IN his paintings, Max Watters preserved the buildings and farms that time was taking from the Upper Hunter landscape.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Now the art of Max Watters will preserve the memory of its creator.
The revered Muswellbrook artist and philanthropist died on Saturday, aged 83.
"He was such an inspiration to our community," said Elissa Emerson, the acting director of the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre said. "Such a mentor as well."
Max Watters spent all his life in Muswellbrook, a community he cherished.
In turn, Muswellbrook cherished him.
"Max is a Muswellbrook treasure," said the shire's mayor Martin Rush. "He's twice been our shire's Citizen of the Year, the only person to have received that honour twice."
For years, Max Watters conducted art classes in community halls around the region, and he regularly donated works to his local gallery.
"I think he absolutely loved [Muswellbrook]," said Mr Watters' brother, Frank, who moved to Sydney and opened a renowned commercial art gallery, representing some of the country's biggest names, as well as his artistic sibling.
"He had huge numbers of friends and supporters in town."
The Upper Hunter was not just Mr Watters' home but his muse. It provided the self-taught artist with an unceasing flow of painting subjects.
In a style that looked simple but was highly detailed, Mr Watters would depict the homesteads and shacks, the halls and shearing sheds that were gradually disappearing from the region. He loved those old and rustic places, especially for what they said about humanity.
"The building has got the feeling of the people who lived there," Mr Watters told the Herald in 2018.
Max Watters' own home was like that. He had grown up there with his parents and six siblings. He had lived and created there.
From the outside, the cottage looked like the subject of one of his own paintings, wearing the marks of age, and with an enclosed front veranda. But inside was devoted to art. Every wall held paintings, and every room was a potential studio, or, as Mr Watters said in that laconic voice of his, "wherever I bloody want to paint".
More than paint, he collected art, usually buying works from his brother's gallery. He accrued a significant and valuable collection, featuring works by well-known artists such as Tony Tuckson and Robert Dickerson.
In 2004, Max Watters gave his art collection to the people of Muswellbrook.
"He had a $5 million collection, and he gifted it to the community," said Cr Rush.
Works from the Max Watters Collection are always on show at Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, including in a space named in his honour.
"The Max Watters Collection is a big part of the reason why we have a gallery," Elissa Emerson said.
Max Watters also gave his own paintings to the gallery to sell, so more works could be bought for the shire collection.
"I can't think of anyone who more aptly personifies Muswellbrook," said Cr Rush. "He was someone who was extremely humble, he lived very humbly, he was extremely supportive of others, particularly if he thought someone was doing it tough, and particularly young people.
"He loved watching others grow and their capacity build."
The funeral for Max Watters is scheduled to take place at St Alban's Anglican Church, in Muswellbrook, on Tuesday at 11am.
As Max Watters told the Herald, "Art's been good to me."
But, as Cr Rush acknowledged, Max Watters had been good to Muswellbrook.
And he's been good for art in the Hunter Valley.
Read more: Brothers' love of art
While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here
