don’t miss this exclusive 20% off flash sale on the National Art School Summer School Short Courses (link in bio). Flash Sale starts right now and ends midnight Monday 6 October.*

*Offer begins midday Friday 3 October and ends midnight Monday 6 October. Terms and conditions apply.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Oct 3

Open post by nas_au with ID 17948920062034171

SMH: Lunch with Don Harwin in the NAS Cafe