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A timely reminder from Pamela O'Connor for the 2016 Bald Archy Exhibition.
"The 2016 Swanpool Bald Archy Exhibition is now more than half way through, closing this Sunday the 4th September 2016 at 4:00pm , Father’s Day. If you would like a great day out, art that will amuse and bemuse, food that will delight and satisfy and volunteers who will make you feel right at home, then please come. Do not get to Monday the 5th September 2016 and say I should have gone – it will be too late. Bookings are available so please get a group of 2,4,10,20 or 30 together, you will not be disappointed. There is an outstanding quilting Exhibition in the Swanpool Bowls Club running at the same time as our Exhibition and co-ordinated by the Benalla Convent Quilters – it is not just a girl’s thing all the men who have gone over from our Exhibition to view it have been impressed, some even saying they may take it up themselves. The Exhibition opening hours are 10:00am till 4:00pm every day until we close on the 4th September 2016. Do not be disappointed book now". Contact Pamela for bookings on 57682400 between 8:30am and 6:00 pm each day or mobile 0409 223 974
Opening speeches at the 23rd Bald Archy Exhibition ....
Peter Batey OAM, founder of the Bald Archy Exhibition, speaking at the Swanpool Opening.
Local entrant and NEA artisan Tim Bowtell appears rather pensive - his speech is coming up! ​Photo: David Palmer NEA's notice on Facebook, 20th AugustJust one change to the early information on this flier - the Opening is to be held on Friday November 4th at 5pm at NEA - still with champagne and delicious nibbly bits! 
​Monday's Wangaratta Chronicle featured an extended article by Shane Douthie on 'Slope', a 48 minute feature length drama by local filmmakers, actors and NEA associated musicians Jake and Sam Bowtell of Killer Pig Productions.
Like me, many NEA members take a continuing interest in Sam and Jake's developing film making careers and enjoyed their music during their group Bow & Tell 'Brothers' sets at the Makers Market area during the Wall to Wall Festival weekend. "Slope", which 'looks at the ongoing 'Ice problem from a young person's perspective', was funded by a $10,000 Ice Action Grant provided to The Centre in Wangaratta in 2015. Former students of The Centre and also GOTAFE Benalla, Jake and Sam collaborated with The Centre's VCAL students in developing the screenplay and did all the cinematography, editing and soundtracking. Sam also played the part of 'Keefy' and Jake the part of 'Pelican'.
Link to stills shot during the making of Slope
"We built this story from the ground up, working with the students who contributed a great deal of ideas and thoughts in the process. ......Obviously we wanted to illustrate the danger and the threat that this particular drug poses to communities right around Australia, but we were conscious also that the people involved in this larger story of addiction, are people, not monsters'. (Jake Bowtell interview from Shane Douthie's extended report).
'Slope' is to be launched this Friday, August 27th, at a sell out screening at the Wangaratta Cinema Centre. Hopefully it will screen in Benalla very soon. ​BL
Links"
​​An extract from Shane Douthie's article (Wangaratta Chronicle, August 22, page 2) http://wangarattachronicle.com.au/2016/08/22/its-a-slippery-slope/ Douthie, S (2016) It's a Slippery Slope, Wangaratta Chronicle Monday August 22, 2016 Killer Pig Production's Facebook site is at https://www.facebook.com/killerpigproductions 
Sam and Jake (on right) with Bow & Tell brothers at Wall to Wall Festival, March 2016
The term "Artists' Residency" is a cacophony of meanings and interpretations. Like the word 'environment' it can be used in many ways. I've just attended a residency with fellow NEA artist Irina Korotkow which included a month or so free accommodation, an exhibition area and a studio space in return for running a couple of workshops, manning a gallery (same location as studio space). Sometimes the term 'residency' is used as an alternative for workshop, often with travel, a cruise and particular artist teacher. This artists' residency was a gathering of international artists to work together, exchange ideas and techniques, and visit some of the worlds greatest artworks. The residency was by invitation and limited to a small number of artists, sculptors and a musician from Europe, USA, Africa and we represented Australia. The residency, partially funded by the EU and other sponsors, was curated by artist and curator Basha Maryanska and held at the Goluchow castle estate in Poland (side note, one of the castles featured in the Harry Potter films, which has given me great status with the grandkids). We stayed in the castle grounds, hotel Mulzeany, not 5 minutes walk. There was a large purpose built studio space and ample grounds to wander and work in. One hit was The Hunting Lodge which serve the most wonderful and intoxicating ice cream, and of course Polish beer.  The studio space, I'm cramped into the back corner while we worked on one of the other artist's work.  At work in the studio ... if you haven't heard a ukulele playing medieval music, you have missed one of the delights of life  Basha Maryanska  Kathryn Hart USA  An impromptu yoga class What did it cost us? I know some of you want to know. All art materials (Canvases, basic paints, brushes etc.) were supplied also three nice meals a day. The hotel room was humungus and furnished in the period style of the castle with the portrait of the original owner (a shady character) pompously, and some what disapprovingly peering down at the bed, but stuff him artists are artists! The accommodation as a whole package was heavily discounted, primarily covered by sponsorship and came to around $700 for the fortnight, that included transport during the residency. Air tickets were our own responsibility, however, I managed to get a good deal through STA which turned out quite a lot less than expected  My little corner, with a near completed canvas for the exhibition.  One of my works, based on the skyline of Warsaw New Town, an area destroyed in WWII and authentically restored to it's pre-war condition.  Some of the other works, Irina Korotkow's piece is the middle one At the end of the residency there was an exhibition in the castle which then lead onto a travelling exhibition to move around Poland. While one could arrange the return of works after this exhibition. I left mine in Poland to be sold or otherwise disposed of. I did sell a larger canvas while staying at the Hotel, so now am represented in a private collection in Poland.  All in all, a wonderful and educational trip. I've been invited again next year, not sure where at this stage, the possibilities include USA, France, Italy or Qatar. Both Irina and I have been asked to organise a similar residency in Benalla in 2018 or 2019 and several international artists are eager to come and paint with Australian artists, also a top Belgian sculptor Luc de Man and New York ceramicist Elizabeth Frischauf. We're a bit of a mystery to them. **Thanks, Merv for responding to our invitation to write an 'Occasional Blog' about your experiences in Poland.
**'The Occasional Blogger' is open for submissions by NEA members who may, from time to time, have a strong urge to write for this column (or can be cajoled into doing so)! It's still very wintery, though Spring isn't far away and the camellias and daffodils have begun to brighten up our gardens. NEA artisans who headed north during winter are gradually reappearing on roster duty.. Artisans who headed furthest north and are still travelling in Europe are Merv Beamish and Irena Korotkow. Merv's Facebook page includes a post about the exhibition which culminated the Artists' Residency he and Irena have just completed in in Poland. A new workshop series commenced at NEA in August, with Annie Longmuir offering Knitting and Crochet workshops on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7.30 pm, school holiday weeks excluded. Participants bring individual projects, receiving help from Annie and support from other participants. Cornelia Selover is currently in the midst of presenting Life Drawing Workshops at the Benalla Art Gallery, with Margaret Zaal's botanical drawing workshops starting late in September. Tim Bowtell describes enjoying his oil painting classes and is offering another one on August 28th. 'Buttons to Go's Carole Grenfell visited NEA from Shepparton recently to replenish stocks.  It was interesting chatting to Carole about 'The Mill' at Castlemaine, an artisans' precinct which sounds well worth visiting. Carole explained that she exhibits with them both onsite and online.
Two reminders - the first for artisans who do not yet have a web page on this site and would like to do so, please contact Tim Bowtell. The second - if you are interested in becoming involved with a soon to be established Friends of NEA', please contact Bev Lee bevlee47@gmail.com. On a final note, the 23rd Bald Archy's Exhibition has just opened in Swanpool. Might see you there! Web team **'The Occasional Blogger' is open for submissions by NEA members who may, from time to time, have a strong urge to write about NEA (or are cajoled into doing so by the Web team)!. We were saddened to hear recently of the passing of NEA Artisan Bill Savage. A talented artisan well known in the textiles community in North East Victoria, Bill described himself on Instagram as an "artist in textiles, wood, junk, bonsai' who 'loves photographing trees'. Not long after beginning to exhibit in the NEA gallery Bill became unwell., NEA members clearly enjoyed working on roster duty with Bill when he was able to drive over from Beechworth. An artist in textiles, some images of the beautiful work Bill was exhibiting in the NEA gallery at the time of his death are included here.
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Email: northeastartisans@gmail.com
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Phone: 0402 563 918 (Gallery Hours)
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Address: 122 Bridge Street East, Benalla, VIC 3672
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