Member’s News

 A Revised Annual Calendar is on the Annual Program page

‘Beyond the Bend’ Pilbara Jade on Granite
H 31cm x W 29cm x D 17cm
Photographs courtesy of the artist

Betty Collier has been invited to exhibit at the Florence Biennale Art Exhibition (La Biennale di Firenze) held from December 3 - 11 this year. Betty is sending 2 works: ‘Round the Bend’ (Pilbara jade) and ‘Desert Nymphs’ (zebra stone). Catherine Tait, who is also a member of our Society and two of Betty’s students will accompany her to Florence.This is the second time, Betty has been invited to show her work at this international exhibition; this time she has decided to submit her work.
It is expected that the exhibition will attract 650 contemporary artists, 84 represented countries and more than 2,500 artworks. The Florence Biennale is a huge international contemporary art fair held every two years in the Historical Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy. The Florence Biennale was founded in 1997. The last Biennale was held in Florence in December 2009. Artists cover the expenses of their exhibits through international
sponsorships plus their own funds.

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 Janice Mcarthy from our Society recently had her works shown at an exhibition at VAAH (Vere Apothecary ArtsHub) titled, ‘Found Objects’. Janice uses a variety of media in her sculpture including scrap metal, bamboo, cork, plastic, carved timber, and more recently ceramics and mosaics. VAAH aims to make affordable space available to artists and groups to exhibit their sculpture and glass art. Exhibiting is through submission, however it is the objective of VAAH to show contemporary art from artists at all stages of their career from student through to the established artist.

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‘Silver Leaves’ by Rudi Jass.
Medium: cor-ten steel, stainless steel,
brass; dim.: h 2100 x w 1100 x 900.
Photographs courtesy of the artist

Rudi Jass’s sculpture, ‘Silver Leaves’ was a highlight of the garden design by renown Melbourne landscape designer Ian Barker at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.
Highlights to the Chelsea Flower Show include the show gardens designed by leading landscape artists from all over the world. The (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show is held over fi ve days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. Visitors and competitors are attracted to this Show from all over the world. The RHS has held fl ower shows since 1833, originally in their garden in Chiswick; the garden show was moved to Kensington then finally to Chelsea.

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Gippsland Art goes to Canada

Maple leaf’..one of the three big pieces.

Group photo (over half are not present) (Images courtesy of the artist)

On 8th July, an exhibition of art from artists around West Gippsland is opening in Quesnel B.C. Canada, titled, ‘Here come the Australians… Laurie Collins and Friends.’ The exhibition includes about 34 of Laurie’s pieces as well as work from Laurel Billington, Lucy Chapman, Marian Collins, Noeleen Downie, Anita George, Lisa Kurec, Jessie McLennan, Gary Miles, Sue Osborn, Adam Price, Joan Price, Helen Timbury, Ingrid Thomas, Kerrie Warren and Travis Wiltshire. The picture above left shows Helen Timbury, Laurel Billington, myself, Gary Miles, Noeleen Downie and Joan Price. The idea developed when a teacher exchange occurred several years ago. A teacher from Quesnel (Jim Benson) came to Drouin Secondary College and swapped with Rob Monk for a year. In that time a friendship developed between Jim and myself. When Jim returned to Canada, the idea of taking an exhibition of my art was suggested. The Gallery in Quesnel was delighted, and as my work is mostly sculptural, a few of the other artists in the area were asked if they might like to send a piece or two to help represent Australia. The show has been packed into two large crates which were shipped off at the start of May to Vancouver and Quesnel via Korea!

Laurie Collins.