That's a Wrap...Finally, Reporting of the East End Gallery's Winter Sundowner!

I am writing this post, comfortably snug inside Will at the Yalgoo Caravan Park. Nine days ago, the joint was jumping with the East End Gallery's June Sundowner. And what a night to remember.

Winter arrived in two surges in April (most unseasonable) and then again towards the end of May. As we prepared for our Escape From The Cold, I worried about all sorts of circumstances. Did we have enough firewood for our volunteers in the Gallery? Another tonne was duly procured. Was the catalogue edited, proofread and printed? Finally finished two days before we departed. Tea, coffee, sugar, milk, chocolates and biscuits. All restocked. What about the loo and basin in the Hovel? Cleaned to the best of my ability. A tidy of Michael's workshop? That was a Bridge Too Far!

No amount of cold could dampen the spirit of our beloved East End Gallery. Once more, the Gallery is charged with a bounty of eclectic, elegant, edgy and ethereal art pieces. There are items just for fun and frivolity. There is nourishment for your skin and health. There is art that provokes discussion. There are others that take your breath away. We continue to promote and support new Wheatbelt artists and those who have a connection to the Wheatbelt or a connection to us. We were welcoming new artists and new works up until our last day in the Gallery before we departed.

The Sundowner dawned without the bucketing rain we had endured over the recent days. We set the fire roaring from mid morning in an effort to move the warmth into the Gallery. We were delighted to receive two new meerkat residents for the Meerkat Mansion project. Many thanks to the ladies who returned to Heavenly Beverley to deliver them personally to us.

We dawdled towards the late afternoon. I espoused the delights of our Sundowner to all and sundry. As the day drew to a close and the evening arrived, Michael and I knew we were on the cusp of a special night. As guests and musos filled the Gallery, some attendees spilled onto the street, in spite of the cold, coming back in to thaw out from time to time. And inside, the Gallery was alive!

How lucky are we to have such a bunch of talented people freely give up a Saturday night and play music in our Gallery. For passion, for love, for joy. "Bring a plate and a bottle to share" had been followed with generosity by everybody. There was conversation and laughter. There were photo opportunities galore. And then there was the music.

If I try and thank all our musicians, singers and fantastic guests individually, I am bound to forget one of you. Instead, I tried to photograph as many of you all as possible, attempting the capture an absolute gem of a Sundowner.

We would love you all to return for our Spring Sundowner on Saturday 23 September from about 5,30 pm. You all know the drill...We can repeat the magic.

 

 

First were our Meerkat Deliveries!