July 2014 Newsletter - Somerset Art Society Inc.

Issue 19, July 2014
SASI
P.O. Box 413, Esk Q 4312
www.somersetartsociety.com.au
From the Management Committee:
President: Jan Godfrey, 0400 256 324
Vice-President: Beryce Nelson, 5423 2919
Secretary: Jill Maxworthy, 0409 764 575
Treasurer: Hetty van Boven, 0427 936 467
Event Manager: Susan Cory, 5424 2930
SASI is a vibrant group of diverse artists who support the arts in our
region and encourage artists to promote their work.
We enjoy coming together to share our knowledge and ideas and to
learn through workshops.
President’s Ponderings
This month, President Jan
went to the McGregor
Winterschool and will show
and tell about this at the
next First Friday.
We had an inspiring
workshop with Gary Myers
and the Glen Rock Gallery
was formally opened. Your
Management Committee is
getting ready for the next
AGM and bookings are
already coming in for the
Swell bus trip.
Read all about it!
A request to students at
the recent Gary Myers
workshop: to finalise the
RADF outcome report, it
would be very helpful if you
could email me a comment
or paragraph about your
experience at the class.
RADF funding enables us to
offer affordable workshops
and the well written
outcome reports are part of
it. Thank you in anticipation!
Enjoy!
Hetty
I was very fortunate recently to attend an art workshop
in chilly Toowoomba at the University of Southern
Queensland's McGregor Winter School. My tutor for
Introduction to Precious Metal Jewellery was Tracy Kelly
from the Hawkesbury area. She entered a jeweller's
apprenticeship at 16 and has decades of experience.
Apart from that, she was an excellent teacher who took
my skills and knowledge from zero to being able to
design and create pieces that I was happy with and
made me want to practise and to know more. There
were nine other students of varying experience who also shared knowledge and
their excitement.
Most of us were housed at the McGregor Residential College, so the fun
continued on into the evening. Some people have been returning for the last 20
odd years and I am determined to go again. The course lasted 5 days, from
9am till 5pm, so it was pretty intense. They present a Winter, Spring and
Summer School (latter is two weeks long!)
My attendance was made more affordable by receiving a RADF grant. A few
people a year are able to apply for a grant for the purpose of attending one of
these workshops and I highly recommend that you do.
At the First Friday Club meeting of SASI on 1st August at my place (32
Lakeview Dr. Esk), I will give you a more in-depth description of the
experience. You will be able to see my creations and I will demonstrate a
basic skill. You will be invited to make yourself a pair of earrings (hoop
and all). I have plenty of beads and will supply the sterling silver for a
cost of $5.
Jan Godfrey
Glen Rock Gallery
The Glen Rock Gallery, situated in the Esk Visitor Information Centre, was officially opened by Mayor, Graeme Lehman,
on Friday, 18th July. The President of SASI, Jan Godfrey welcomed about 40 people, including Councillors Dan Hall and
Helen Brieschke.
Those acknowledged for their input in developing the gallery space included Bruce Potter (manger of EVIC), Cheryl
Gaedtke (council rep. who helped with the Memorandum of Understanding), Somerset Regional Council for refurbishment
and grant for lighting and hanging systems, Susan Cory for her curatorial role, Jill Maxworthy for her secretarial and WPH&S
officer roles, the artists and EVIC volunteers who man the gallery.
The present exhibition is by SASI artists and looked fantastic.
Thanks to the supper providers and to the fabulous jazz trio who
added to the atmosphere so well. It comprised Robert and Linda
Corcoran (clarinet, sax and bass guitar) and Tom Deans on vocals.
They are a local group to look out for! Thanks to all of you who
attended and helped out.
We are fortunate to have this space and especially as it forms a
part of a growing network of art spaces in our region.
SASI works hard to ensure the Glen Rock Gallery is a
professionally run art venue. Its popularity and success has
resulted in bookings to the end of 2015.
The Art Display for the month of August is but a few of the art works created by The Mt Beppo Art members over the last
few years.
Each Wednesday the Mt Beppo Art Group meet to enjoy great social interaction while creating & painting various works of
art. Mt Beppo Hall provides excellent space, light and facilities to enable all present to happily work on their own creations
as well as a place to help and encourage each other.
Since the art group started at Mt Beppo in 2009, many local folk keen to develop their artistic talents & skills have found
great joy in joining this friendly group.
Everyone is welcome to join in & experience the fun of exploring the world of art with other like-minded people. The school
holidays provide a wonderful opportunity for members to bring grandchildren & friends to join in and share their expertise
too.
Enquiries welcome :- Doris- ph 54231659 or Jill- ph 0409764575.
On Saturday 28th June 12 members attended a fabulous acrylic painting workshop with Maleny artist
Gary Myers.
His semi contemporary/realistic landscapes are beautiful and he uses very bright clear colour and all
participants felt they learned a lot.
After the workshop, they held a dinner for Gary at Hettys house. Jan, Susan and Merton all cooked up a
Moroccan themed storm for 15 people and it was a great night.
SASI gratefully acknowledges RADF support.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and
the Somerset Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
Ephemeral Group Weaving
A big, bright and beautiful weaving has been created by members of SASI over the last two First Friday
meetings. As it was the school holidays last time, Linda's two lovely boys helped us out. Members donated a
huge variety of materials and their collective imagination to transform a piece of plastic trellis. The weaving is
now gracing the fence at Nash's Gallery Café and will weather over time. Periodic photos of its changes will be
taken.
Please visit it sometime tell us what you think.
Great Day Out
Thursday 18th September 2014 Cost: $35 pp
Departure: Crows Nest 7:30am,
Esk 8:15 opposite NAB
Return: 2:30 - 3pm from Currumbin arriving at Esk around 5:00 Crows Nest around 5:45-6pm
What to See: Over 1km of stunning exhibits on the foreshore (there is a walkway) and some on the
sand. Good idea to carry some water, wear a hat and comfortable walking shoes.
As you go around, make a note of your favourite exhibit and then put your entry into the barrel at The
Hub (which is centrally located along the walkway) to go into the draw to win your own sculpture.
Festival programmes can also be purchased from The Hub.
Public Toilets: There are Portaloos in Murraba St - adjacent to The Hub (as above) and there is a
toilet block in Wallace Nicoll Park opposite the Alley Car Park at the northern end of Pacific Parade.
Morning Tea and Lunch: You can BYO or visit one of three cafes or the Surf Life Saving Club
situated within the precinct.
1. Call or text 0412 883 234 or ring 5424 2930 to book.
2. *Payment within 7 days makes your booking definite.
* Direct Debit Bendigo Bank Account BSB 633 000 A/C 149 380 339 * Please add your
surname.
OR mail your cheque made out to Somerset Art Society Inc.
The Secretary, PO Box 413, Esk 4312
AGM Tuesday 12th August 2014
Glen Rock Gallery @ Esk Visitor Information Centre 5.30pm
Nomination for positions are due on 1st August. Contact secretary Jill if you wish to nominate for a position on the Management
Committee. There will be a few changes proposed to the Constitution to reflect the changing nature of our society.
Membership of $20 is due now, which will give our members a special rate at the 2015 Art Awards as well as other benefits
throughout the year.
From our members:
Somerset Conversations is a new library initiative where we hold meetings at the Esk Library on the second Tuesday of each
month and at the Kilcoy Library on the last Friday of each month from 10.30am to midday.
12th August: Hetty van Boven “Textile Journey”
11th November: Joan Mundy “Basics of Weaving”.
Remember this gorgeous portrait of Mike by Neville Wright at the last Art Awards?
It wasn’t only our judge who thought it deserved a prize, it was displayed in Times Square,
New York City Thursday 24th July as well!
Congratulations again Neville!
This is the last profile for the 2013/14 SASI year
and completes the series on some of our hard
working committee members. Beryce was our
money raiser extraordinaire, especially for the
2013 Art Awards. She only had to wave a magic
wand (which to everyone else looked like an
normal telephone) and not only money, but a
mobile EFTPOS machine would suddenly
appear. Thank you Beryce, we are looking
forward to some more of your magic for the
2015 Art Awards!
What got you interested in Art?
My mother loved all of the Arts especially music and paintings. I think it came to me by osmosis but it
was when one of my cousins came to stay with us as a university student that it really began in earnest.
Margaret was passionate about all of the art forms and introduced me to opera and the artworks of the
French Impressionists, the Australian Heidelberg School and the Cubists amongst others. She got me
thinking outside the square.
So what got you started?
Later as a radiography student I had to draw anatomical parts and found to my great surprise that I
really enjoyed it. As a young woman I started to collect art and to help with local fundraising by
organising art shows with friends. We even ran a small but successful gallery for a number of years.
During my political and business career I was also heavily involved in support for the Arts but I was still a
spectator, learning more but not actually doing it. That all changed on my 45th birthday when my two
daughters gave me a gift of water colour lessons and some bridge classes. From the first day I fell in
love with the art classes and with only a few breaks have not stopped drawing and painting since. My
teacher was Di Kelly who also introduced us to other mediums and I learned to enjoy painting on fabrics
especially silk.
Why did you stick mainly with watercolours?
It is a really difficult medium and takes many years to become truly proficient. If you make a mistake
there is no going back. Artist Ray Crooke painted in watercolours for 15 years before taking up oils and
says that it was the long apprenticeship in water colours that helped him to achieve his results in other
mediums. I am never going to be a serious artist but adore the sheer joy of the experience of drawing
and painting. I have tried other mediums with few results and always return to what I love.
How did you get involved with SASI?
It was a natural progression from my art life in the city and I was keen to see the same sort of
developments available to the art lovers in Somerset. I joined the Mt Beppo Art Group and made some
true friends. When I became despondent about the state of the Arts in the Valley, Susan, you and Jill
kept me motivated about what could be done and look at what our small group has achieved over the
past few years. We have a pro-active President in Jan, the new Glen Rock Gallery in Esk is now
officially open and is booked out until December next year and in 2015 we will finally have a
regional gallery “The Condensery” to support the work of all the arts groups in the region. I am
very excited about the future of the Arts in Somerset.

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