Robin with his self-titled book, 2010
Memorial events – Robin Norling Remembered:
Saturday, 18 February 2017 at 2.30pm
National Art School, Forbes St, Darlinghurst NSW
Sunday, 12 March 2017 at 2pm
Edogawa Garden, behind Gosford Regional Gallery, 36 Webb St, East Gosford NSW
I was lucky enough to get to know Robin well in the last few years. He was unfailingly generous with his time, his unsurpassed knowledge of all things art and his wonderful wit and congeniality. The world is a lesser place today. RIP.
Very sad to learn of Robin’s passing. He showed great courage in the face of Parkinson’s. At least he has been spared the dreadful end that the disease brings.
I hope that he did not suffer.
My thoughts are with Jocelyn and all their extended family and friends.
Robin Norling was an outstanding Australian artist and a beautiful and kind soul. As a fellow artist and friend it has been a privilege to have known him, and my heart goes out to his family and partner Jocelyn.
A sad loss of a remarkable, generous, funny man. He will be missed. I always hoped for one more workshop with him. My thoughts are with Jocelyn and other family.
We are so sad to learn of Robin’s death. Robin was a beautiful intelligent man, always kind, generous and hospitable. I will treasure memories of seeing him at home working in his and Jocelyn’s studio, surrounded by thier paintings . Our thoughts are with Jocelyn at this sad time.
Leonard and Lynne are so sorry to hear the news of Robin’s passing… Echoing the sentiments of all his friends regarding the loss of a hugely heartful, talented and courageous gentleman… Our thoughts are with you Jocelyn, and your family.
My relationship with Robin, my dear friend and mentor, has had a number of different phases: #1, as his student in art school; #2, as his assistant in an Art Gallery of NSW school holiday program in 1979; #3, as a museum educator under him at the Gallery; #4, as a friend, after he left; #5, as a friend and “neighbour”. And now this, rather than being the end, is phase #6, as I know there will always be something of Robin in me.
About a week after I started at the Gallery in 1982 I met one of the curators. He looked me up and down and, seeing a tall, thin man in a beard, and probably knowing that there was some kind of special connection between Robin and me, said “Oh no, not another one!” I was briefly annoyed at being seen as a mere clone of someone else, but then quickly realised that I had been (unwittingly) complimented.
Like everyone else here, Katya and I are very sad. We loved going to the Bakehouse Gallery and being invited upstairs for a cup of tea and some delicious biscuits or carrot cake Robin had made. The talk was always so good, about art and film. Then in the studio it was nice to have Robin draw us, which he’d do without us being aware. He especially loved drawing Katya for understandable reasons. I have them both extensively on video somewhere, filmed during those session, and will pass the material on to Jocelyn when I find it.
As a teenage cousin growing up in Taree I always looked forward to Rob coming home on student holidays to the family farm. I would check out what he had done the previous semester and watch him work over the holidays. He was, as all the older cousins were, loving, compassionate and always fun-loving and kind. Sad that distance separated us over the years. So thankful we caught up in recent times for me to discover the same old Rob that I had loved as a kid. My empathy to Jocelyn and all the family.
Saddened to hear this news and sending my love and strength to Jocelyn and all the family.
As a young educator, I was always so inspired by Robin’s enthusiasm, talent and passion.
Jodi Ferrari
(past Education Officer, Gosford Regional Gallery)
Our family is so sad to hear of Rob’s passing. He and Jocelyn were always good to us: generous with their time, talent and practical help. Robin’s house at Black Head remains one of the most peaceful places I have ever curled up in, filled with light, and paintings, and love, all generously shared. He was witty, a good cook, a lovely artist, an excellent teacher, and we cheered all his successes – but he was also much more than that: a truly open-spirited human being. A great man.
Jocelyn, we wrap you and your extended family in our love, and thank you for letting our lives intertwine.