Artist in Focus
A small town’s big idea: Pat Miller
The Murwillumbah Art Trail (MAT18) promises ten days of artistic life in surprising places all over the town centre.
Coopting venues including shopfronts, laneways, old furniture factories and loading docks, creative director Dev Lengjel has created an engaging fun space for everyone.
Embedded in the smorgasbord of art, music and events are group exhibitions featuring artists whose paths have crossed; the creative spark fired exciting exhibitions.
One such is a group is planting the seeds of ideas with ‘Sow’. Reflecting MAT18’s theme Moving On artist Judy Oakenfell said, “Our exhibition is called ‘Sow’ to reflect moving on, to take new action after loss. Some of us lost work in the big flood. When art is what you do, you need to simply make more art, grow new projects, and sow new creative seeds and connections.”
The five artists comprising ‘Sow’ connected via various local art groups including the Murwillumbah Community Printmakers, Stafford Street Studios and M-Arts.
Celebrating human interaction with the natural world, artists Rebecca O’Connell, Robin Saunders, Tara Dyson Holland and Jo Biles joined Judy Oakenfell in developing the group exhibition.
The ‘Sow’ group reflects the diversity of MAT18 cleverly using a raft of media to reflect and reinterpret. www.themurwillumbaharttrail.com
Artist in Focus
Northern Rivers Pottery
Northern Rivers Pottery Supplies have been the region’s premier pottery suppliers for more than 30 years. Madeleine and Ove are the third owners and are excited to be entering their fifth year in the business.
They offer a range of professionally led workshops and courses taught by very talented local ceramic artists Brooke Clunie, Penny Evans and Gyan Daniel Wall.
‘We’ve loved getting to know the many local creatives and students who have passed through our doors.
‘We work out of a 100-year-old beautiful rustic shed in Lismore, which is very quickly establishing itself as the main arts hub of the northern rivers. Many visitors comment on the shed’s charming atmosphere and inviting energy.
‘We stock a large range of clays, glazes and tools, pretty much everything you need to be a potter. We also offer a courier service that delivers clay from Coffs Harbour right up to Brisbane.’
Last year Madeleine and Ove purchased a big brand-new kiln. Since it was first switched on it has been running hot. ‘We think of this kiln as a “community kiln” and are pleased to be able to offer a firing service to anybody who needs it.’ www.nrpotterysupplies.com.au
Byron Shire needs public artists
Two Saturdays with Suvira McDonald, Joey Ruigrok and a panel of experts in the field introduce the process and language of art making for the public realm. Taking place at Byron Community College, this is a course is for artists and sculptors who wish to take their work out. Having 3D art on a street corner or in a public park involves a whole other set of skills often not associated with making art: risk assessments, engineering to standards, communicating with other design specialists and much more.
Find out on July 21 and 28. It’s only $10 – almost free! Go to www.byroncollege.org.au
BSA weekend & evening workshops
Byron School of Art has a great selection of inspirational and challenging weekend and evening workshops starting soon. Students can gain experience or expand their skills with watercolour painting (en plein air), monoprinting, cyanotypes, experimental drawing and abstraction, mokulito wood lithography, and basketry. These popular workshops can fill quickly.
Visit the BSA website for more information and to join their mailing list. www.byronschoolofart.com
Flash your fiction with Byron Writers Festival
Flash Fiction is the umbrella term for the very short story – and it’s springing up everywhere – on postcards, bus stops, phones, zines, carved into bridges, and flashed across digital billboards. But there’s more to writing a pithy short story than scribbling a quick vignette. Every syllable must pull its weight.
Byron Writers Festival’s inaugural Flash Your Fiction competition will launch next month, with 2018 festival passes and publishing opportunities in the prize pool. Dive into the basics and hone your submission in a three-hour hands-on workshop – Short & Sharp: Writing Flash Fiction with Emma Ashmere, Saturday 2 June, 10am–1pm.
For details and to book go to byronwritersfestival.com/whats-on
MAT
The Murwillumbah Art Trail (MAT18) from May 18 to 27 fires up a town with art and performance like you’ve never seen. Tango and fashion meet building projections and caravan art.
Founder and artist Annie Long’s smartly creative idea is now a major arts festival with wide appeal.
Organisers invite patrons to engage with the work of more than 90 artists exhibiting contemporary art designed to amuse, inspire and remember.
Enjoy a glass of Stone & Wood beer, Pickled Pig Cider and Husk cocktails in the MAT18 pop-up bars as you browse the biggest assembly of art the Tweed region has seen for years. www.themurwillumbaharttrail.com
Come visit us at Healing Art Design & New Age Gallery, Shop 2B Azura in Kingscliff.
As an holistic gallery we are unique, showcasing local artists where the main body of art taps in to colour therapy by Sylvia Meissner artist/psychic/owner. We also include a spiritual directory from our gifted professional healers offering: genuine psychic readings, The Liquid & Tree readings, Reiki and workshops, intuitive Pranic healing massage, colour acupuncture, chakra balance, The Star Child directive readings, wearable crystal energies and much more!
Telephone 6674 9216, www.healingartdesign.com
BBCA
As part of their Art on Screen series Byron Theatre presents a brand-new documentary on the life and work of Italian master Caravaggio and the birth of modern painting.
With commentary from leading art experts and historians, and unprecedented access to the masterpieces themselves, this immersive and visually stunning journey of light and shadow through the struggles and successes of this revolutionary and controversial artist is a must-see for any art lover.
And don’t miss Van Gogh: Of Wheat Fields and Clouded Skies on Sunday 1 July and The Louvre: Old Masters for Modern Art on Sunday 11 November.
Caravaggio: The Soul and the Blood | Sunday 3rd June | 1:00pm | Full $20, Conc $18, BT Club $18, U18 $15 | www.byroncentre.com.au