Scottsdale’s artistic awakening
• North Eastern Art and Craft Association secretary Sue Johnson with two pieces that will feature in the exhibition.
By Daisy Baker
May 29, 2019
MEMBERS of the North Eastern Art and Craft Association (NEACA) are busily cataloguing artwork, ready for their annual long-weekend exhibition.
Now in its 46th year, the exhibition will feature around 250 works by Tasmanian artists including Dr Karen Marlowe, Brenda Haas, Susan Hennessy, Gerry Jensen, David Brown as well as local artists Janet Carins, John Gibb and Anita Williams.
Around 50 artists will enter this year’s themed competition: ‘Tasmania, place of seasons.’
The winner will receive $1,000, and there will also be a viewers’ choice award open to all works, worth $750.
NEACA secretary Sue Johnson said there will be a silent auction over the weekend.
“We have a work by Geoff Tyson amongst the four paintings included in silent auction,” she said.
“He’s long gone but quite well known and appreciated in art circles of yesteryear, along with the other works by Leo Cook, Joan Humble and Glenn Cook.”
The exhibition will also showcase quilting, felting, soft toys, wooden toys and items, handmade cards, bags and jewellery.
Jan Chilcott will demonstrate leaf craft, while Deanna Scott will demonstrate spinning.
Exhibition opening
The NEACA invite the public to the exhibition opening on Saturday June 8 at the Scottsdale RSL and Community Club.
The exhibition opens for viewing at 11.30am and will be officially opened by well-known artist and teacher Pam Kidd at 12.00pm.
Entry is just $12 per person, which includes nibbles and refreshments.
The exhibition will be open to the public for $5 entry after 1.30pm on Saturday, then 10-4pm daily until Wednesday June 12.
Bonsai show
This year the North-East Bonsai Club will have their first winter bonsai show to coincide with the long weekend art festivities.
There will be between 80-100 bonsais on display at the Masonic Lodge from Friday June 7 to Monday 10, daily from 10am-4pm.
The bonsais on display will showcase the work of local members who range from novice to advanced.
Patrons will be able to select their favourite tree for the People’s Choice competition.
There will be food and beverages available for purchase all weekend, including, tea and coffee, scones with jam and cream and jacket potatoes.
All funds raised go back to the club to buy pots for their next projects.
Artistic demonstrations
If you would like to see some artists at work, head further down King Street to the Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe where you can glean inspiration from a number of artists in residence.
On Saturday, the Gallery will be open from 10am-4pm for viewing and sales.
The first artist in residence will be Leanne Hodgetts, who is the artist behind many of Lilydale’s Painted Poles.
Gallery owner Shirley Rootes Martin said Ms Hodgetts’ style could be described as idealistic realism with bright hues.
“Leanne works in a wide range of mediums from oil, acrylic and watercolour paints to printing with lino cuts, wood blocks, screen prints and etching plates,” she said.
“She will be working, showing and selling her work as a print maker from 10am.”
Highly-regarded local artist John Gibb will be the artist in residence from 1.30pm.
Mr Gibb, who is an acrylic artist and was previously a watercolour artist, is well known for his in-depth style of bringing his painting of scenery to life.
Patrons can watch Mr Gibb as he works on his latest acrylic on canvas scenery.
“We will have limited edition prints from his watercolour works available for sale along with a beautiful range of cards that have been printed from both watercolour and acrylic paintings,” Ms Rootes Martin said.
The Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe will extend their opening hours for the long weekend, opening from 9am-5pm.
The seventh annual Gestalt 2019 exhibition will also be on show at Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe until early August.