This post has been nearly two weeks in anticipation... I kept trying to draw a line underneath the narrative and write "The End", but instead we kept welcoming new artists through the door. Artists who have joined us instantly, artists who are still developing a portfolio, artists who are searching for a new home, Artists-in-Residence who have come and gone and even Mister James Rodoreda, watercolourist who didn't believe he was an artist until we hung three of his paintings in the Gallery yesterday morning. James' sidekick Rosie certainly agrees with us that James has absolutely earned his place here in the East End Gallery.
So, what makes an artist? In our Gallery, we believe that every sort of artist makes the world go round. So we have poets, writers, performance artists, card-makers, photographers, textile artists, glass artists, wood sculptors, ceramic sculptors, metal sculptors, plaster sculptors, woodwork craftspeople, drawing artists, oils, acrylic and watercolour painters, pencil artists, pastel artists, potters, quilters, teeshirt artists, jewellery creators, a leadlight artist, soap and bath tea makers, silk artists, felt artists, a scary skulls (!) artist, young artists (aged twelve and fourteen) and last but not least my beloved Michael, for whom the East End Gallery started as a dream to have somewhere to create and display his found metal artwork stories.
We took a day off this week and trundled down the Great Southern Highway to Pingelly, where friend and artist (of course) Di Mainwaring is working hard towards opening her own studio. We were blown away by the depth of her talents across a variety of media and as a bonus, she fed us lunch at their gorgeous little cottage that has also been transformed by their efforts. I was flabbergasted by the improvement of her previously nervous nelly, Brynn the Border Collie, who is now far and away better behaved than Stella! Di is looking for artists to join her, so if you are interested, drop by her developing masterpiece of her studio next door to the cafe on Pingelly's main drag.
The last few Artists Playdays have bordered on the riotous. Yesterday was no different with four artists gathered around the table all delightedly labouring away of their projects of choice. What a fantastic concept that we thought up. We were joined by brank spanking new Artist-in-Resident Michele Scott and later still by Greg and Macca. We all adjourned to our courtyard and rocked on into the night. Dogs Stella, Rosie, Pip and Macca were pretty well behaved as the conversation flowed and the laughter rang out. Dinner was a non-event after everybody left. We just fell into bed.
We continue to marvel at our life here in Heavenly Beverley. We have a tribe of fabulous friends, a Gallery packed with over a hundred innovative artists and their art pieces and a town that continues to astonish visitors who have never been here.
And after this year's COVID restrictions, we would like to thank each and every one of our guests in the Gallery and those who support us online.
Perhaps I should have called this post an Overflowing of Artists!
No comments:
Post a Comment