Long weekends always throw my equilibrium slightly askew. Instead of three days away from the Gallery to cope with my home existence, we were reduced to only two. Plus, we'd made a decision to motor to the Big Smoke on Wednesday and grab a night with Cal, Bron and Immy. Then we had the brilliant idea that we would leave and be back in Heavenly Beverley to open the Gallery at eleven o'clock the next morning. Oh, the great plans of the Beverley Hillbillies...
Finally, after six days, I am determined to produce a completely unbiased (!) record concerning our latest Famous Sundowner. What an absolute blast. We enjoyed the most amazing celebration at the East End Gallery. Approaching our sixth birthday, we have been overwhelmed with the support for our Gallery since the regional borders re-opened within Western Australia.
The culmination of all this love was certainly evident at the Sundowner. We had guests from Perth, from Pingelly and a multitude of local "identities". We ended up with more than half a dozen musicians swapping instruments, singing into the early hours of the morning, along with much murdering of red wine over the floor and the adjacent corrugated iron wall, some appalling dance moves. Michael's thirteen-minute film (!) involving some interesting hand-held effects, including sideways angles, closeups and long random panning episodes of the Gallery and Giftshop.
I implored with all those present not to leave enough food to feed the Fifth Battalion and everybody complied with gusto. We were left with one bread roll and very little else. The sausage sizzle was outstanding, the associated "bring a plate" offerings were delicious, Nobody was left wanting. The whole night was thoroughly flexible. A couple of teenagers retreated to Station House, an enterprising couple set up their caravan in the pharmacy carpark and guests came and went as they pleased. Our numbers were subsidised by our four-legged friends - Stella, Pip, Brin, Rosie and Benson were as much a part of the evening as the rest of us.
As I watched, and clapped, and sang extremely badly, my mind drifted back over the previous years. We started with a speck of an idea after we bought the Forbes Building in July 2012. Michael had dreamed of his own studio or workshop or art space for most of his life. K&S Fabrications had fed his appetite for decorative metalwork. Then Metal Moments in Midland had seemed a golden opportunity to feed his intellect and imagination in his growth as an artist. Neither of these enterprises continued and Michael beavered away during his free time in his Beechboro shed, trying to keep his enthusiasm from wavering and allowing his mind to develop further. His twice-yearly trips to the Goldfields were key in feeding his artistic endeavours. For ten years, Michael continued to collect the found metal objects that he then incorporated into his three-dimensional stories.
One of our sheds at the House that Rocks was supposed to become Michael's art workshop. However, the space was bitterly cold in winter, invaded by giant mosquitos during spring, sizzling in summer and dusty in autumn. He needed an alternative.
Enter the Forbes Building into our lives. She has always been the third partner in our marriage. Michael was firm in his vision. First, the renovation of Shops 1 and 2 to give us a bit of income. The stabilisation of the external wall was an added drama we were not expecting. The remains of the Old Residence were transformed into the Hovel...Michael's ninety square metre man cave took four months to become safe and habitable. Shop 3 began as the East End Gallery in December 2014. The Final Push took another eighteen months to come to fruition. As the renovation dragged on, Michael's good humour was sorely tested. Dirt, deceased animals and various species' pooh were ongoing trials that rained down upon him and the endless cycle of crack repairs followed by plastering and painting wore him down. In the last six months of the restoration, Michael was frequently "over" the project. With gritted teeth, he battled on and finally in March 2016, the East End Gallery was finished.
Since then, Michael has produced - and sold - a number of his sculptures. Our artists have swelled from eighteen to approximately ninety. We introduced Sundowners to our agenda. Artists' Playdays and then Open Gallery days (given our aged status, we can't stay up late very often anymore...).
Fast forward to the present. 2020 has been a rollercoaster ride of unexpected events. A promising start in the Gallery until March, then closure for nearly three months due to Coronavirus. A recalibration in June and July. Leaving the Gallery in the reliable hands of our artists from late July until the end of August.
September has been a spectacular ride. We have enjoyed our best month ever since we opened the Gallery. Weekend after weekend, Beverley has been packed with visitors all heading for a Day Out. We are committed to our town's brand - "Be Very Beverley". We do not wish to be another York or Toodyay or Chittering. We are Beverley.
Another Sundowner has been done and dusted in the East End Gallery. We still have our birthday party on Saturday 12 December. Keep the date clear and take an early summer drive to Beverley. Stay a day or two. Go for a swim at the Beverley Pool. Spend an afternoon with the kids at the Beverley Playspace (hopefully due to open later this month). Browse for Christmas gifts. Then join us for a sausage sizzle, LIVE music and a great atmosphere to mark our sixth birthday.
If our next Sundowner is anything like the one we have just had, we are all in for a real treat. Maybe 2020 will finish on a high note.
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