Blog Archives

The Ocelots return to the NEA Gallery - February 20 6.30 to 8.30 pm

27/12/2019

The Ocelots (IRL) are heading back to Australia in early 2020 to play a huge number of shows and festivals all over the country, including a Gallery Gig at North East Artisans on Thursday February 20th from 6.30 to 8.30 pm. They will be showcasing a set list of new songs to be released on their album due out March 27th 2020.

Situated in Wexford Ireland, 22 year old twins Brandon and Ashley combine to create The Ocelots.

They have crafted their songwriting and musical experience together to produce a forceful blend of rich harmonies and bare, raw acoustic folk. Their music perfectly embodies the breezy effortlessness of early Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel.

The Ocelots have performed all across Ireland, UK and mainland Europe and also toured with acts such as Jack Johnson, Glen Hansard, Hudson Taylor and Isaac Gracie.

The Ocelots live set combines all that is great about folk music, so come and be charmed by the charismatic duo.

Links:

Website: http://theocelots.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOcelotsMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theocelotsmusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOcelotsMusic/videos
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/62aOuuT7lqJXkmMJcH8w1C?si=Xr2oJNplQ2G70HXnNsay_g

Music

'Window to Window' - See the art in everything!

18/12/2019

This year was the second year for two new annual festivals in Benalla, 'Benalla Rugged Up' in August, and 'the Window to Window' Christmas Festival in December. Like the Wall to Wall Festival in April, Benalla Rugged Up and Window to Window encourage the community to 'See the art in everything', which is the vision of Benalla Rural City's tourism strategy.

While 'Benalla Rugged Up' caused a flutter on social media, a veritable storm of activity developed surrounding the art work of NEA founder and president Tim Bowtell on Benalla Rural City's Mair Street window during'Window to Window' .. Picked up early by Sky News, also appearing in the Daily Mail in the UK, it was pleasing to see reports over the following days on regional television stations becoming better informed and balanced,

Discussions have continued, with most of the Letters to the Editor (three pages) in this week's Benalla Ensign about Tim's painting -- nearly all of which were positive!

Tim's compelling portrait of Greta Thunberg, draws from and is representative of Tim's current work. Tim describes being surprised that around 90% of people who spoke to him while he was painting weren't aware of Greta Thunberg, and is pleased that his work has acted as such a catalyst for conversations about climate change.

The announcement by Time Magazine of Greta as their Person of the Year a few days into the controversy on social media proved a wonderful endorsement of Tim's choice of a portrait of Greta for his window.

Here are two of the later reports from mainstream media, the first featuring an interview with Tim at NEA.

The second item from 9 News Border North East includes responses by Renewable Energy Benalla's John Lloyd and Benalla Sustainable Future Group's President Peter Holmes

An occasional BLog

'We are the Champions... we will, we will... rock you!" Gallery Choir at NEA

17/12/2019

North East Artisans' 5th Birthday Party!

15/12/2019

Who would have thought? Five years almost to the day, NEA members old and new met to celebrate NEA's 5th birthday on Saturday 14 December. Founding members, NEA's first President, Tim Schloss, and NEA's current President, Tim Bowtell, can be seen here cutting the birthday cake. Both Tim's spoke and then invited contributions from others., The Gallery Gigs 'Gallery Choir', conducted by Marisa Quigley, followed, culminating in a stirring and wonderful rendition of 'Queen's' "We are the Champions'. What a delightful way to celebrate NEA's 5th Birthday!

NEA is having a 5th Birthday Party! 5 to 7 pm Saturday 14 December

9/12/2019

Members, past and present, please join us to celebrate our 5th birthday! It would be wonderful if you could bring a plate of goodies to share. The Gallery Choir will follow our celebration.

NEA members participate in the 'Window to Window' Christmas Festival

8/12/2019

NEA members Mervyn Beamish, Tim Bowtell, John Holschier, Irene Korotkow, Mike Larkin, Cathy Pianta, Tanya Tabone, Sally Wallace and Mal Webster in action!

Photographs: thanks to Annie Longmuir, Bev Lee, Rustik Cafe, Mal Webster

$50 Christmas Exhibition - featuring works by NEA members - is underway

7/12/2019

The brainchild of NEA's Exhibitions Coordinator Simon Klose, the $50 Christmas Exhibition is now underway in the Exhibitions Gallery (Gallery 2). Featuring works by NEA members, early sales are promising - new works will be installed as works sell! If something takes your eye, our Gallery Shop volunteers will assist you.

Christmas at NEA's Gallery Shop

5/12/2019

As 2019 is coming to a close, we thank everyone for your
continued support throughout the year!

Come in and browse for your holiday gifts - we have a wide variety of paintings, jewellery, hats, skirts, baby wear, skin products, cards, tree decorations and many more. All items are individually designed, made locally, and are reasonably priced. So please come into the Gallery and support your local artists. Our volunteers will be happy to gift wrap your purchases.

The shop will be open for extended hours before Christmas:
Benalla late night shopping until 8pm on 5th December. We will have a special of a free NEA T-shirt or NEA bag with every purchase over $50.00.
Extra days open - Sunday 8th, 15th, and 22nd, and Monday 23rd December from 10am to 2pm.

We will be closing the Gallery Shop on 24th December at 4pm and reopening on January 3rd 2020.

We wish you all a very happy holidays and look forward to your continued support in 2020.

-The Gallery Shop Team-
(Valerie, Carole, Melanie, Bill and Cathy)

An amazing opportunity. There are still windows available!

1/12/2019

Window to Window Christmas Festival 2019

Do you like art? Want to be an artist-in-action? Why not decorate a window in Benalla's CBD on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December?

This is a great way to be part of the Benalla festive season as Benalla’s street will be filled with music, chalk art and street stalls around the town.

At 6pm on Friday head over to the Ceramic Mural on Lake Benalla for some live music, a BBQ and drinks.

Contact Jim Myconos 0448 817 006