'The occasional blogger**' - 'Mid winter at NEA'

While some NEA members have headed towards the sunshine during the winter months, others have been quite involved at NEA,  There has been an active workshop program throughout June and July,  NEA artisans have been exhibiting work in the region and some artisans have been winning awards.  ​New artisans have applied to be represented in the gallery, with some already on the gallery roster.  Artisans and others have been collecting firewood to keep warm at home as well as volunteering at the gallery, which has been able to be warmed up sufficiently to be comfortable.  

Over the winter months I've enjoyed helping to develop our new website.  Designed by Tim Bowtell and supported by Tim Gardner it moved from being a test site to the http://northeastartisans.org web address in June. The Artisans pages on the drop down menu are a real strength of the new website - providing currently exhibiting artisans with an additional opportunity to exhibit their work and provide contact details.    If you haven’t been approached or included yet, please contact Tim Bowtell with (any or all of) three photos of your work, some introductory ‘bio’ wording/ideas and contact details/URL addresses for links. 

The entrance gallery space is evolving into a first point of call when people come to NEA. It's also a space in which artisans often meet, work and share ideas and about their work and philosophies about the arts and crafts in general.  

Tim Schloss meeting new NEA artisan Julie Burdis

​Cornelia Selover can often be found working in the entrance gallery area.  I enjoy questioning Cornelia about her work  and in the week of the traumatic killings in Nice was particularly moved by the story behind her work 'A feather fell' (pictured below), inspired by reactions of a friend after the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris.

Tim Bowtell and Deb Dodd have made weekends at NEA particularly enjoyable and productive for those attending their workshops over the winter months.  Tim's Oil Painting - Beginners workshop series is now into it's fourth session.   

By August 7th, Deb will have presented two Beginners' workshops and three Bring Your Own Mosaic workshops in just two months - with grouting sessions as well.  ​  I've decided that mosaics suit my impressionistic temperament and have thoroughly enjoyed Deb's beginners' sessions.

In addition to these NEA workshops, NEA artisans Annie Longmuir and Cornelia Selover are presenting workshops at Benalla Gallery - Annie is in the midst of a series involving creative knitting, while Cornelia will be presenting life Drawing sessions at the Benalla Gallery on Saturdays 13th, 20th and 27th of August from 1 - 4 pm.   Kate Jenvey enjoys running workshops both at NEA and in her studio at home, however is currently focusing her attention on producing works for a solo exhibition to be held at Benalla Art Gallery early next year. 

As an 'as needed' non-artisan volunteer in the gallery it is such a privilege to meet new artisans exhibiting in the Gallery.  Garth Mitchell, a maker of superbly crafted wooden walking sticks, brought his work in last week while I was on duty, while new artisan Amanda Green, who is exhibiting thoughtfully produced, high quality bees wax candles under the label 'Ladybug Green' 'Goodies inspired by nature' also called by.   

It's also wonderful to hear that works we have come to treasure have found the right buyer, such as with sculptor Shaun Murphy's coffee table.  We will miss it.  .  

During June and July I've visited two exhibitions in Wangaratta featuring NEA artisans Elaine Murphy - in the  intriguing 'Inking the Flyleaf' exhibition at the Baintz Gallery at Wangaratta Library - and Carol Sonogan in the inspirational 5th Biennial Petite-Miniatures Textiles exhibition at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.  I've written about Elaine's work in an earlier post. Carol's petite-miniature textile was just as beautiful as I was told it would be. Artists from around the country participate in this project, displaying contemporary textiles that are no larger than 30x30x30cm.  Carol currently has a number of her petite embroideries on exhibition and sale in the NEA gallery - including one titled 'Winton Wetlands' pictured on the left among her other pieces currently on show.      

NEA's Facebook page is a great place to catch up with artisan news - for example, over the solstice months we read that Kate Jenvey had won the 'Best Drawing' prize at the Flinders Art Show and also read about Annie Longmuir's second prize for her entry of home spun art yarns at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. . 

   

Ruth Schloss posted on Facebook this month about revisiting the South Grafton Emporium, a discovery 14 years ago which, 'when NEA was evolving from a pop up shop to an Arts community and gallery, was one of the inspirations for Tim and I'.

It would be interesting to find out about other artisan based organisations which have influenced our participation in NEA.  

​My involvement in the early 1980's with the Daylesford Arts Cooperative and my visits to Sturt Workshops at Mittagong over many years have certainly influenced and motivated me to become involved with NEA. 

Monthly Friday night  'Table Top Games at NEA' games nights have swung into action during the winter months.  Our Facebook page has photos of the events and reminders of date, but there is also a dedicated Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/TabletopGamesatNEA/

Only another month of winter!  Just before spring starts we'll be able to head out to the  23rd Annual Bald Archy's Prize at Swanpool - 20th August to September 2nd - Tim Bowtell's entry is likely to get lots of local support in the 'People's Choice' category.  

On a final note... establishing a 'Friends of NEA' group would provide a way for non-artisan members of NEA to make a more defined contribution to NEA's continuing existence and development.   Initial research into 'Friends... Inc' based groups seems to be a good idea as a starting point - it appears, for example, it's important to have a distinctive structure and a separate bank account for fundraising.   If you would like to join in the process of background research and preparing for a first general meeting to gain expressions of interest in joining 'Friends of NEA', please contact me at bevlee47@gmail.com or leave a message at 0478 607 838.  Perhaps next winter there'll be news to post from 'Friends of NEA'.


Bev Lee
​Non-artisan volunteer 

**'The Occasional Blogger' is open for submissions by NEA members who may, from time to time, have a strong urge to write about NEA for this column!.