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Planning is now well underway for 'Benalla Rugged Up' in August. A number of planning meetings have already been held, with the next meeting to be held on Friday 21st June at 1 pm in Gallery 2 at NEA. "We will be looking at the progress we have made, and planning our next steps. To be successful, we do need people to assist with the steps needed to be able to stage the event.' Joy Shirley Progress to date includes planning tasks such as setting up a time line from 'go' to 'whoa'; commencing the process of seeking approvals from VicRoads; commencing the Council Event Application; investigating a Community Sponsorship Grant process to assist with costs; contacting Waminda re insurance coverage for volunteers during installation and removal; and more. Collection bins and some posters have now been distributed, and some posters. The group is looking for help from volunteers to assist with organisational details and planning; distribute more of the posters; market the event; prepare finished products ready for installation and assist with the installation. The preparation of products ready for installation will commence from 1 July at the Gliding Club at the airfield. If you would like to assist with the organisation of 'Benalla Rugged Up', your attendance at the planning meeting at NEA at 1 pm on Friday 21 would be most welcome. For further information - Contact Joy Shirley 0417 065 351 
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 Carol Mainardi (Hudson Valley, New York) Sea Lullaby woodcut ‘Postcards from New York’s Hudson Valley’, an innovative International Postcard Exhibition curated by NEA studio artist Irina Korotkow and New York based photographer Mary Anne Glass, is on display in NEA’s Exhibition Gallery (Gallery 2) from June 18th to July 14th. Mary Anne Glass visited North East Artisans early in 2019 while in Victoria conducting workshops. On her return to New York, Mary Anne asked twenty-eight artists from New York’s Hudson Valley (about 60-70 miles north of New York City along the Hudson River) to make postcard-sized (6x8 inches) artwork on paper, cardstock, or unstretched canvas. And they were excited to participate! The work now on exhibition at North East Artisans encompasses oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings as well as photography, mixed media, collage art and woodcuts. ‘Postcards from New York’s Hudson Valley’ represents the first stage in a reciprocal international exchange of postcard artwork. Irina Korotkow is now encouraging artists from North East Victoria to respond to the exhibition by contributing post card sized artwork to a post card exchange with artists from the Hudson Valley. Submissions need to be 2 dimensional works 6 x 8 inches on cardstock, paper, unstretched canvas. Postcards created and exchanged by artists from North East Victoria will be exhibited in a month-long response show at RiverWinds Gallery, Beacon, New York State, with an opening during Beacon’s Second Saturday, when all galleries are open. “The postcard exchange and reciprocal show at RiverWinds Gallery in New York’s Hudson Valley provide a wonderful opportunity for artists in North East Victoria to broaden our artistic horizons, make a stimulating connection with artists on the other side of the globe and have our artwork exhibited in New York!” Irina Korotkow. 'Postcards from New York's Hudson Valley' will be on show in NEA's Exhibition Gallery (Gallery 2) from Tuesday June 18 to Sunday July 14th. The beautiful postcard images will be for sale between $40 to $50 each. If you would like to participate in the postcard exchange and reciprocal exhibition at RiverWinds Gallery, Beacon, in New York’s Hudson Valley, please contact Irina Korotkow on 0407491756 'An Artist's Dollar; in memory of Brenda Faunce Martin, my mother" Katherine Martin Burgers12/6/2019  Katherine Martin Burgers is one of NEA's newest studio tenants! Katharine is a highly skilled textile artist, silversmith and sculpturess. Her entry into @chilternartprize this year is one example of her highly detailed and labour intensive works. We love her story behind this piece." Michaela Alexander, Media Team "Thank you for all the positive likes to my piece. For those who don't know how I came to this idea, allow me to explain. I was studying textiles in the 90's and I started to put One and Two cent coins into my work, with titles such as 'Pocket Money' and 'Small Change'. In 2008 to 2010 I studied Silver Smithing. I wanted to learn to do small metal pieces after doing big sculptural work in the 80's. I enjoyed the course and fell in love with silver! My mother became interested in my work and studies, and mentioned to me that she had saved 5 cent coins because they were the smallest coin in silver, and she offered them for me to use in an art work. Next thing I ended up with $15 's worth of 5 cents in silver! I came to the idea of surrounding the coins with a flower crochet like a doily. After testing, I decided to use wire. It gave a different beauty to the crochet and it accentuated the silver coin. When encompassing the coins I realised that to crochet and cover the coin like a precious stone I was using jewellery making techniques. Each coin took 2 hours to do, so if I wanted to do a dollar's worth, it would take a 40 hour working week to complete. A dollar a week, very similar to how textile workers' labour was valued. The table cloth idea came when I put my first One Dollar block together: one dollar a week for 24 weeks would create a beautiful piece and a statement about the low economic value placed on women's labour and Textiles skills. Test for yourself how much the piece should be worth if you were to be paid a fair hourly rate: $-- /hour x 40 x 24 = $-- . Anyway the piece is finally finished and I named it 'An Artist's Dollar; in memory of Brenda Faunce Martin', my mother." Katherine Martin Burgers  Katherine Martin Burgers working on 'An Artist's Dollar' at NEA in 2017.
"Our exhibition ‘Identity’ includes work from across the North East Flexible Learning Network with campuses in Wodonga, Seymour, Shepparton and Benalla. The artwork within this exhibition will explore the concepts of personal and community identity through a multitude of mediums including paint, mosaics, ceramics and coloured and graphic pencils. Students from year’s seven to twelve have been working around the theme of ‘Identity’ since the beginning of the year. With the exhibition set to include a wide range of perspectives and concepts focused on identity, how the students view themselves, the school, their communities and the people around them." North East Flexible Learning Network Exhibition Gallery (Gallery 2) North East Artisans 3rd to 16th June 2019 Monday to Friday 9 to 4 pm Saturday 9 to 2 pm  Simon Klose describes his art work as being influenced by Western Modernism, which he considers ‘an explosion of thinking and doing which is without precedent’, adding ‘I would have been put into a lunatic asylum if it hadn’t been for Modernism’.  Simon, who retired not so long ago from a long career in the art world as a curator and gallery director, recently began painting in a bright, sunny studio on the first floor at North East Artisans overlooking Bridge Street. “In all the time I’ve made art I’ve rarely had a studio, so to now have somewhere separate where I can work is both ironic and a privilege. My life is becoming less complicated, so a studio is a luxury, in a way. On the other had it brings a kind of odour of professionalism with which I don’t always agree, am not always comfortable. I guess people who have a studio aspire to a kind of professional station in life which means they have intent, and ambition to be, an artist. I suppose it follows that a professional studio will be accorded professional respect, sales and a progress towards some professional recognition. That has been a querulous area for me because I’m indifferent to doing that. It’s a need for extra space for me, but I’m aware that people wonder about what I’m doing, who I am? I’ve had galleries and exhibitions before but as time has progressed more people have found the idea of me as an artist as a new idea, when I originally attended art school for about six years, and intended to be foremost an artist. Of course ‘people think you’re a gallery director, or a curator, that you are not really an artist’. I guess they are perceptions I have to manage. Sometimes I feel a greater sense of freedom having moved away from full time public gallery work, that I’m becoming happier with who I am, or more of… It’s taken a while!” Where is home, Simon? ‘Benalla is my home at the moment. I’ve never really had a place I’ve never wanted to leave. I’ve always left for work, also for family’ Where would you most want to live and create? ‘I like the companionship of a few friends, they don’t have to be next to me, they can be in other cities, it’s the communication that’s important. I really love nature, so being in a natural environment is very important to me, and Benalla’s not too bad for that… I don’t mind not being part of the big art, cultural scene. I’ve done all that. I’m quite content in my own company, I really don’t mind if I don’t see people for days on end.’ Comfort food? ‘At the moment – dried fruit and nuts and green tea’. Artistic Influences? ‘Trecento’ painting, Italian painting of the beginning of the Renaissance in Italian history; and even earlier than that I guess, Sumerian culture which predates Greek culture; continuing right up to Malevich; Mondrian and heaps of others after that’ What was the first work you exhibited publicaly or sold as an artist? My first exhibition was a group exhibition of student works from the Sculpture Department at Prahran Tech in 1967 or ‘68. I exhibited ceramic shapes, turned and bisque fired. Exhibitions attended recently? ‘The last exhibition? Some works by Allan Mitelman at the Charles Nordrum Gallery in Richmond.’ Have you been reading anything lately about art? I’ve been looking at the problem of aesthetics, Aristotle, Socrates, etcetera. I’ve been drawn to this because I haven’t found a thread of images or image which satisfies me and I have a natural inclination towards objects and matters related to objects. For instance, that particular work (Simon indicated a work on his studio wall) is an object which is really a painting about a physical fact, the particular space on the wall beside it which has been painted. It’s not a painting about an imaginary construction, if that makes sense. I’m still trying to achieve complacency with the first set of premises, with very basic truths. You have such a rich reservoir of images in your mind from looking at and analysing art for so long… For a lifetime… When it comes to preferring and creating you have to make a lot of choices. Many of them are comparative. Some are innate stylistic preferences. While I find many of the images moving and compelling, I don’t have my own images which come from being moved or a compelling set of circumstances, but I do get excited about very basic truths. If I can find a way to capture them, then I make art suffer the results. You make people think about basic truths… That would be good, but I’m not sure if it’s true You’re looking at what your art work is, stripping it back… Trying to get to the centre How long…..continuously? Years and years. I never leave it. I always feel sorry when people that have set out to become an artist, to being close to the arts and then move away from the arts, because I think they’ve left their love, even if their work isn’t of the first or second order… they’ve only got one life. It does seem sad when people have a period in which they are very creative then walk away from their art… I always wonder, why did they stop. Children, mortgages, professional responsibilities of running and galleries, teaching, it impacted upon what I was doing with my art, however when I went into a drawing folder or half finished work it was always there, waiting. I was never that successful in separating all the life strands out, but I always kept the candle going. I made some terrible art works, I probably still am making terrible some terrible art works. We’ve almost answered the next question which is about telling me about what you are working on at the moment; do you feel you’ve answered that, do you want to describe it a bit more? I’m finding ways to reveal what are some very basic truths, for me. If other people don’t get it, I’m sorry. I can’t help that. If I think I’ve done something that’s close to my thinking and feeling—there’s no better feeling in the world, really, for a little while, until my feelings overtake the artwork and I have to go on to make something else. But it is really wonderful when things work out. I can just imagine you having a little opening in here, in your studio, No… ..just with three trusted friends…? No. Three would be too many! You know, It’s always testing when other people see your work. But, my first wife was an artist, my older daughter is an artist, and my younger daughter is a curator at Art Bank, so with us there’s a lot of looking and responding, measuring, testing, judging. My son is a pretty good critic as well…. My older daughter has asked for a work but I haven’t been able to produce it yet! You see I gave a work to my youngest daughter called ‘Double Yellow’ which is two yellows next to each other, of different size and almost a sort of mirror image shaped but different. She was really pleased and I was really pleased that she was pleased. I was telling my eldest daughter who responded ‘Dad, what about doing me a black one?’ and I said, ‘Oh ‘Double Black, yeah, okay, well, I could try it’. So I’ve been working away on ‘Double Black’ but I just can’t get it right, I can’t get it right!…(Simon gets it from a table to show me) ….that’s how it is at the moment; I might just have to stop there and let it rest. Although it’s double black it actually has some dark green in it; some thinner paint and some very flat paint next to each other. This is a mistake that I’ve made here …You see you just have to make one little mistake in a work that’s fairly spare, and so you’ve just got to do it again. And so that’s something you’re working on that at the moment ‘Double Black’… Yes, It might take years… Anna’s a very fashionable Melbourne person who lives in Sydney, and Melbourne likes black, and because I Iove her so much I want her to have me in the way that she would best like to have me, as ‘Black’! I’m sort of cutting myself into that shape, if you like. Simon, although this interview focuses’ on your making art, I’m wondering about the first exhibition you curated, the first painting you purchased in your professional life in the gallery sector? I don’t remember the first exhibition I curated… there were so many. The first works I acquired for a gallery or collection was the marquette and drawings for ‘The Vault’ sculpture by Ron Robertson Swan. The ‘Vault’ beccame known as ‘The Yellow Peril’. I was a great fan of that sculpture and I still am. How has your background/ background influenced your artwork/creativity ? It’s been pivotal. My mother studied art; my aunt studied art, my grandmother studied music in London and took art classes at the Gallery School in Melbourne. My grandfather had a big printing business which was ultimately involved in commissioning the young Sir William Dargie to paint a portrait of the young Queen, printing and publishing all of the reproductions which went into every school and RSL in Australia. His partner at McLaren’s printing, James Beveridge, commissioned the painting of the young Queen, sending Dargie to London to paint it. It was timely when I once went for a job interview at the McClelland Gallery where Sir William Dargie was Chairman of Trustees. At the end of a lively interview he asked me ‘Is there anything else?’ I said ‘Sir William, We have a link”. He said ‘Oh, Oh?’ I said ‘Yes, McLaren’s Printing’. His face changed – he was taken back to the start of his career. He said ‘Oh, yes’ and smiled. He was such a nice person, he was extraordinary. So all those conversations about things happening like that would have been part of your life? Yes. When I was very young, my mother knew John Perceval, we used to go to round to the Murrumbeena Pottery when he was making angels and the Boyds' were making ramekins. Then there were musicians including Carol Zobek, which was good. I had originally intended to study architecture, but my maths wasn’t very good, I just wasn’t taught very well I think. So at 12 years of age I took up art. In art school and later It was tough. No money and few prospects. People were kind and supportive but I did have a very difficult time… I’d had to spend time at a TB sanatorium, which took me away from a possible first teaching role and turned me into an outcast. TB was a notifiable disease - I was not a free person and all the people I knew had to have chest x rays and tests. There were years of poverty. But I was achieving some reputation as an interesting and committed artist and was being included in some important exhibitions. Did they have rehab? An art room? No, they had a pool table! What’s the best part of being an artist, a painter? The occasional successes in the studio, pleasing outcomes to projects. They are better than anything else in the world to me, really. The fact that the artist is totally responsible for all the aspects of the artwork. It can be intoxicating but onerous What’s the worst part of being an artist, a painter from your point of view? It used to be poverty, which I know affects many artists. I know poverty well from my younger years. I think it’s good that somewhere like NEA has gathered together people who are not immediately drawn to make their way in life through orthodox pathways. They have a chance to share ideas in a safe, supportive environment and make a contribution in other ways. I think it’s just very good, so I’ll always support it. It doesn’t mean it’s housing a large number of geniuses, that doesn’t worry me. Just as long as they have the time and space to make decisions which are their decisions. And of course, the advice, experiences here, lead to constructive outcomes. A lot of people have mentioned poverty when responding to this question… When I grew up, we went to Caulfield Grammar, my brothers and I, but our home had no hot water, no gas cooking, broken windows, leaking roof; there were stacks of papers, empty bottles. We used to have our showers at school, we couldn’t have friends at home, we really did live in abject poverty. My grandfather paid our school fees, my father was absent - I didn’t meet him until I was 21. . I don’t blame anyone, it was circumstantial, but we had to find a way to make the best of the circumstances . And we all did. My middle brother is managing indigenous housing projects in Queensland and the Torres Strait. He has three degrees. My youngest brother was a professional musician – he composed music for the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, played in lots of bands. He passed away from pulmonary fibrosis, it was really awful. He was so much fun, charming, really popular and a truly gifted musician. His whole life was music. There were three brothers in less than three years; I was the eldest. I got charged with trying to manage the other two. I was the odd one. It didn’t matter. They were wonderful to me when I had difficult times. When I think of my youngest brother I always smile, he was such a rascal. What’s the best (or worst) advice you’ve received about your work? When I was at art school all my teachers and lecturers were very supportive, but I have only a handful of people who really have an interest in my work. I’ve never had and never expect now to have any wider audience, and frankly I’m quite pleased I’ve come to the resolution that this is fine… The best advice? To “do what you love and do it as hard as you can—to separate what you love from money, don’t stop because people don’t want to buy it or you can’t get a grant… that has nothing to do with your inner life or your purpose’ What do you find most challenging about your art, about coming to NEA, about working on your art? At times it was difficult for me to separate my gallery work from art making and because my artwork is, in context, so extreme for regional galleries, for regional settings, I would try to keep them separate. Now I don’t have to conceal my art work, I’m relieved of that. That’s the biggest change. If I did go back to gallery work I’d be less inclined to be the person people want me to be, less inclined to be a gallery worker who preferred to conceal their art work… When you’re struggling with a painting or object, where do you look for inspiration? I usually have a broad feeling about the subject which I want the painting to embody and repeat back to me. All I can do to achieve a satisfactory circle of circumstance is, trial and error; trial and error; trial and error; draw, make, test; draw, make, test… Who do you picture as the ideal viewer of your work? I have a lot of dead people in my studio, from family to famous people. For me they are all alive, they keep me honest or at least aware of honesty. Whether creativity in different areas can be taught is often debated – what’s your view? It’s debatable! … I would like there to be greater respect for creativity, but I would like creative people to be more hard working to be honest.… Some artists, such as Whitely, drop the ball and become self-indulgent, take drugs, become irresponsible, taking their gift for granted and wasting it. I think that’s an unfortunate waste – everyone loses. Where and when do you prefer to work on your art? I don’t have a particular pattern. What do you listen to when you work? I don’t listen to anything. I have enough trouble thinking without having music. Other people can do it, it’s not a judgement. I play music. However, If I’m playing music physically, it’s not possible for me to jump up simultaneously and create an art work. Do you buy your art supplies online, in an art store, or both? Always in an art store – often it’s in a hardware store. I prefer the hardware store to the arts store because it’s cheaper! What’s your advice for someone wanting to be an artist in your field? ‘Look at as much art as you can. Build a really deep vocabulary of experiences and knowledge; be true to yourself and work hard, work as hard as you can, you don’t have very much time… While you have to make a living, when you get married and have children, you might have three hours a week in which to do some drawing. Don’t fritter it away, do it, keep the language alive. When not painting, what do you like to do? All kinds of things related to objects like boats and cars; music and reading; being in beautiful places; discussing ideas. If you could go out to dinner with any artist, who would it be and why? Firstly, I’d have a dinner party! I’d have Fra Angelico, who makes simple images which bring me great delight but I’ve never quite understood why. Then I’d have Malevich who understood that the combination of everything in the world can be all black or all white. His mind… I would probably invite Jung because I don’t fully understand him, but he seems to understand so much, so I might learn something. The object of the exercise would be to add to my store of knowledge and experience. What’s the art work that’s had the most significant impact on your life and work or an artist? I couldn’t say… I’ve seen a lot. The period I think is the most exciting is Western Modernism – an explosion of thinking and doing which is without precedent. To be alive near it is pretty exciting. I would have been put into a lunatic asylum if it hadn’t been for the existence of Westernism modernism being something I can point to! People would have said ‘He’s a nut!’ Do you have a philosophy for how and why you create? ‘Is it true? Do you believe it? Is it in some way beautiful?’ During our interview you have spoken about being influenced by Western Modernism, about your interest in creating works which represent first premises, basic truths. You mentioned that in the past you’d created a work called ‘Double Yellow’ as a gift for your youngest daughter, and that you are now working on a commission from your eldest daughter for a work you are calling ‘Double Black’, which is to be a gift to her. What would you like to move on to? I have no forward plans. The process of work and commitment won’t change… the results will… Finally Simon, at the beginning of the interview we talked about your taking a studio at North East Artisans. You seem to be making lots of use of your studio when you are in Benalla. I’ve seen the lights on while you are working in there at night if I’ve driven by and you often pop down to the Red Road Café for a break when you are working there. How are you finding it, is it working for you? I am finding that I can work within the parameters quite well. I enjoy the people and they tolerate me…I don’t expect that there will be any kind of admiration or understanding of my work. It will be difficult for some people – it can be difficult for me. I would like to contribute to the thinking and ideas at NEA and am working quietly on this at the moment….but if it isn’t required or seems inappropriate, then I won’t mind….back to the studio – where I have full responsibility and accountability…to myself and my audience -- dead or alive. Simon was interviewed in his studio at North East Artisans in Benalla on Sunday 12 May 2019 by Bev Lee.  Expressions of interest now required for life drawing (un-tutored).
Tuesday or Thursday nights, Six x 3 hour sessions $100. Starting date to be announced when 6 people have committed.. Contact Frank Burgers on 0488676127  Tuesday is 'Mentor Day' at Merv and Irina's Studio
4 Byrne Street, Benalla ... 0417 269 611 RSVP is needed as space is restricted and some Tuesdays may not be available mervyn.beamish@gmail.com Start around 10am and finish whenever you like Basic idea is bring your paints and work on your painting, I work on mine and will be there if you want advice or encouragement. This is not a workshop and is free. We'll provide a lunch ... let us know if you have any special requirements. We can see how it goes and decide if we want to repeat it on a regular basis.  IN YOUR FACE 2019 - NEA Portrait Prize $1000 People’s Choice $500 The NEA Portrait Prize is open to ALL artists TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Please read all conditions of entry carefully
Those amazing gallery shop elves have been in again and right under our noses have created a wonderful Mother's Day gift display in the centre of the shop! There's a fantastic array of gifts available at NEA all made by artisans who reside within a 100km radius of Benalla. You will find gift ideas in the gallery shop, in the hallways, in the artist studios and in the exhibition space (Gallery 2) too! Whether it be a piece of original art, a framed print, a beautifully handcrafted item or even a card (I won't say 'just a card' as I can assure you the cards at NEA are not 'just' cards - some are miniature prints of original artwork created by local artists and others are individually handcrafted artworks in themselves) - there is something for just about anyone!' Oh and to add to the excitement, our gallery shop is now regularly open on Tuesdays! Gallery Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Deb Dodd
Katharine Martin-Burgers recently settled into a studio at NEA, establishing a longed for space in which to work on creative projects. Katharine has a degree in Fine Arts and works in textiles, sculpture and silver smithing, typically finding interesting ways in which to combine these. After finishing art school Katharine worked for five years making fly screens in a window factory, a physically complex and repetitive task which led to significant and ongoing pain issues. Juggling subsequent family responsibilities and pain management meant largely putting her creative life on hold for two decades. With her children now having completed secondary school, Katharine has been able to set up a studio at NEA, where her partner Frank Burgers also has a studio. Katharine is currently undertaking a course which will enable her to apply modern 3D printing and laser technology to jewellery making techniques when completing her creative projects. Katharine describes herself as a creative person, rather than an artist or artisan. Where is home, Katharine? We currently live in Wangaratta, but it doesn’t feel like home, it feels like somewhere we park ourselves. Home to me is Ringwood, where I grew up, and Bright, where we brought up our children. We had a lovely time as a family unit living in Bright. Where would you most want to live and create? Somewhere near Lilydale or Yarra Glen-- I love the view of the hills there. I love and miss the Dandenongs, which I could always see when I was growing up. Comfort food? It would have to be chocolate. There’s lots of comfort food in my refrigerator! I love vegetables, even cauliflower’ Artistic Influences? When I was very small, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci; Annameika Mein when I was learning textiles at High School. Towards the end of my schooling I began looking at modern sculpture, but sculpture wasn’t where I was thinking of going then, I thought it would be textiles. Current reads/films/exhibitions attended? ‘I recently went to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the costume exhibition there – it was a collection of costumes from the 1850’s to now, displayed on the second level with art work from the period –each costume is exhibited with the art work of the same period. I’ve always tried to see exhibitions of couture or fashion design when they are in the gallery.’ What are you working on at the moment? I’m trying to get components made for my silver smithing project for my class in Jewellery, objects and computer design. I’m making design objects from metal spoons and learning to use a 3D printer to map my design. I’m trying to get as many designs ready for 3D printing as I can while I have access to the machine. What was the first work you exhibited publically or sold as an artist? The first work I exhibited publically was in the Royal Melbourne Show. I exhibited a baby’s smocked frock in Year 9 and received first prize for it! In Year 11 my entry to the Show was influenced by an Annameika Mein exhibition I’d attended at the time - my textiles teacher dragged me away from the art teacher for me to attend. My entry received three prizes – two in the students’ section (the Student 1st Prize; the Teachers Home Economics Award) and a Special Prize won in the open section sponsored by Semco – this had never happened before. The first work I sold was a sculpture, a massive 7 ft tall welded steel plate piece. I was 20 at the time and had just finished my degree in fine art, majoring in sculpture. I had cut it with an oxyacetaline torch, ground and arc welded it. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone. The student union bought it – it’s still there at Mt Helen, outside the Dean’s office area. Frank and I have been wondering if we should arrange a plaque for it, as it doesn’t identify me as the artist.  How has your background influenced your creativity ? Massively! Mum was a dressmaker, her grandmother was a dressmaker/tailor. When mum looked back later in her life she realized how much she had learned from her grandmother. When I showed interest in textiles she tried to get me to think artistically about design and the fabric. She didn’t want me to become a dressmaker, but encouraged me to work with fabric creatively! My father was a floor layer – often laying tiles. When I was old enough, perhaps to give herself respite, mum would send some of us (there were six children) to work with him. Sometimes there would be all sorts of tradies, materials and machines at the site. I watched, taking it all in. I’d help, or watch the tradies from a distance, soldering, machining. There was often a lot of fine metal left to play with, to manipulate. This play came back to me when I was doing sculpture, I thought ‘Hang on, I know what I’m doing, I’ve done this before”. A lecturer was a bit bewildered when I went to art school and was trying to mix fibre work with sculpture. I showed him what I was doing and asked him to think of it as ‘texture’. Fibre has a wonderful tactile quality to it and looks great. Basically mum and dad gave me hand skills I didn’t realise I was developing; the art and design just came naturally eventually. Also, when I was in year 12 I had to do work experience and wanted to complete it in a creative setting. The school mentioned the Meat Market who had to say no, but suggested I try the Melbourne Tapestry Workshop. I had no idea what this meant but they agreed to my being placed there. When I walked into the tapestry workshop it was heaven. The ceiling was three stories high and there were three people sitting on stools translating paintings into tapestry. They taught me how to make small tapestries. Watching the women, seeing the colour ranges and tones they had available to them, was for me like being in a candy shop! It was a magical time! Being able to be immersed in this creative setting and to be inspired by the work there was truly wonderful. It opened my mind to alternative options and later led to my seeking out the Melbourne College of Textiles. What’s the best part of being an artist? When I think of an artist, I think of someone who exhibits and sells. To me I’m a creative person. I don’t like the word craft; I think that this is used too much for something which is an art work. I’m a creative person and make things I want to make, it’s up to the person who views it to decide whether it’s art or not. Some people get that silversmithing can be sculptural pieces which are small or wearable art. I’ve done pieces which are seen as wearable art…The best part of being an artist is the joy of making and developing ideas and seeing a piece through the stages from start to finish and thinking ‘Whoa, I made that’ Katharine, you mentioned preferring to describe yourself as a creative person, rather than an artist. What is the best part of being a creative person?
One of the best parts of being a creative person, to me, is that it’s an escape. Have you ever had the feeling that time has just flown, that you’ve been totally absorbed in what you are doing? You get to the point in the day where you think, oh, I haven’t eaten, oh I’m dying to go to the toilet… A members morning tea will be held on Tuesday 21st May at 1030am in the Exhibition Gallery.
Meg Osborne from the Volunteer Resource Bureau Albury will speak about setting up infrastructure and providing resources. Meg really thinks out of the box and has something to offer everyone Coffee and snacks can be purchased from Red Road Cafe. A gold coin donation would be appreciated to cover travel costs. Irina Korotkow  The Gallery Gigs - Friday May 3 6.30 pm Exhibitions Gallery at NEA 'The Ocelots' "Initially cutting their teeth on the notoriously tough busking circuit, this real life band of brothers (or twins, to be precise) have trodden the boards across Europe, wowing crowds and turning industry heads along the way. Based in Wexford, Ashley and Brandon Watson draw inspiration from the likes of Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel and the Followill family, fusing folk and pop-rock to create a bewitching brew of lush harmonies and sweet hooks. They’ve also caused a stir with their guerrilla gigs, where they turn up unannounced in random locations and perform for their fans on YouTube." Source: Edwin McFee 'Hot for 2019 Irish Acts: The Ocelots' Hot Press Website, 1 Feb 2019 It was a great relief to find the 'previously thought lost' NEA Marquee in a remote cupboard at NEA the day before 'The Source' event at the Benalla Botanical Gardens on March 23rd! It's last recorded use.--Violet Town Market in late 2016 when Mervyn, Irina and Meralyn set up at the Violet Town market. The Source event was imminent, we'd lost our Events Manager somewhere along the way - we had to act! Valerie Clements, the Gallery Shop team leader, developed a workable concept for our presence at the market after discussion with Bev and others. Our (still rather large) stock of T-Shirts would be the focus, on sale at reduced prices, along with lots of information about NEA to share with visitors and a selection of stock that would cope with market conditions. Rodney Horsfall was enthused about taking a second of three NEA sites for a 'Cigar Box Guitars' display and demonstration - what a relief!. Then Rodney realised the market was on a Sunday - he was already committed on the Saturday concerned! Always helpful, he arranged a selection of his guitars to display among our 'merch'. Bev located details about set up times and other matters. The unsinkable Deb Dodd kicked into gear, packing her car with trestles the night before, while Valerie and Bev packed their cars with 'merch' from NEA early on Saturday morning, We all 'bumped in' to set up the NEA marquee just as it started to drizzle, to be followed by intermittent light rain. The marquee was taken out of the pack, the framework erected, but - there was no roof! Deb returned to NEA to open the shop--sending a text not long after to let us know the roof had been found! Roof finally in place, T-shirts, NEA pamphlets, Gallery Gig fliers, cards and merchandise were arranged on the tables. Sadly Rodney's cigar box guitars had to be returned to the car - we were concerned about the impact of the moist conditions on their well being. A 'gentle' day of chatting to people; sharing information about NEA and spruiking 'NEA T-Shirts' followed. Valerie, Bill and Bev took the occasional sojourn to see other stalls and buy a 'good coffee' from the Red Road Cafe where Lauren and Sam had a busy day. NEA friends Schloss Ol' Toys and Collectables and 'woodies' David Hall and Chris Seeley were located nearby. NEA had supported 'The Source' event from its beginnings, always planning to participate in the Makers Market and to hold 'The Source' exhibition in NEA's Exhibition Gallery to celebrate and surround it, Darrel de Fazio's energy and enthusiasm for the event was and remains clearly obvious - we wish him well as he develops 'The Source' concept into the future. Getting back to 'marquees' and markets - NEA definitely has the wherewithal of a small marquee and trestle tables needed to participate in markets. It was most enjoyable connecting with community members interested in stepping into the NEA zone, if only for a few minutes. Markets and 'marquees' are also a great way of re connecting with members of the NEA family, past and present! It was a quite wonderful to have children come up to us and say 'we come to NEA for Table Top games' or 'my mother's friends Kylie and Tim belong to NEA'! (And... just in case you're interested and before I forget ... we sold six T-shirts and one card!) "An occasional BLog.'  NEA's Marquee at the Violet Town market in late 2016 -
Meralyn is standing in the shadow towards the back of the tent.  2 DAY PASTEL WORKSHOP WITH PASTEL ARTIST JENNIFER PAULL www.jenniferpaullartist.wordpress.com In this workshop we will be exploring basic pastel application techniques and the use of different papers for varied effects, as well as colour theory and mixing. A wide range of subject matter will be available from landscapes to portraits and the figure. Come and have fun with this wonderfully versatile medium. Full list of required materials supplied on booking. Morning and afternoon tea supplied. BYO lunch. Great coffee available on site at the Red Road Café! Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May 2019 10am - 4.30 pm North East Artisans' studio http://www.northeastartisans.org/ Bridge Street (opposite Hides' Bakery) Benalla Vic 3672 Cost: $180 for 2 days Bookings: phone Jenny Paull 0407 856 048 Payment must be received by Friday 10th. May   A Special Members Meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th April at 5.30 p.m. in Exhibition Gallery 2 at NEA, Benalla.
The rules of a Special Members Meeting require that only the matters specified will be presented, discussed and voted upon as required. Minutes of the meeting will be taken and will be available to all members on request. Matters to be discussed. 1. Present situation of NEA regarding Positions vacant, nominations or expressions of interest for these Positions. . And or… 2. Viability of employing a qualified part time manager to work alongside, assisting existing position holders. 3. Shortfalls in Volunteering 4. The future position of NEA when current lease ends in March 2020. At the close of the meeting, depending on time, general informal discussions may continue but please note that only the 4 points above will be discussed, and proposals considered. Members are asked to check their emails for further details or ask for a copy of the letter which contains further details from the gallery shop. The meeting will take not more than 2 hours. Please bring a plate of finger food for sharing after the meeting. Hazel Frankland MAppLing, NEA President Maggie Hollins, a member of NEA's poetry mailing list and secretary of Goulburn and North East Artisans Association (GANEAA) thinks extremely highly of poet Joel McKerrow. Maggie would like to share news of the poetry workshop Joel will be conducting on Friday May 3 during GANEAA's biennial 'Across the Arts Forum' 2019.
The Workshop title/brief - 'The Poetic Workshop' - 'Pithy poetry writing with the potential for performance. Learn techniques to help free up the writing process with Joel McKerrow leading the way. Be inspired.' The venue - GOTAFE Wangaratta. Date for your diary - Friday May 3rd from 10 to 3.30 pm. Budget considerations - $70 or $55 Concession. Bookings - https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=486353& Find out more about Joel McKerrow and the workshop: https://ganeaa.com.au/ata-program/joel-mckerrow-the-poetic-process/ Book in to Joel's workshop through Try Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=486353& Check out the program as a whole http://ganeaa.com.au/across-the-arts-forum-2019/ Members of the creative community in North East of Victoria are gathering again in early May for Goulburn and North East Artists Association's (GANEAA) Across the Arts Forum. GOTAFE Wangaratta will become a hub of creative activity for three days as a program of 18 workshops designed by GANEAA to inspire and further develop the capacity of local creatives' are conducted by local and nationally regarded artists from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May.
If you are considering attending one or more of the 18 'Across the Arts Workshops' offered across Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May, each workshop runs from 10 to 3.30pm - most workshops cost $70, or $55 for concession. Bookings can be arranged via trybooking..https://www.trybooking.com. The 2019 Across the Arts theme -'Across Cultures' - is also reflected in an concurrent exhibition at the Wangaratta Library and Bainz Library. A 'Saturday Concert' at the Uniting Church Hall from 7.30 pm provides an opportunity to gather and celebrate the event! . NEA artists Frank Burgers, Maggie Hollins and Janet Leith are al active members of GANEAA, with Janet conducting a Portrait Painting workshop as part of this year's 'Across the Arts - Across Cultures' workshop program. GANEAA members, including Kathy Whelan, participate in exhibitions at NEA, including in our current 'Another Brick in the Wall' exhibition. We are in the middle of a wonderful 'Gallery Gigs' season at NEA, with three gigs to go before a long winter break. The Frank Burkitt Band, have "gathered their instruments and hopped over the ditch from their New Zealand home for a 17 date tour across Victoria and New South Wales" which includes a North East Artisans Gallery Gig in Benalla tomorrow night! We are so lucky! The band's second album Raconteur won the band the Vodafone NZ Music Award for Best Folk Artist 2019. This tour will support their new live EP Lost But Alive. Thursday 11 April 2019 at 6:00pm Gallery 2, North East Artisans.122-124 Bridge St East, Benalla, VIC 3672 Tix $15 https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=473746 or at NEA.   'The exhibition "lessen the pollution, better their lives' addresses environmental protection. The aim of this exhibition is to raise public awareness of soil and water safety and in turn inspire viewers to take action to protect our Mother Earth. Photos in this exhibition were taken on a community service trip in rural China. Local customs and water situations are included in the works.' Linzy Zhao and Lynne Zhao.
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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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