'Upstairs, Downstairs' exhibition, NEA Exhibitions Gallery, January 2020 

A Date for your Diary!  Tim McMillan and Rachel Snow play The Gallery Gigs, Saturday 7 March, 7.30pm. Further details soon...

North East Artisans is a community art space in the heart of Benalla at 122 Bridge Street.

NEA provides a gallery shop space for the artisans of North East Victoria to display their stunning creations; an opportunity for the community to shop locally; studio space for artisans; an array of special exhibitions throughout the year; regular gallery gigs; various art and craft workshops; and space for community groups to meet.

We encourage visitors to NEA to come in and enjoy the space, browse the art, relax and chat to the artisans and to get involved in special events and activities.
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Opening Hours:

Our GALLERY SHOP opening hours are subject to volunteer availability. The shop is open Tuesday to Friday 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-2pm. We open on Sundays and Mondays for special events. For visiting groups, gallery shop/NEA tours may be arranged by appointment.

​The RED ROAD CAFE at NEA is open from 9am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am to 2pm Saturday (closed Sunday). Whilst the cafe is open, visitors may still have access to open studios and the exhibition space. If the gallery shop is closed, the friendly cafe staff may be able to assist you with any enquiries.

The EXHIBITION GALLERY is open during NEA opening hours however may be unavailable if a new exhibition is being installed.

STUDIOS are open during NEA opening hours.. Artists may at times be found at work in their studios and are happy to chat to visitors.

Workshops at North East Artisans are offered throughout the year by local artisans who are either exhibiting in the NEA Gallery or are involved in NEA in other ways. To book into or discuss an advertised workshop, please contact the artisan directly. If you are unable to contact the artist, please contact our workshops coordinator Anne Longmuir via email jalongmuir@bigpond.com.au or via our facebook/website. If you are an artisan who wishes to offer a workshop at NEA, please organise this with Anne.

Please note:

• If there are not enough participants workshops may be cancelled at the Artisans discretion
• Participants (or guardians) need to sign a liability waiver prior to participating in NE.A workshops.
• B.Y.O snacks and drinks (or pop into one of the many great local bakeries & cafés).

Our core values include people, art, community, connectedness, sustainability, transparency, quality and inclusiveness.
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All are welcome at NEA!

"It's not easy being green" - Tim Bowtell reclaiming Greta - 2 January 2020 

​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

​"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.  

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

Saturday 30th November 2019 – 10.30am to 2.30pm

At North East Artisans, 122 Bridge St Benalla, Victoria
Learn how to do Nuno felting- felt on a silk scarf.
 
Cost $65 ($40 tuition plus $25 for materials)
(Materials - either a black or white silk scarf and wool and silk fibres.)
 
Bring: 2 old towels, small scissors, paper scissors, pencil and your lunch (or purchase it across the road). 
 
If your skin is sensitive to soap please bring gloves. ​

Pay on the day with cash to Annie or by direct deposit prior to the class please.
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Bookings essential please contact Annie by 28th November for a place in the class.
For inquiries and booking contact Annie Longmuir 0407554416
or email jalongmuir@bigpond.com

​Presenting 'Gallery Choir' at NEA, hosted by Beechworth musician Marisa Quigley!  To celebrate NEA's 5th Birthday we'll be rounding off 2019 with a fun-filled evening of laughter, song, drinks and cake on Saturday evening, 14th December from 7 pm..

What is Gallery Choir you ask? NEA's Gallery Choir event draws upon on the community music concept of a pub choir founded in Brisbane, Australia in 2017. The host arranges a popular song and teaches it to the audience, concluding with a performance which is filmed and shared on social media. All ages* and abilities welcome! Tix are on sale now at NEA and bookings are essential!

Birthday and end of year celebrations 5-7pm (free entry, bring a platter)
Gallery Choir from 7pm ($5 adult/under 10's free)
Drinks at bar prices, strictly No BYO
*Under 18's must be accompanied by responsible parent/guardian

A few months ago, NEA published a flyer from an organisation dedicated to saving pianos from landfill. An exhibition was planned for November at the North Melbourne Meat Market for local artisans and craftspeople to design and build objects from parts of unwanted pianos.
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I knew that Bill McCabe from Benalla had dismantled his old family instrument, a 1923 Beale, Australian made, and that he had a few bits left.

From Bill, I was able to source a leg, the front panel, the sheetmusic shelf, some bits if ebony and ivory keys, and some miscellaneous fittings.

I scratch built a stick dulcimer, which apart from the machine head tuners, strings and frets, was made entirely from the Beale parts, and entered it in the exhibition.

Mary and I attended the presentation night, mainly for the food and wine, and to see what others had created, so I was absolutely blown away when my name as read out as the winner in my section. …….with respect for the pianos musical heritage, to create something that gives the piano new purpose in music…

$600 prize, and a great experience. Thank you NEA.
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Rodney Horsfall

​$50 is an exhibition of artworks by members of the North East Artisans made or selected to meet the Christmas Season’s tradition of giving gifts and presents which are thoughtful, individual and have high personal and human value. Although the price of the artworks is fixed at a ridiculously low $50 – this is meant as a humorous and ironic gesture – it is the choice of the artists to determine their own contribution to the equation of principles and ideas.
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Don’t expect works to be glazed and framed = although some may be – but expect a great gift opportunity provided by people who share the North East with us and want to provide a positive human contribution to the seasons character.

Simon Klose 

This slide show is under construction - More to come!