With an abundance of inspiration like natural wildlife and breathtaking scenery, it's no wonder the Grampians art scene is thriving! Art aficionados and enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice with our regional galleries, hosting incredible exhibitions. Dotted around the region there are art studios where you can meet the artist and do a workshop, art and craft festivals and markets are in abundance, while fascinating artisan ateliers are turning wood and blowing glass; or why not get outdoors for some ancient rock art and epic silo art... We've got it all!
ARARAT GALLERY TEXTILE ART MUSEUM AUSTRALIA (TAMA) - The TAMA in Ararat has a unique place amongst Australia’s public galleries through its longstanding commitment to supporting and promoting textile and fibre art since the early 1970s.
The gallery’s collection contains a diverse representation of such boundary pushing, textile-based works by artists including Kate Just, Kathy Temin, Jenny Watson, Sera Waters, Jemima Wyman and Paul Yore; today the collection is arguably the most significant of its kind in Australia.
HAMILTON GALLERY - A local treasure for over 50 years, Hamilton Gallery presents a range of exhibitions, programs and events that stimulate understanding, awareness and enjoyment of the visual arts. Celebrated for its exceptional breadth and quality, the Gallery's collection includes works by some of the greatest European, Asian and Australian masters. Australian paintings ranging from colonial works by Nicholas Chevalier and S.T. Gill through to work by influential artists Howard Arkley and Andrew Sibley.
Collections of silver, porcelain and glass from the beginning of the 18th century onward, Asian ceramics from the major dynasties, European and Australian prints, 18th century landscapes, Australian oil paintings and watercolours and fine international and Australian examples of 20th century decorative arts combine to form a collection of over 8000 items. The significance of the decorative arts collection and 18th century watercolours makes Hamilton Gallery a leading public art collection, Australia wide.
MUD GALLERY - The MUD Gallery in Hamilton is a community gallery manned by the local artists and volunteers, displaying and selling works of art. The art gallery consists of paintings, drawings, photography, jewellery, cards, wood craft, leather craft, silversmith creations, pottery, ceramics, glassware and much, much more. Beautiful creations all made by local artists.
HORSHAM REGIONAL ART GALLERY - With a focus on Australian Photography, the Horsham Regional Art Gallery's exhibition program brings the diversity of Australian art and design practice to the Wimmera showcasing this unique environment and the art it has inspired and celebrating the activity and life of the local community.
The permanent collection galleries allow visitors to experience the Gallery's nationally significant collection of Australian photography, from its inception to today; the Mack Jost Gift of Australian paintings and works on paper, and artworks by the artists that have been inspired by the Wimmera.
GRAMPIANS TEXTURE | Sat 16 Mar 2019 – Thu 21 Mar 2019
Grampians Texture 19 is where you can develop your interest in fibre arts and textiles. An opportunity to work with Australian and international textile tutors in two, four and six day workshops.
Fantastic Australian and international tutors cover topics of felting, jewellery, print making, books, dyeing, knitting, leather, stitching by hand and machine, fabric and fibre.
At Grampians Texture Market Place there will be lots of supplies for artists, art books and materials, hand dyed yarns and threads, specialty papers, designer fabric, vintage kiminos and buttons and lots more.
Red Rock Books, Dairing, FibreWorks, Spiral Design, House of Cloth, KroaftKolour, The Button Lady, Oh My God, FeltFine, Flash - Scissor and Knife Sharpening, Open Drawer will be all selling as part of the Grampians Texture week in Halls Gap. An opportunity to stock up on lots of great supplies.
Artist in Residence Caroline Hawkins
Over the week of Grampians Texture, Caroline Hawkins will be working at the Halls Gap Community Centre - at the Grampian Arts Market Place.
Participating as artist in residence at Grampians Texture 2019, Victorian Surf Coast artist Caroline Hawkins will provide opportunities for visitors to delight in the variety of applications that can be drawn from plant materials, fabric and wool remnants and found materials.
Caroline will demonstrate basketry and animal wrapping alongside a display of her work. You are welcome to join in some making with her.
THE WIMMERA PLAINS | Sat 02 Mar 2019 – Sun 19 May 2019
Drawing inspiration from Sydney Nolan’s watercolour Wimmera 1942, held by the Horsham Regional Art Gallery Collection, local artists from the Makers’ Gallery & Studio respond to the vast beauty of the iconic Wimmera plains. Using various mediums and craft, from drawing and painting to tapestry, these artists explore the intricate details of botanical forms as well as the sweeping gestures and character of this distinctive landscape.
PENSHURST ART EXHIBITION | Fri 22 Mar 2019 – Sun 24 Mar 2019
Penshurst Creative Arts Inc. presents the 2019 Penshurst Art Exhibition. Annual Art Exhibition where paintings and drawings are on display with some available for sale over the weekend. Categories include Best in Watercolour, Acrylic, Oil, Drawing, Pencil, Charcoal, Ink, Pastel and Best in Show.
ROS McARTHUR ART STUDIO - This studio is located in the large garden of "Woollahra" sheep farm in the Victoria Valley, an area known for its production of ultra-fine merino wool. The property is circled by the Grampians mountain ranges and National Park that are a never-ending source of beauty and inspiration.
The garden, a mixture of native and exotic plantings, supplies the material for still life paintings. Visitors are invited to wander and enjoy the garden. It has been designed to incorporate and blend with the natural surroundings and picturesque farming land.
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STEVE MORVELL WILDLIFE ART STUDIO - This studio is located at Halls Gap in the picturesque Grampians National Park.
Steve Morvell is an internationally acclaimed environmental artist, dedicated to raising human awareness of the beauty and fragility of wildlife and the habitats in which are co-existed. A deep need to understand animals on their own terms takes Steve to many wild places such as Western China, Africa, Nepal and outback Australia researching his art. His powerful and evocative work is exhibited around the world winning many major art awards and hangs in private, public and corporate collections globally. He works tirelessly for the conservation of our natural world.
GERARD MURPHY FURNITURE - Gerard Murphy Furniture designs are absolutely unique, always interesting and sometimes startling: timber becomes art. Real beauty and affordable quality are showcased in the gallery. A wide range of original pieces is on display.
Also on view in the gallery is an extensive range of beautiful giftware and tableware. These make distinctive gifts for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Furniture and giftware are crafted from a range of fine, sustainably-harvested Australian cabinet timbers, including local Red Gum, Tasmanian Blackwood, Victorian Stringybark and Western Australian Marri. Gerard’s furniture has been purchased by clients from all over Australia and overseas.
JAMES MCMURTRIE GLASS ARTIST - James McMurtrie's artworks are inspired by the Grampians mountains that surround his glass blowing studio. With 25 years of experience using traditional techniques and tools, James skilfully creates high quality functional and sculptural glass.
If you want to enjoy the rare opportunity of seeing glassblowing in action, come and visit James in his studio - you will be blown away (excuse the pun!)
ECO DYEING CRAFTERNOON | Sat 09 Mar 2019
Eucy Redd Raw Ecodyes joins forces with My Crafternoon for this hands-on workshop on botanical eco dyeing.
Take home a wool or vegan cotton/hemp scarf which you've dyed and printed yourself using botanical materials like petals, leaves and bark, plus mordants and a little magic.
This workshop also includes a walking tour through native parklands, native edible plant garden, veggie patches and natural wetlands to discuss responsible foraging and identify flowers and foliage suitable for eco-dyeing, take-home seeds to start planting your own dye-producing garden.
AUTUMN PAINTING WORKSHOP WITH JENNI MITCHELL | Fri 29 Mar 2019
Gather autumnal objects to use as inspiration and learn to put them down on paper or canvas. Demonstrations followed by one on one guidance using tone, colour and shape to capture the essence of the season's changing mood and colours with your brush and artist eye.
PETSCHEL HOUSE WORKSHOPS:
Printmaking Workshop | Sat 13 Apr 2019
Have you always wanted to do some printmaking but don't have access to a press? Spend a relaxing day in the studio making your own Lino print, inspired by the historic house and gardens.
You will be guided in how to use the cutting tools, which papers are best for Lino print, and will create your first print to take home. LEARN MORE
Using Photography as a Reference Workshop | Sat 11 May 2019
There are many ways to use photography as a reference for the artist.
Learn the difference between working from a photograph as a tool for the artist and straight out copying a picture. LEARN MORE
CONTEMPORARY WATERCOLOURS | Sun 26 May 2019
Learn to paint watercolour with experienced artist and teacher, Eleni Rivers at Off the Rails Studio, Dunkeld. Loosen up, explore fresh new techniques and play with mixed media. Class includes demonstrations to help you find ways to express yourself with more freedom.
SILO ART TRAIL - Celebrate the rich heritage of Victoria's Wimmera/Mallee region with a journey along the 200km Silo Art Trail, soon to become the country's biggest outdoor gallery. Horsham in the west of the Grampians is the perfect gateway to cruise from town to town and witness this innovative art project that sees renowned street artists from Australia and across the globe transform wheat silos into giant works of art.
For more than 100 years Victoria's towering wheat silos have defined the state's rural landscape. And when Brisbane street artist Guido Van Helten created his famous 'Farmer Quartet' on the Brim silos in 2015, it captured the imagination of the town and inspired The Silo Art Trail project.
The trail brings together internationally recognised street artists – Julia Volchkova, Guido van Helten, Fintan Magee, Matt Adnate, Kaff-eine and Rone – and takes in six of Victoria's smallest towns. Murals in Sheep Hills, Brim, Patchewollock and Rupanyup are already complete, while new works by Kaff-eine and Rone are planned for Lascelles and Rosebery. A unique art project that is still evolving, the Silo Art Trail has already revitalised the towns and brought thousands of new visitors to the region.
Short on time? Why not fly over it with Grampians Helicopters!
ROCK ART SITES
Billimina Shelter is an impressive rock overhang where Jardwadjali camped from time to time and left many red paintings. The most interesting aspect of the paintings at Billimina is the many bars arranged in horizontal rows. It is believed these marks were used to count events in retelling stories or to record the number of days spent at a place. While they are sometimes difficult to see, there are also emus, kangaroo and emu tracks, and 55 human stick figures painted here.
Bunjil Shelter is located in the Black Range Scenic Reserve near Stawell and this is the only rockart painting of Bunjil known. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural sites in south eastern Australia. Bunjil Shelter sits within the Gariwerd, a cultural landscape that supports our traditional owners both physically and spiritually.
Gulgurn Manja (pronounced Gulkurn Manya) meaning hands of young people, is a rock shelter at the northern tip of Gariwerd. The paintings at Gulgurn Manja include bars, emu tracks and handprints. Handprints such as these are only found in northern Gariwerd, and many here were done by children, hence the Aboriginal name for the site. These paintings were part of a unique local art style which was used to tell stories and pass on the law of the people.
WAMA IN THE HALLS GAP HUB - Located adjacent to the Grampians (Gariwerd) in Victoria, WAMA’s centrepiece will be a world class gallery set within botanical gardens and wetlands, home to rare Australian plants and animals. WAMA will recognise and showcase outstanding works of artists inspired by nature, from the early accomplishments of our first inhabitants through to the present day, and nurture innovative learning experiences for current and future generations.
