Exciting News for September!

South West Makers Association have agreed to lease 38 Bank Street for six months, beginning in early October. Our vision to provide a dedicated community arts space in Port Fairy has suddenly come about. The committee have been working hard to make this a wonderful opportunity for artists, makers and their supporters to come together, collaborate, learn, exhibit and sell their creations.

Our Annual General Meeting will be hosted at 38 Bank Street, starting at 5.30pm on Thursday 5th October. This will be an opportunity to become a member, join the committee, participate in activities to decide on a name for a new venue and develop our policies and procedures. If you have skills and experience or enthusiasm in any of the following areas, your particpation will be especially welcome:

• Accounting and finances

• Administration

• Retail sales - display, inventory, pricing

• Marketing and social media

• Photography

• Graphic design (Logos and signage)

• Art curation and hanging

Please RSVP here

Kate Winnen's exhibition of expressionist landscape painting at Charlie's on East "Adventures in Colour", continues until the end of October. Following that, Britt Gow will be presenting hand-pulled woodgrain, linocut and collagraph prints. Please contact our exhibition curation team (Sian Burman, Jill Edwards and Marion Matthews) on info@swmakers.com.au if you are interested in exhibiting at either Charlie's on East or at 38 Bank Street.

“The Art of Small” an exhibition by Jill Edwards at her home studio

70 Model Lane, Port Fairy - open mid morning to 5.00pm from Sept until Christmas

Creating small allows for playtime, where ideas can progress through the process of discovery and experimentation without the commitment to a big project. And when I let go of that “big project idea” there is a freedom and spontaneity that can give surprising and rewarding results, which in turn can be the basis for other works of a larger scale or series.

The pleasing outcome of this playtime is an extensive range of small artworks, beautifully unique for gift giving. Lino prints. Botanical contact prints. Coptic bound journals. Stitching on leather and suede. Beaded wire brooches. Concertina artist books. Photography. Drawn bird studies. Mixed media on paper. All Small.

Exhibition Opening - "Adventures in Colour" by Kate Winnen at Charlie's

"Griffith's Island at Sunset" by Kate Winnen

Exhibition Opening Saturday 2nd September, 2.30pm at Charlie's on East, Port Fairy. Come along to support a local artist, meet art lovers and chat with friends.

Kate Winnen is an expressionist painter, living and working in Port Fairy, Victoria. Kate’s ability to “see” her paintings gives her landscapes an authenticity. We can recognize them instantly. We have been there. Her expressionistic skill gives such joy and light to each of her works. There is a playfulness in her art which is uplifting. Our day is sure to be brightened as we stand a while to breathe in the positivity of Kate’s paintings.

“I am a painter mostly working with the bright, flexible medium of acrylic paint on canvas. I am inspired by the landscapes & seascapes featured in my immediate environment, the ever-changing coast of south west Victoria and the rural landscapes surrounding my home town of Port Fairy. I draw influence from many artists including those working in the expressionist style. I'm interested in the way colour exists in nature and I concern myself with how it is incorporated into my painting, along with lines and paint markings. I like my work to be layered and textured to create the illusion of depth”.

Kate’s work is almost exclusively uses acrylic paint on canvas, finished with a gloss varnish, which protects the work and Kate says she loves the “finished” look that varnish creates. Paintings vary in size, but generally on the smaller size.

August Newsletter for SW Makers

"Southern Ocean Blue" by Siân Burman

Thanks to all our members and friends who attended the opening of Siân Burman's exhibition, "Southern Ocean Blue" at Charlie's on East on Saturday 5th August. We are grateful to the owners for providing this wonderful venue for rotating exhibitions of local artist's work and hosting our little celebration. About 30 people attended, enjoying the winter sun on the water, cheese platters and maybe a glass of wine.

Future Exhibitions at Charlie's on East

If you would like to exhibit a body of work at this venue, please download the application form (Memberships tab > File share in drop down > Exhibitions folder) or email exhibitions@swmakers.com.au to recieve a copy. You are welcome to contact Siân Burman or any of our board members to discuss further details about this opportunity. Even if you have not had a solo exhibition before, you are encouraged to consider applying - we may be able to partner you with another artist for support.

Port Fairy Sketch Club, Life Drawing and BiblioArt

Jo Canham continues to host Port Fairy Sketch Club at various locations each Saturday morning, including Cobb's Bakery and the Wharf Cafe. If you fancy a little bit of sketching with friendly company and good coffee, check out the Facebook page for weekly meeting locations. Jo is also considering offering life drawing at Blarney Books in future, so we will keep you posted for times and dates. There will be a small charge for the model. Don't forget to get your entry in for BiblioArt 2024, so you have time to digest your novel and create an entry based on the book.

The "Cottagecore" exhibition at Blarney Books and Art

Our second SW Makers exhibition at Blarney Books and Art has concluded and buyers and artists are encouraged to collect their artworks as soon as practical. 50% of all sales supports SW Makers, so thank you to all our artists for their marvellous contributions to this exhibition.

Annual General Meeting on Thursday 5th October at Blarney Books

Please make a note in your calendar for our AGM on Thursday 5th October. All current and new members welcome and encouraged to attend.