The annual Ocean Shores Art Expo opens tonight and organiser Mary Bernard says ‘it’s going to be really wild’.
That’s because the theme of this year’s event is titled Wild Things and artists of all ages have been invited to ‘unleash the wild within’.
‘With categories ranging from watercolour and gouache, sculpture, drawing, oil and acrylic through to photography and digital art, mixed media, pastel and printmaking, there’s a myriad of mediums,’ says Mary.
Artists not only get a chance to showcase their talent, to sell their work, they’re also in the running to win one of the many prizes on offer, with $700 up for grabs in each category.
Last year’s winner of the mixed media section, Melanie Delaney said the expo acted as a springboard for her artistic career.
The Expo gave her the chance to test the water with her unique art style that uses rolled up tiny pieces of coloured paper to create a mosaic-type effect.
‘Winning and selling a piece validated my work and gave me the confidence to plan my future as an artist. Much as I love art in an aesthetic sense, it’s important to view it as a viable form of income,’ Melanie said.
Ms Delaney is busy working on her next entry for the Expo.
Mary Bernard said the event was ‘getting bigger and better each year.’
“It’s a very exciting, colourful expo that brings out the best in a community,” she said.
“This year’s theme is particularly exciting. It’s a chance for everyone and anyone to unleash the wild thing within and let their imagination run wild.”
Register your entry by August 2.
The Ocean Shores Art Expo opens tonight (Friday, August 28) at 7pm and runs to Sunday August 30 at the Ocean Shores Public School.
For more information visit the Ocean Shores Art Expo website www.osartexpo.com.
Photo: Wild Things, “Feral Frankie” sets the mood for The Ocean Shores Art Expo.
Wild thing ….. I think you move me. Nothing to be contrary about Mary.
People, stand back, be wary. Hear that guttural sound. It is the paint speaking about Art.
Tonight there will not be Eric Burdon and the Animals ebbing and gushing like water on the Ocean Shores Public School as Climate Change looms in, but what will be canvassed will be animalistic, hot and breathing a theme that paint, pencil and lots of passionate colour, blots, splashes and dots doted on like measles and form will display Northern Rivers talent on view from the local artist’s easel.
You want passion? You got it tonight as art comes alive and with some shiny bright eyes and the bite of teeth we hope some viewers will be open mouthed.
There could be a wily old weasel, bushy tailed and a possum or a koala. And those night cats could come a clawing, and they will be a drawing the crowd like a pencil line through the local school gate. Where is that mountain devil from the mountain that is warning? Just what is wild is in the artists’ imagination as the red of blood, the blue of the ocean, the green of the leaves, and the yellow of the sunrise will touch the soul tonight. Come one, come all, as well as you Scarlett O’Hara with her coloured dressy frills will romance many with her thrills as this mixed media event will have the heart valves flapping and the camera lens opening and shutting for Art is the spirit of the soul. Watch out for that little girl with the quoll that animal has teeth like a shark.