A celebration of art on the Granite Belt is just around the corner and now’s the time to book your tickets for both artistic sessions and top notch entertainment.
In just a fortnight, the Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail will happen over three big days. It’s dedicated to art in many guises, from visual arts to textural masterpieces to performing arts.
Here, you get to meet the artists – sometimes on their own turf – and learn what has inspired their art and where their journey has taken them. But what makes it deeply personal is that you can try your hand at all kinds of different artistic techniques with expert guidance from the artists themselves. It’s the perfect opportunity to get a feel for an art style that might unlock your own artistic potential!
This biennial event has its headquarters at the Stanthorpe Showgrounds, where the Peter Bonner Exhibition Hall is renamed ’GBART Central’ for the weekend. The official opening event (after a full day of focus on all things arty) is on Friday night, October 27, with Fresh Canvas, featuring the golden voice of Teri Welles backed by the superb ensemble, Jazzify. Doors will open at 6pm and the audience will stream in for a night of bluesy, jazzy delights. It is a BYO food event so bring a grazing platter of your favourite nibblies, but buy your drinks at the bar being run by the Rotary Club of the Granite Belt. This event is GBART’s main fundraiser yet it is just $35 per person.
The following night, Saturday 28 October, will be a musical celebration in a completely different style, with Matthew Manahan coming home from Sydney to bring his professional sparkle to a show that will also feature his partner Zoe Ioannou and singing teacher/keyboard magician Robert Bertram. Enjoy a combination of Broadway and banter at this show, Feelin’ Fine. Book your tickets now ($55 per person), then arrive at 6pm on the night bearing your own eats, buy your drinks at the bar, grab a few raffle tickets and sit back and immerse yourself in the fun and music. Tickets are available online at gbart.org.au or from Gracious Giving in the main street.
And now, let’s introduce you to the artists. Alba Conti shares her love of pottery with her workshops. Louise Jenkins will host charcoal drawing, intaglio printing and painting. Hillary Tillin will help participants make a textured silver bangle at Jocale Design. Naomi Kim Grant will give free collage painting demonstrations while Krishna Heffernan will open up the world of lino-printing to participants at Girraween Country Inn. Jen Martin’s indigenous art will be on display at Jamworks and Ballandean Estate Wines will host Judi Pidgeon’s watercolours. Precious metal clay artist Pam Docherty will help participants with a pendant design while Jen Cooke at the Silver Fern Studio will get people started in acrylic painting. Jen from Posh Pots at Diamondvale will take participants on a pinch pot journey. Roslyn Wilson will give free demonstrations at the Peter Bonner Exhibition Hall, the secrets to goats milk moisturiser will be shown by Pippinwood Naturals and Eyzer Designs will workshop multiple art techniques including fabric-making and dyeing.
The Stanthorpe Pottery Club will share the creations of its members at the Eduardo Verri Park and offer demonstrations on hand building and wheel throwing. Stanthorpe Art Space (STARS) will have workshops ranging from cyanotype to clay elf-making at its Folkestone Street studio. Crank’d Socks will be on show at Sutton’s in Thulimbah. Artworks Granite Belt will have a book-making workshop, a spring exhibition at the Station Gallery and artists in residence sharing their love and skill of oil and watercolour painting.
An opportunity to look at some big art will be a gallery tour experience at Art at Anvil Hill where Jason Simpson brings a highly original flair to supersized artworks as well as showcasing his skills for everything from handmade carbon steel frying pans to sculptures to giant paintings.
And it’s not all indoors. Get some fresh air and join Jim Barnes on his Art Walking Tour that will give you an appreciation of the gorgeous artworks around town.
Make all your bookings for workshops at gbart.org.au and get ready for a wonderful weekend of art.
