Tim
From Simon Ruppert, Benalla Ensign on line,. 23rd December 2019

"Several artists from Benalla's North East Artisans participated in this year's Window to Window Festival.

The Festival, which encourages a shop-local at Christmas message by painting on windows of local businesses, and other buildings, is open to all artists from the region.

NEA's media team spoke with several of their artists about their involvement in the event and shared their answers with the Ensign.

Mal Webster
Mal painted a Christmas snow globe featuring a Christmas tree on Member for Euroa Steph Ryan’s office. He also painted a ‘snail mail’ character which he has put together for different occasions. In this instance, he features a Santa hat and some important mail addressed to the North Pole.

Why did you choose this piece?
I wanted to create something that might appeal to adults and kids alike, and I purposely drew my snail mail character at ‘child-height’ for this reason. My feature piece was the snow globe. It’s a somewhat traditional image that brings about a sense of joy, wonder and nostalgia, which I feel both the young, and young at heart need at this time of the year.
Also, I love Christmas snow globes and have a bit of a collection of them.
​
Tell us a little about yourself and your arts practice
I’m a design teacher, publications officer, graphic designer and illustrator. Normally I don’t paint, so while I was flattered to be asked to take part in Window to Window I was really anxious about it too. I also never create in front of an audience, or in public, so this was a big step outside my comfort zone. However, once I got through my initial fear and once I’d settled into working on my piece, it was a rewarding experience. Normally I work digitally and with mediums like pencil and watercolour. It didn’t take long to realise that while working on a window I didn’t have my quick ‘undo tool’, or the comfort of a desk to work at, away from the wind and blazing afternoon sun.

How do you feel about the event?
I feel that Window to Window is a positive event that brings some attention to local retailers at Christmas time. I also feel a sense of gratitude toward the generous businesses who’ve paid to have their shop fronts painted, all hopefully contributing toward bringing festive cheer to the town. I'm pleased that people like what I've created. As I was painting I received lots of very positive comments from people of all walks of life. It was humbling to say the least and it was nice to know that I might have provided a little hope at this time of the year, which for some can be very difficult. Or at the very least, I might have given people a little hope, and something to smile about.

Mike Larkin
Mike depicted a view of a typical north east Victorian farm and farmer, with potentially rainy cloud. You can see this at Stolz Bedding Centre.

Why did you choose this piece?
I chose a piece which was typical of the Benalla district, and therefore familiar to locals.

Tell us a little about yourself and your arts practice
I am 75, have painted for around 40 years as part hobby, part work. I worked as an Electrical Contractor and sometimes painted on way home from a job. I am now retired. My painting has evolved to mainly depicting spirituality, not religion, which is central to my outlook. I do still paint murals, portraits and landscapes but less so.

How do you feel about the event?
I really enjoy the Window to Window art experience partly due to working for a short time with Cooinda residents, but mostly because I can mix and talk to the other artists and the passers-by who interact with us. It is good to be a part of the town throng which gives credibility to our art endeavours and allows locals to see what we do and who we are.

John Holschier
John painted the solar system with a Christmas hat on one small planet.

Why did you choose this piece?
I chose the piece because I once did something as a lino print and was interested in using a similar process, i.e. colour by colour on a window. I’ve labelled the small planet with a Christmas hat  PLANet B’. This is a more subtle environmental message than some of the other pieces.

Tell us a little about yourself and your arts practice
I run my own business as a Bowen therapist and do a lot of woodwork as my creative outlet. I haven’t painted anything in years.

How do you feel about the event?
I enjoyed the event considering I was doing something I'm very out of practice at in public. People were very friendly and positive.

Tanya Tabone
Tanya painted the rainbow flag artwork on Rustik’s shopfront. It features two snow(wo)men kissing and Santa being led through the sky by Prancer.

Why did you choose this piece?
Christmas is a time to celebrate diversity. There are many people who feel alone at Christmas, and as an LGBTIQ+ person Christmas can be isolating. But Christmas should be a time for people to come together, regardless of who they are or where they come from. I hope my piece makes people feel safe, and reminds people to be welcoming and show love and respect to one another this Christmas.

Tell us a little about yourself and your arts practice
I’m a photographer, writer and designer so painting is far outside my comfort zone. The rainbow was a great piece to start with as the big slabs of colour make for a fun, high impact design that’s not too hard to put together. As a photographer, I believe art shows a little piece of the world. A scene, a face, a statement - each of these snapshots can be used to tell a whole story.

How do you feel about the event?
I was nervous to put myself (and my artistic abilities) out there. It was a challenge for me to paint and I thought a lot about the content of my painting. I was concerned that some people wouldn’t be happy about what I was depicting. However, I felt it was more important to embrace diversity and to speak to my audience through the piece than to worry about those who would criticise it Most people who walked past engaged with me and the piece in a really positive way. It was great to be in the welcoming space that Rustik have created and their customers and other passers-by were encouraging and friendly.


Tim Bowtell
Tim painted a portrait of Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist who has lead a worldwide youth movement protesting for positive environmental change.

Why did you choose this piece?
I wanted to start a conversation about how we can care for each other, the community and the environment this Christmas. I’d like to see Christmas be more about reconnecting with family and friends rather than spending on gifts. Or to use our money wisely and support those that need it like the emergency services and victims of the bushfires. I'm inspired by Greta Thunberg and I wanted to help spread her message. I hope it inspires local people, young and old to stand up and speak about what’s important to them and that they can make a real difference.

Tell us a little about yourself and your arts practice
I am a full-time professional artist with a studio at North East Artisans, where I am currently Chair person. Moving from Geelong to this area has brought out the artist in me. I can’t believe where this journey has taken me, from attending my first painting workshop under the Benalla Art Gallery in 2005, to this year painting huge silos in St James. I can thoroughly recommend following your passion.

How do you feel about the event?
Community-based Arts Festivals like this are the reason places like North East Artisans exist. We are very lucky to live in a town that celebrates arts, artists and artisans. The Festival provides the opportunity for local artists to have a go, to talk to people walking by as they engage with the artwork. I'm grateful to participate in such a great example of community arts.

​"Merry Christmas to all the NEA family, it’s been a wonderful year at NEA. Thanks for all that you do to keep the dream alive. Let’s make 2020 even better! " ​  Tim Bowtell, NEA President

​Tim is pictured here outside the Benalla Rural City offices with the portrait of Greta Thunberg he painted for the Window to Window Festival. in early December 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

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!

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.  

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.