Busy time ahead for woolly festival

As the leaves start to colour and fall from Southern Downs trees, Warwick Art Gallery staff and volunteers know that their busiest three months of the year are about to start.
Jumpers and Jazz, the winter festival that transforms streets and venues across the region is one of Warwick Art Gallery’s core events that they have worked on, in conjunction with Warwick Tourism and Events, for the past nine years.
“The transformation of the CBD streets into a living gallery, with over 100 tree jumpers is just one aspect of the festival that Warwick Art Gallery manages,” gallery director Karina Devine said.
“We have an amazing program of art workshops, children’s activities, exhibitions and yarn bombing projects to make sure there is a way for everyone to be involved if they want to be.
“And even though all but seven trees have been allocated in the official tree jumper exhibition, people are welcome to join in with the art gallery on some of our group projects such as the decoration of Warwick Town Hall and the Band Rotunda in Leslie Park.”
This year’s festival offers plenty for children including the first yarn bombed bicycle competition and parade on Sunday, July 22, and free art activities at the Warwick Art Gallery every day.
“This year’s workshop program has created a lot of interest with participants travelling from the Sunshine Coast and NSW to join in the classes this year,” workshop coordinator Pat Benkendorff said.
“We are very excited about the Tea Cosy Queen Loani Prior coming to teach a class and also spend time in Warwick collecting stories for a touring exhibition that she is working on.”
The festival provides a platform for many businesses to display artwork and encourage local artists.
Warwick Art Gallery carefully selects exhibitions that will enhance the festival program.
This year textile artist Sue Dennis will feature in the main gallery sharing her unique surface design techniques in her art quilt exhibition titled “Taking Leaf of my Senses”.
Last year’s winner of the tree jumper competition, Jessica Thompson, has been commissioned by Warwick Art Gallery to create an Amigurumi artwork for the foyer gallery.
Children will love her artwork called “Monsters under the Bed”, which will be supported by a monster making activity centre.
Information packages about Warwick Art Gallery’s festival activities are available at the Albion Street gallery.
Jumpers and Jazz in July is proudly coordinated by Warwick Art Gallery and Warwick Tourism and Events with support from the Regional Arts Development Fund, which is an Arts Queensland and Southern Downs Regional Council program to support arts and culture.