The voice that speaks through my work is universal by intent as it encompasses our basic human need for belonging.
My work deals with memory, recall and that mental space where feelings and emotions create an awareness of connection. I set out to create a feeling of being torn between place of origin and place of abode. My works play on the psychological tug of war of being physically ‘here’, while through accident of birth, history, shared language, family and experience, being emotionally ‘there’.
My work connects with my wife’s hereditary links to the Greek island of Ikaria and my obsession with that culture and its seminal influence on shaping our Australian culture and values.
In both my paintings and ceramic sculptures I use a number of multi-images to evoke separation, impermanence and historical continuity. All of my images set out to evoke narrative. It is a story that will vary from viewer to viewer.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
1975 Dip of Fine Arts (Painting)
SA School of Art
1971 Dip of Teaching (Primary)
Wattle Park Teachers’ College
BIOGRAPHY
1946 Born in Melbourne, Victoria
1961 Nailsworth Boys Technical High School S.A.
1964 Enfield High School S.A.
1965-66 Wattle Park Teachers’ College
1967-71 Primary School teacher – Elizabeth Fields Primary, Evanston Primary
1971 Diploma Primary Teaching
1972-75 S.A. School of Art
1975 Diploma of Fine Arts (Painting) SA School of Art
1976-77 High School Art teacher Augusta Park High School, Pt. Augusta
1978-79 Education Officer – Art Gallery of S.A.
1980 High School Art teacher – Smithfield Plains High School
1984 High School Art teacher – Playford High School
1987 Field officer S.A. Institute of Teachers
1989 High School Art teacher - Craigmore High School
1990 Elected Executive member S.A. Institute of Teachers
1992-93 Elected Vice-President S.A. Institute of Teachers
1994 High School Art teacher – Craigmore High School
2001 Professional artist
2008 Professional artist/Art Residency Skopelos Art Foundation, Greece
Part time lecturer in Ceramic Sculpture, TAFE, Mt Barker, SA
2009 Professional artist/part time lecturer, TAFE, Mt Barker, SA
COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Victoria
Adelaide University Collection
Flinders University Collection
Tea Tree Gully City Art Collection
Elizabeth City Art Collection
Marion City Art Collection
Mt Barker TAFE Collection
Evdilos City Council Collection, Greece
Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Collection
Private Collections - South Australia
Western Australia
Victoria
Oregon, U.S.A.
San Francisco, U.S.A.
Greece
EXHIBITIONS AND RESIDENCIES
2018 ‘TO CROSS THE RUBICON’ solo exhibition at Gallery M, Oaklands Park. Opened by The Honorable Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia
SALA EXHIBITION ‘Return To…..’ in conjunction with daughter Sarah-Jane Natalie Cook. Lambert Estate Winery, Angaston, South Australia.
2017 ‘SCULPTURE BY THE SEA’ exhibition, Brighton Jetty Classic Sculptures 10th Anniversary. Brighton, South Australia.
2016 GROUP SHOW, ‘Gallery M Open Contemporary Art Prize’ Gallery M, Oaklands Park, South Australia – Finalist
2014 GLADSTONE ART EXHIBITION, Gladstone, South Australia.
Winner – Fine Art Prize
2012 STUDIO EXHIBITION AND RESIDENCY, Bay Area Classical Art Atelier,
San Francisco, U.S.A.
2010 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘The Eloquence of Absence’, Gallery M, Oaklands Park, South Australia. Opened by Dr. Norris Ioannou, Ex-Director Nexus Multicultural Centre.
2009 GROUP EXHIBITION, Klemzig Potters’ SALA Exhibition, Adelaide, South Australia. (Oil Paintings)
2008 SOLO EXHIBITION AND RESIDENCY, Skopelos Art Foundation, Skopelos, Greece.
SOLO EXHIBITION, ‘The View from Here’, Rigas Gallery, Evdilos, Ikaria, Greece. Opened by the Greek writer, Ms Sosa Plakidas.
GROUP EXHIBITION, Hellenic Cultural Festival ‘Odyssey’, Adelaide, South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION, ‘The Flight of Ikaros’ Pan Ikarian 50th anniversary Exhibition, Gallery M, Oaklands Park, South Australia. Opened by Steve Georganas, M.P.
GROUP EXHIBITION, ‘Feats of Clay’, Mt Barker TAFE, Mt. Barker, South Australia. Opened by Damon Moon.
2007 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Bill Cook at Greenhill Galleries’ South Australia.
Opened by Theo Maras, President of Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION SALA Week ‘Show and Tell’, Radbone House Potters Group, 16 Radbone Road, Bridgewater, South Australia.
EXHIBITIONS AND RESIDENCIES
2006 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘The Persistence of Origin’, Gallery M, Oaklands Park, South Australia. Opened by Hon. John Hill M.P., Minister for Health, Minister for Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts.
GROUP EXHIBITION SALA Week, ‘All Sorts’, Radbone House Potters Group, 16 Radbone Road, Bridgewater, South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION SALA Week, ‘Northern Artists Present’, Arts North, Judd Street, Elizabeth, South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION, Contemporary Greek Australian Art Exhibition, Nexus Multicultural Art Centre Gallery, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION, ‘Out of the Earth’, Mt. Barker TAFE, Mt. Barker, South Australia.
GROUP EXHIBITION, Tea Tree Gully Art Exhibition, Tea Tree Gully Council, South Australia.
2005 GROUP EXHIBITION ‘All Fired Up’, Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf, South Australia. Opened by Mr. Robert Gutteridge, Lecturer, Mt Barker TAFE
GROUP EXHIBITION ‘The Olive and the Eucalypt’, Rundle Street, Adelaide, South Australia. Opened by MLC Nick Xenophon
2004 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘You are There, I am Here’, Kapunda City Art Gallery, South Australia. Opened by Mr. Roger Kalleske
GROUP EXHIBITION, Tea Tree Gully City Art Exhibition, Tea Tree Gully City Council, South Australia. - First Prize
2003 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘The Presence of Absence – A Greek Odyssey’, Steps Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria. Opened by Ms. Julia Gillard, Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration and Reconciliation and Indigenous affairs.
2002 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Journeys’, Gallery M, Marion, South Australia.
Opened by Mr. Theo Maras, President Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia
2001 BEGA PORTRAIT COMPETITION, Bega, N.S.W.
2000 SOLO EXHIBITION, Riverland Greek Festival, Renmark, South Australia.
EXHIBITIONS AND RESIDENCIES
1997 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Half a World Away’, Prospect Gallery, Adelaide. Opened by Mr. N. Niarchos, President, Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia
1995 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Two Worlds’, Art Zone Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia. Opened by Mr. John Lesses, Secretary of United Trades & Labour Council of S.A.
1991 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Icons of Australia’, Flinders University Level Three Gallery, Bedford Park, South Australia. Opened by singer-songwriter Mr. Eric Bogle.
1989 STAFF/STUDENT EXHIBITION, Craigmore High School. Opened by Mayor, the Hon. Mrs. J. Gapper of Munno Para. (Formerly Elizabeth City Council)
1988 PORT ADELAIDE ART PRIZE
1987 ELIZABETH CITY ART PRIZE – Runner Up
1986 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Visions of a Larrikin’, Adelaide University Union Gallery. Opened by Senator Peter Cook (Bill’s brother)
ELIZABETH CITY ART PRIZE – First Prize.
1985 ELIZABETH CITY ART PRIZE – Runner Up
1984 ELIZABETH CITY ART PRIZE – Winner, First Prize; Winner, Acquisition Prize
STAFF/STUDENT EXHIBITION, Playford High School
1983 GROUP EXHIBITION ‘Land of Promises’, Adelaide Festival Theatre Gallery,
Touring State and National Venues, plus Greece.
GOLD COAST CITY ART PRIZE
ELIZABETH CITY ART PRIZE
1981 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Cartoons’, Adelaide University Union Gallery. Opened by former South Australian Premier Mr. Don Dunstan.
1980 WHYALLA ART PRIZE
1979 SOLO EXHIBITION ‘Paintings and Drawings’. Adelaide University Union Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia. Opened by Mr. Peter Duncan M.P.
WHYALLA ART PRIZE
1978 GROUP EXHIBITION Hogarth Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales
EXHIBITIONS AND RESIDENCIES
1977 TWO MAN EXHIBITION ‘Double Bill’ with Mr. Bill Bilecki. R.S.A.S.A. Gallery, Kintore Avenue, Adelaide, South Australia.
1976 ‘SEVEN YOUNG ARTISTS’ Royal South Australian Society of the Arts Gallery, Kintore Avenue, Adelaide, South Australia.
1975 INVITATION EXHIBITION Channel 10 Young Artists, Art Gallery of South Australia.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
2014 Winner – Gladstone Art Prize
2006 Winner - Contemporary Greek Australian Invitation Art Prize (Acquisitive)
Second Prize -Tea Tree Gully City Art Prize (Drawing)
2004 Winner – Tea Tree Gully City Art Prize (Painting)
1987 Runner Up Elizabeth City Art Prize
1986 Winner - Elizabeth City Art Prize
1985 Second Prize - Elizabeth City Art Prize
1984 Winner - Elizabeth City Art Prize
Winner - Elizabeth City Acquisition Prize
Special Contributor of the Year Award, S.A. Teachers’ Journal: articles, cartoons and illustrations
1983 Winner - Australian Folk Logo Design Competition for the National Folk Festival, Adelaide ‘Crow about it in ‘83’.
Contributor of the Year Award S.A. Teachers’ Journal
1981 Second Prize - Elizabeth City Art Prize
1978 Contributor of the Year Award, S.A. Teachers’ Journal
1975 S.A. School of Art G. C. Wright Memorial Graduation Prize for Life Drawing and Painting
1966 Wattle Park Teachers College Art Prize
