Coronavirus lunacy strikes again. This has been a constant theme of Heavenly Beverley for the last six months or so. Yesterday, whilst contemplating a suitable title for this post, always my starting point, I was transported back to the silliness of elephant jokes. I laughed out loud. I subjected the worst elephant jokes I could remember on my hapless and trapped Artists at Play. Then, in a brief moment of clarity, I thought I'd better search the Almighty World Wide Web to find out if elephant jokes were still relevant.
A quick check on Google confirmed that elephants jokes remained very much in vogue. This was excellent news as I suddenly had the key to the post.
I grew up with the hilarious absurdity of elephants in minis, giraffes in minis, giraffes disguised as elephants, hippos on fences, short frogs, long and thin crocodiles, sharks in custard and lots more. At the time, I didn't realise that some of these jokes had passed from generation to generation and that they had only been altered if absolutely necessary. In an instant, I knew that growing older may be non-negotiable but growing up was entirely up to me (and unlikely to happen...)
And, let's be honest here, in this "Year of Wonders", we have all needed a good laugh every now and again. "How many elephants can fit into a mini" is a reminder that all things are possible, that humour is an absolute necessity in our uncertain lives and that smiling can be contagious (and far better for us than COVID19!).
(I'm sure I can hear murmuring in the ranks - "she's really lost it this time" - but hang in there as all is about to be revealed...)
As we move closer to the Christmas season - that yearly exercise of miracles and mayhem, irritability and irresistibility, chaos and kind - I have been reminiscing about the number of artists who have come in and out of our lives over the last six years. So many of these wonderfully talented people are still with us and have become part of the East End Gallery family.
We have created our own elephants in the mini or maybe a version of the TARDIS, given our ability to stretch our space to find room for just one more artist we can support and promote. We have been so lucky to have the wide walls, the soaring ceilings, the abundance of the floor that was gifted us when we bought the Forbes Building.
The result of all the renovations is a spacious venue that is varied, eclectic, beautiful and slightly edgy. And within the Giftshop, we are a skerrick away from being packed to the gunnels, but all the art pieces are clearly visible. Our guests just have to take their time to explore and marvel at our very own Alladin's Cave.
Do not mistake me. I certainly can appreciate those galleries that are carefully curated, sparse and elegant, with oodles of space so very serious commentators can fully appreciate their individuality.
Galleries like that just don't have the appeal for us. "Quirkiness" was the term that Mo Johansen used to describe Beverley's East End Gallery and Station Gallery is his article "Art Attack", recently printed in the "West Australian" travel section. We pride ourselves that we are not like other galleries. We are the East End Gallery.
Yesterday, four artists (James, Jan, Celeste and Denese) joined that recurring happy occasion known as Artists Play Days. Each of them was focused on a different project. The Gallery was serene, with soulful and sensual blues music in the background. The quiet lasted until Michael, the master metal craftsman started his noisy instruments in the Inner Sanctum of his workshop.
I could hardly be cranky at him. After four months, his pain levels following the two surgeries in June and July are low enough for him to fire up his energy and enthusiasm for his art. His creativity is back.
I've digressed again. After weeks (months?) of estimating our current talented bunch of artists, the day had finally come to actually count them again. James, friend and watercolourist, is close to framing some of his pictures and I wished to enlighten him with a position in the Gallery.
One hundred. James will be our one-hundredth artist in the East End Gallery. Congratulations, James!
In a nutshell, we believe we have that special something for everyone. Looking for Christmas gifts that won't break the bank? An indulgent and luscious painting? A small intimate sculpture? A bold statement for a coffee table? Unique handmade cards? A dramatic photograph? A recycled fabric panel? A stunning set of "Flowers" for the garden?
This weekend promises pleasant weather and a Choir Muster from two o'clock on Saturday (tomorrow) afternoon at the Platform Theatre. Pardon? Turn your vehicle of choice in the direction of Heavenly Beverley and find out...
