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"Many hands make light work. We are looking for volunteers to assist in taking down the inaugural yarnbomb creations in Bridge Street East. We will meet outside Coles in Carrier Street (on Rettkes Butcher side) at 1pm on Saturday 1 September. The more people who can help the quicker the job will get done. We will store them for next year and add to the mix so we extend the coverage. (Those which may not have faired as well will be donated to other causes eg animal shelters.) As we’ve sat knitting or crocheting, there’s been talk of how great it’s been having a common purpose over the last few months and what a fantastic activity it’s been across all generations. Ideas are already percolating for the next install! It’s also highlighted how passionate, caring people working together can make a real difference in creating a kinder, more connected community. When good people come together with a common purpose anything is possible. Thank you Benalla. Let’s continue to pay it forward." . Source: Benalla Yarn Bombers Facebook Page - Event Information.
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"We're feeling pretty chuffed at NEA as one of our much loved textile artists, Annie Longmuir, has bought home a selection of prizes from the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo. Annie received a first prize for a felted then dyed scarf/wrap (pictured below #1) and second for a shawl (pictured below #2) which she had designed and knitted with handgun superfine merino. Both were made from Wendy Beer's Beersheba super fine merino. The dyed felt scarf also won a special prize for the best super fine merino, the Gordon Ford Memorial Prize. Congratulations, Annie, from all at North East Artisans" An Occasional Blog written by by Meralyn Vincent, Newsletter Editor (August Newsletter, 2018)
Currently showing in the Rural City of Benalla's window 'Foyer Gallery' - Frank Burger's 'Coin Counter I' and 'Coin Counter 2' from his 'Coin Counter' series.  Frank Burger's ‘Coin Counter’ series The drawings are 100x70cm, framed to about 120x90cm. There are 3 in the series, all charcoal, pastel and gouache on Fabriano Rosapina paper. Titles: 'Coin Counter 1', 'Coin Counter 2', and 'An economy of sheep’. Coin Counters are the metal tubes used to 'prop up' the subject matter in two of the drawings. They are components of coin rolling machines from my 'Armaguard' days: coins are fed into a chute at the top of the machine, then fall down into the 'coin counters' where a laser light shines through a hole, counts the coins and stops the flow of coins before lowering the stack of coins down for paper wrapping. In my drawings these components symbolized the economic nature of society, which, in relation with the other objects depicted, made for interesting metaphors and interpretations of meaning. The third drawing,'An economy of sheep' continues this conversation with different still life objects.It was completed somewhat later (2011-2012), and shares with the other two the same media, technique and intention. To clarify, Coin Counter 1 has the boat, Coin Counter 2 has the elephant, An economy of sheep has the kitchen scales and sheep skull. Congratulations to Benalla Yarnbombers on the 2018 Yarn Bombing Event - 'Benalla Rugged Up'.
From small beginnings, a dedicated and inspired group of potential yarnbombers took up the challenge, learning about yarnbombing and possible designs along the way. The planning group included NEA members Annie Longmuir, Maggie Hollins, Sally Wallace, Jennifer Gill and Mary Kennedy. As the deadline for contributions neared, photos began to be shared on FB of the collected knitting and crochet contributions building up on tables in the Uniting Church Hall. The cane collection baskets at NEA began to fill to overflowing. Heart warming creations began to appear in Bridge Street, with one of the trees outside NEA featuring Mary Kennedy's hula skirt and Annie's colourful knitted, crocheted and flowered swathed creation hugging the tree just outside NEA's front door. Wonderful bollard creations include Jennifer's daisy flowered crocheted chains which loop between the bollards outside Millers' store. The inaugural installation has proven to be beyond expectations both in volume and design. NEA was listed as a venue for planning sessions; knitting sessions at the Red Road Cafe and as a collection point, NEA's role also included providing the requested option of website within the NEA website. A 'Planning Portal' prepared by Bev and Maggie provided an early point of contact and 'referral on'; however the Yarn Bombers FB site, email list and Mailchimp newsletter were clearly used more effectively as communication strategies during the busy period in the weeks leading up to and during the installation. Websites can, however, provide a repository function which FB and Mailchimp are perhaps less suited for. They can come up in search engines for people researching Benalla's yarn bombing event and be a useful source of information for media releases. The Planning Portal has been retained in the Projects area of the NEA website for now. Updating the Gallery tab in the Planning Portal with images of the 2018 Yarnbomb would be worthwhile; as would retaining its links to the FB page, and also links to all news posts categorized under Benalla Yarn Bomb. Next year, it could be used again or it could form a base from which to begin discussing the development of the Yarn Bombing event's own website. Benalla's inaugural yarn bomb has been memorable, There is a substantial resource base on which to build next year - both in terms of knitted and crocheted works and knowledge of patterns, installation, and more. The event has considerable capacity to continue to reach out to the community in unanticipated and engaging ways such as happened this year with the joining in from knitters from Estia Health; volunteer support by regional ANZ staff using their 'community bank' hours to help with the installation; and many other examples of unanticipated contributions by the community. More recently, the Yarn Bombing group has received a request from Benalla P-12 college for speakers to enable them to find out more about what is involved as they are hoping to motivate their 5/6 classes to become involved with the YB project next year. Congratulations, Benalla Yarn Bombers! An Occasional BLog A message from Catherine McMillan - "Many thanks again for being part of the inaugural Benalla Yarnbomb installation. Hope you're all feeling suitably chuffed at the results - which look fantastic and seem to be holding up very well (touch wood!) A couple of hats have met untimely ends, but the trees and pergolas looks great".
Catherine has planned a light celebration lunch followed by a debrief (what worked, things to improve and other ideas and suggestions; also take down logistics, on Thursday 23rd August at the Library (Pat Claridge Room) from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. RSVP's closed on the 20th for catering purposes, however if you are keen to go to report back, it may be possible to attend after the lunch to share stories and provide input .  The 5th annual Tatong Art Show is running this year, again part of the Benalla Festival in November. The Tatong Memorial Hall Committee has taken over coordinating the event this year.
Entries are now open. A downloadable entry form is attached below, with hard copies available in the Gallery/Shop/Red Road Cafe, at the Benalla Art Gallery and at the the GMCU. Entries close on Friday 19th October. The official opening of the Art Show and announcement of winning works will be held on Friday 2 November at the Tatong Memorial Hall from 7 - 9.30pm. The exhibition will be open from 10am - 4pm on the 3 - 4 and 9 - 11th of October. If you need any further information, please contact Sarah Nickels from the Tatong Memorial Hall Committee on 0417 595 193.
Jake and Sam Bowtell's concept of filming 2018's Wall to Wall Benalla street art through the eyes of people viewing the event across the weekend has come to fruition with the release on Killer Pig Productions You Tube channel last week of 'A View from the Street - Wall to Wall 2018'. Throughout the Wall to Wall weekend Jake, Sam and young film maker Jack Johnson called in to NEA for breaks, cameras over their arms.
'I'm so excited that this is finally out to the public! Local brothers from Killer Pig Productions have done another killer job--they were up at the crack of dawn and on site filming all weekend for this year's Wall to Wall. Great job, fellas, and thanks to Matt Katsis Music for the killer tunes'. Michaela Alexander, 'The Gallery Gigs' event manager, NEA.
"...Perfect timing for a flash back!!!! Wall to Wall Festival 2018!!! Local boys - Killer Pig production with Matt Katsis amazing track - Enjoy!!" Wall to Wall Benalla on FB. 
Killer Pig' team members Sam Bowtell and Jack Johnston filming, Day 2
An occasional BLog. Expressions of interest in piloting use of 'floating studio' space at NEA. NEA is currently considering a new studio option - NEA would provide secure storage for your art materials for a modest monthly fee and allow you access to NEA workshop spaces during business hours to practice your art/craft. No bookings required, however you are limited to using workshop spaces when not in use otherwise. A number of artists have indicated they are willing to allow their studio spaces to be used when they are not there, provided these spaces are given due respect and left in the same condition as they were found. Fine tuning of the proposed offer is in process. Contact Frank Burgers or Seamus Foley at NEA (or via pigeon hole) for more information.
Expressions of interest are open for artists wishing to display their work in the Council Offices front window in Bridge St. See Tim Bowtell or Frank Burgers (0488676127). New 2D work is urgently required for a rehang in gallery 1 and 2 to keep NEA looking fresh and exciting, particularly from those artists who haven't provided new work in the last 3 months.. Please let Frank (0488676127) or Tim know what you've brought in.  Merv and Irina are busily preparing for another international artists residency in Poland.
In one of the very first 'occasional' blogs on NEA's website Merv reported their participation in this international artists residency in 2016. It's worth a read. 'Occasional Blogger' Merv Beamish on his artist's residency in Poland' Hopefully Merv will write another 'Occasional Blog' about the 2018 Residency,  Hearty congratulations to Red Road Cafe Saturday morning regular Tim Butler, winner of Swanpool Arts Festival's inaugural Swanpool Creative Recycled Art Prize! "For the past five years the Bald Archy Prize has come to the small community of #Swanpool, but this year locals got some bad news: a change of sponsor meant the exhibition was returning to the city. The community got together and decided to turn a negative into a huge positive. They decided to start their own prize - for art made from recycled materials. It was a gamble that paid off with some wonderful work submitted by artists who might not usually exhibit.
#Tatong’s Tim Butler was named the inaugural winner of the SCRAP (Swanpool Creative Recycled Art Prize) tonight for his piece ‘Tin Man Begs for Ore on Yellow Cake Road’ which he made from materials he found under his 100 year old house.#euroastories" Steph Ryan for Euroa - Facebook Post 4/8/2018  To be added....
Two separate exhibitions are being planned for the later in the year. Now is the time to begin working on your entries!
The first exhibition is to be held in conjunction with the Victorian Seniors Festival and is open to all senior citizens in Benalla and the surrounding areas. The theme of this exhibition is “Wisdom and Experience”. It will be held from the 19th until the 30th of October in NEA’s Gallery 2. Following this exhibition, and running from the 3rd until the 11th November, will be an in-house exhibition which is open to all NEA members. It will be held in conjunction with Benalla Festival and supports its 2018 theme: “Our Backyard”. NEA is seeking early expressions of interest - keep an eye on this space for further details. Sally Wallace  Violet Town Community Hall
Honeysuckle Art Exhibition - Shadows 10th Aug – 12th Aug https://www.violettown.org.au/what-s-on Violet Town - Bush Gatherings Gallery "Goddess in the Garden" An exhibition of innerscapes by Janene Castillo Opening :- Friday 3 August -6pm - 9.00pm Open Tuesday - Thursday 11 - 3 and Saturday and Sunday 11-3. Other times by appointment 208 High Street, Violet Town Swanpool Arts Festival WOW from Waste 4th Aug – 19th Aug https://www.swanpoolanddistrict.com.au Benalla Art Gallery Ornament and Subject 28th Mar – 30th Sept Squatters and Savages: Peter Waples-Crowe and Megan Evans 27th Apr - 5th Aug Sea HER Land 30th Jun - 26th Aug http://www.benallaartgallery.com.au/exhibitions Wangaratta Art Gallery Should We Say Something? – Marise Maas 22nd May – 10th Sept Petite Miniature Textiles 2nd June - 19th Aug Field of Vision – Wangaratta Artist Society 14th July – 12th Aug Field of Vision – Wangaratta Artist Society 14th July – 12th Aug http://wangarattaartgallery.com.au/exhibitions/ MAMA - Murray Art Museum Albury Ash Laing: Flagging Opinion 28th June - 12th Aug Mechelle Bounpraseuth: Westside Story 5th July - 9th Dec I wish you were there - Cornélia Selover 19th July - 16th Sept Land & Title 16th Nov '17 - 31st Dec '18 Leon deMontignie: The Life and Death of an Unknown Artist 23rd Aug – 7th Oct Immortality 3rd Aug - 4th Nov http://www.mamalbury.com.au/see-and-do/exhibitions  'Winter Retrospective' - Jamie Ferguson & Michaela Alexander - July 2018 The beginning of winter saw Jamie and Michaela conceiving the stunning 'What's On' notice board on the stairwell wall in the foyer entrance which is full of NEA happenings. The winter solstice poetry evening inspired and organised by Seamus is now a treasured memory of those who attended, Follow up sessions for practicing poets are now planned on the last Sunday of the month between 2 and 4pm . Poetry evenings to celebrate the solstices, perhaps even an equinox or two, will provide a further chance for poets to read and perform their work.. Seamus has continued facilitate sessions with Irish music playing friends in the NEA foyer throughout the winter. He has also introduced sessions in wood carving and whittling to the obvious enjoyment of woodworking friends and keen woodworkers with ties to NEA. Janet Douglas and the U3A Recorder Group began meeting fortnightly in Gallery 2 on Wednesday mornings in June. Some of the group always stay behind for a warming drink in the Red Road Cafe! .  NEA's committee of management continues to work to master systems and can often be found problem solving about matters of governance and administration. The MYOB system is now in place with Joan from 'A Balancing Act' providing highly valued bookkeeping services and consultancy.. With space finally in the volunteer artisans calendars to schedule Point of Sale training, training in the Point of Sale system, purchased with a grant, has been provided to responsible committee members. Training is now rolling out to volunteers in the gallery/shop and will soon be fully operative. With Winter a wonderful time to knit and crochet, throughout the winter months activities including the International Sit and Knit day celebrated by Annie and friends in Gallery 2.; preparations for Benalla's winter yarn bomb event 'Benalla Rugged Up'; baskets with wool and pieces being collected for the yarn bomb and our own come and try knitting needles and wool were the order of the day.  NEA's Gallery Shop began opening 7 days a week in June as did the Red Road Cafe. Operating something like a cooperative within a cooperative, Tim B, Ruth M, Sam and Lauren are sharing the daily operation of the cafe. As a general rule, Tim puts on his barrista hat on Saturday mornings, Ruth is barrista on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays (Ruth's hot and spicy pumpkin soup with toast is popular on a cold wintry day), while Lauren and Sam are 'mine hosts' from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday...  Felting workshops somehow have a good 'fit' in' winter - Annie has presented a number of felting workshops in June. Sally's Introduction to Jewellery making workshop continues to meet regularly, with Seamus and other NEA volunteers often found in the class learning new skills to introduce into their work..  There have been some wonderful Gallery Gigs, with NEA volunteers supporting Michaela as she applies her musical knowledge and instincts, passion and energy to providing opportunities for singer/songwriters to perform in an intimate and appreciative setting in Gallery 2 on a regular basis. It was also Plastic Free July - a self portrait by NEA' artist Janet Leith 'A Sense of a Special Place'' featured on our home page throughout July. Janet's painting was displayed as part of GANEAA's 'Plastic Free July' inspired exhibition 'It's In the Bag' 3 to 31 July at Bainz Gallery in the foyer of the Wangaratta Library. During Plastic Free July we shared a captivating video by Wangaratta's Luke Davies and his Recycled String Band 'Recycle and Reuse' on Facebook. Luke featured on blues harp and vocals in a set or two with Scott Cooke and Corin Raymond in a Gallery Gig in April. Thanks for writing this great song, Luke! There is likely to be more to report on than this, particularly as there's another month to go, but hopefully you'll catch up with this in the Newsletter, Instagram or Facebook! An occasional BLog.
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Address: 122 Bridge Street East, Benalla, VIC 3672
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