For the latest information on exhibitions, courses and workshops, visit the Flying Arts Alliance Inc website.
Merv Moriarty OAM has received the honour he so well deserved. Merv was a legendary figure in the arts. He was an extraordinary art teacher and artist with a passion to bring the arts to the rural, regional and remote places. He learnt to fly to be able to achieve this passion.
Merv made his very first flight in 1971. He flew solo out of Brisbane on a 6,000km round journey to meet with regional representatives across Queensland to assist him in establishing an 'art school' that is now Flying Arts.
Merv remained the principal tutor from 1971 to 1983, flying to an average of 26 centres four times a year, with extra trips made to organise exhibitions and other special events. During this time, he totalled over 1,250 trips and flew well over 400,000km.
Over 50 years ago, Merv Moriarty OAM learned to fly, bought a plane and took off for his first art class, taking his flying art school to anyone who wanted to learn to paint, no matter where they lived.
Merv left an immeasurable legacy throughout regional and remote Queensland, where a generation of artists, educators and communities gained exposure to contemporary visual arts practice, many for the first time.
His enduring and outstanding contribution and impact was recently recognised in the Order of Australia honours on 26th January 2023.
John O'Toole and Merv Moriarty OAM at the Opening of COLOUR - in the field Flying Arts Touring Exhibition 2017-9 and COLOUR workshops. The exhibitions included the works of Merv's highly successful students in various Queensland towns. We were thrilled to meet with these amazing people and Merv's legacy is evident in these communities.
Over 50 years on, thanks to the strong state-wide networks that Merv created, Flying Arts continues to provide transformative art experiences. The organisation has evolved from its early days, however the vision of Merv has remained steadfast.
Merv's Awards and Accolades
Flying Arts Alliance
Art - Other
Awards and Recognition include:
It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of Merv Moriarty OAM. Merv died peacefully on November 1st, 2021 in Daylesford, Victoria after being unwell for sometime. Merv leaves behind son Andrew, sister Janny, and Moriarty Colour co-founder and life partner Prue Acton.
Merv Moriarty OAM (1937-2021)
2021 is the year that Flying Arts Alliance turns 50!
In 1971, Merv Moriarty OAM made his very first Flying Arts flight. He flew solo out of Archerfield airport in Brisbane on a 6,000km round journey to meet with regional representatives across the state to assist him in establishing Flying Arts, then known as the EastAus Art School.
Merv remained the principal tutor from 1971 to 1983, flying to an average of 26 centers four times a year, with extra trips made to organise exhibitions and other special events. During this time, he totaled over 1,250 trips and flew well over 400,000km.
During these years, the organisation was credited as being a catalyst for social regeneration for hundreds of artists living on rural properties and regional towns throughout Queensland. This legacy lives on today in the work of Flying Arts Alliance, as the organisation became known in 1994, and the many art groups which formed across the state thanks to Merv’s tutelage.
In celebration of our 50th year, Flying Arts has launched a special Anniversary project. This project is an XR experience which aims to celebrate our vibrant community through profiling the depth of talent and commitment that exists in all corners of Queensland.
This project focuses on Flying Arts’ community of visual arts practice and regional arts, and celebrates the now and the future, as a tribute to the legacy of the last 50 years, while soaring to new heights!
From October 2021 until October 2022, we will be celebrating our Flying Arts community, from our talented artists to the enterprising artsworkers, the dedicated teachers and educators and emerging young artists, and the creative communities thriving throughout Queensland.
'The Merv' Landscape Award Finalists are now on display in our XR Tour.
If you missed the virtual launch event live, on Thursday, October 7th, 2021 at 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM, you can watch the launch of our Anniversary celebrations in the video below.
The celebrations took flight with the announcement of the award winners and finalist selection for the 2021 Queensland Regional Art Awards, along with the launch of our very special anniversary project which will unfold over the anniversary year until October 2022.
People from around the world participated in the launch event virtually, wherever they were located.
See our 50 Years of Flying Arts page for more details on our Anniversary celebrations.
This year marks fifty years since Merv Moriarty OAM learned to fly, bought a plane and took off for his first art class, taking his flying art school to anyone who wanted to learn to paint, no matter where they lived. Listen to ABC's David Iliffe speak with Flying Arts Executive Officer Kerryanne Farrer about the organisation that's given art to anyone who wants it. September 27th, 2021.
ABC's breakfast host David Iliffe chats to Jane Bridle about art in the bush and Merv Moriarty OAM on April 8th, 2021.
Prue Acton OBE and Merv Moriarty OAM attending Merv Moriarty's Brisbane Preview COLOUR II. Now touring Queensland with Flying Arts Colour & Response, next stop is Texas Regional Gallery where Merv will tutor a Masterclass, Colour Relationship and Your Subject.
Adding colour to Australia Day this year are two Aussie icons who will hit the world stage with their new colour wheel on 26 January, 2019.
Two powerhouses of Australian art, education and design, Merv Moriarty OAM and Prue Acton OBE - an Australian Living Legend - will showcase their Australian revolution in colour at the International Frankfurt Arts and Crafts Fair, which starts on Saturday.
The Moriarty Colour Wheel incorporates a major advancement and fundamental shift in the way colour is understood and applied, and will be unveiled at the Fair, after eight years in production.
The Moriarty Colour Wheel will bring art and design into the 21st century.
Art trailblazer, Merv Moriarty OAM, started Australia's Flying Arts in 1971, obtaining his pilot’s licence to start the flying art school, which was the cultural equivalent of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He has spent over 50 years teaching and painting. Through his work with students, Moriarty made the ground-breaking discovery that, just as if navigating an aircraft, he could accurately track the pathway between any two colours.
This led to the development of a profound body of work on colour by Moriarty, and a new, more accurate colour wheel, based on Moriarty’s intellectual and mathematical framework.
"A simple question set me off on an amazing discovery – by dividing the colour wheel into three-sections, representing light – I could accurately track pathways between colour, like navigating an aircraft," Moriarty said.
With partner, Prue Acton OBE, a major Australian artist and colourist, whose fashion design business was a household name in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, the colour wheel puts Australia at the forefront of colour research and development. It will become the 'must have' product for everyone working in colour, and encompasses both RGB and CMYK.
"Colour is the first thing to attract our attention and yet so little is understood about colour. The Moriarty Colour Wheel is not just a re-invention, it’s a revolution in colour matching and colour relationship, which works with digital design programs and for artists." Acton said.
The Moriarty Colour Wheel – definitive guide, will be presented at Creativeworld, Frankfurt Arts and Craft Trade Fair from 26 January to 29 January, thanks to collaboration between Moriarty Colour Pty Ltd and distributors, Derivan Pty Ltd.
Check back to this page regularly as we will be uploading the latest news, videos and media releases.
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The Moriarty Colour Wheel comes from artist, educator and author, Merv Moriarty OAM and fashion designer, colour consultant, artist and environmentalist, Prue Acton OBE.