Community Art: the Growth of the Victor Harbor Creative Community - Part Four
Over the past week we have been reviewing the history behind the development of the Victor Harbor Creative Community. If you have missed these posts please check out by visiting the AnArt4Life Home Page and scroll down to see the recently published posts on this topic.
In the final two posts in these series we are going to meet the members of the Victor Harbor Regional Gallery and see some of their work.
Lyle Bartel
Over the years I have participated in numerous tutorials, workshops and short courses on landscapes, portraits and life drawing.
My favorite mediums are oils and pastels, but I also enjoy pen and wash, and sketching with charcoal. I am intrigued by portraits and subjects focusing on the human figure.
Since my retirement I have started exhibiting my work and was pleased to win a people's choice award recently at a rural art show in NSW.1
Wendy Carpenter
I have always had an interest in art.
On moving to Victor Harbor in 1978 I found many art lessons available.
I took drawing lessons from Andrew Matthews, oil classes with Bill Needs and watercolour studies with Terry Lewitska.
I discovered acrylics while undertaking several years of tuition with Brenda Holden, and commenced painting birds and wildlife.1
Ian Charlton
"Life’s a bowl of cherries full of pleasure. Norma, grandchildren, family, golf fishing travel, garden, and good health.
Retirement from a stimulating and varied business life provides the opportunity to turn a hand to creativity, art, sculpture and fund raising for some great causes.
Sculpture is a very rewarding pastime. It fills many hours with relaxation, enjoyment and provides a great deal of satisfaction. Not least is due to the fact that it is a means of fund raising for some very worthy charity groups. Sales of my works support the Australian Refugee Association and the Hutt Street Centre in Adelaide."1
Althea Holmes
Formal training:
3 years at South Australian School of Art
Diploma of teaching secondary art
Further Education:
Continuing participation in numerous art based workshops to further my art practice, including printmaking, drawing, pastels, multimedia and painting.
Exhibitions:
Finalist in the inaugural Waterhouse exhibition
Finalist in the RSASA 2021 Portrait prize exhibition
Solo and group exhibitions at the following venues:-
Noarlunga Community Gallery, Wilson’s at Robe, Gallery M at Marion, Belair Art Show, Gallery 88 Yankalilla, The Barn McLaren Vale, Goolwa Art and Photographic, St. Judes Pt Elliot, various Rotary Art shows including Victor Harbor, various VHAS members and SALA exhibitions.
Some artists whose work inspires me:
Richard Musgrave-Evans, John Olsen, Fred Williams, Suzie Riley (pastels), Dan Kye, Julian Meagher, Paul Gaughin’s Tahiti series, Toulouse Lautrec’s posters, Gustav Klimt.
About my art:
I find inspiration in the colours and shapes I observe in the environment wherever I am. When painting I like the immediacy of Acrylics, sometimes including mixed media. Drawing has always been a passion, and so I also enjoy pastels, drawing and print media. Landscapes are predominantly my subject, but seascapes and portraiture are also favourites. My progression into a more abstract viewpoint is enabling a different perception of subject matter as well as a change in technique and tools.1
Flora Huang
With her endless passion for flowers and nature, Flora Huang fell in love with water colour painting five years ago.
She believes it is the best media to express her affection and respect towards nature, combining a modern art form with traditional Chinese painting styles.
She is also a member of the Victor Harbor Art Society, and is actively involved in other artistic pursuits.1
Wendy Jennings
A local Victor Harbor Artist whose love is Australian wildlife.
Hung in Wildlife Art Society of Australasia exhibitions 6 years. Silver and bronze awards.
Has had solo exhibitions in: 5 states of Australia and by invitation in Xianxi Province China.
Her work is displayed in:
private collections across the world including the late Australian artist Arthur Boyd.
Regional Gallery collections in Broken Hill, Mildura and Dubbo.
Government and corporate collections in 2 states.
Major commissions done for: Western Plains Zoo, NSW and SA National Parks and Wildlife Service, Broken Hill City Art Gallery.
A member of the Victor Harbor Regional Gallery, Victor Harbor Art Society, Port Elliot Show Art Convenor, Coral Street Art Space volunteer.1
Maria Jones
Pyrography is an ancient art form burning images into wood. This began long ago, when humans used a stone to scrape away charred wood, forming a decoration on the uncharred section beneath the surface. Over time, other tools were used, such as pokers (iron rods), to soldering irons heated over a fire. I began Pyrography using a modern set of pyrography pens which can be electronically controlled to precise temperatures giving me a spectrum of tones which allow pale shading to black. All of my work is hand drawn onto the wood panels. I do not use any of computer aided devices or laser printers in any of my art works. My work ranges from landscapes to portraits, of nature, birds, animals and humans. I add colour, as was done in the past when ochre and other natural dyes were used. The colours I use are of water colour and ink pencils and brush, used sparingly, so as to prevent “bleeding” into the wood grain. 1
Trevor Jones
I am retired and have a “Shed” in which I can indulge in a life long hobby of working wood, making boxes, side tables and even a chessboard with drawers for the chess pieces.
The shed did not include a lathe until three years ago when a European ash tree died and had to be removed. We obtained a quote for chopping and shredding the tree. I was appalled by the thought of a beautiful tree becoming just a pile of mulch. At that point I decided that the shed would need a lathe and marked as many of the tree limbs that I would be able to mill on my band saw for the purpose of wood turning. And so the learning curve of turning techniques began.
I now find turning very rewarding and satisfying as I watch the wood reveal its beautiful grain patterns and figure evolve. The wood seems to determine how it is to be shaped and almost always a variation of what I thought it could be when I started the piece.
Call it Recycling repurposing or whatever you like, trees are much more than firewood and every piece saved from the wood heap has to be environmentally positive.1
Marg Lynn
My love of felting has led me on an incredible journey over the last 20 years. By pure chance I bought a book on needle felting and was instantly “hooked” as they say.
Over the years I’ve learnt how to design 2D and 3D creations mainly using Australian Marino wool (oh those lovely sheep, love them!). During this time, I have won numerous prizes in our SA local shows, but my number one was 2 first prizes at the Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo and 3 first prizes in the Royal Adelaide Show.
I thoroughly enjoy felting, teaching and selling through the Regional Gallery and hope I am still doing this in years to come.1
Margaret McEntee
Margaret has been a member of the Gallery for over 20 years.
Her landscapes, florals and still lifes express her delight in the wonderful hands-on effect of Pastels.
Drawing and painting have always been an integral part of Margaret’s life.
Her advanced drawing skills are reflected in the true representation of her subjects.
Beside Pastels she is accomplished in oils, pen, charcoal and watercolour.
Margaret's work has gained numerous awards and prizes including: Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show, Gold Awards; Royal Show Adelaide Art Prize; York Peninsula Exhibition, Best Pastel; and Balco Art Prize. 1
We have already been priviledged to see some of Victor's work through the series we did on his wonderfully creative works. You can view more work by Victor by clicking here.
Tomorrow we will meet the other half of the members of the Victor Harbor Regional Gallery and see examples of their work. In the meantime you might like to explore the gallery's website by clicking on the image below.
Credits
1. Victor Harbor Regional Gallery website
2. Research notes collected by John "Rowdy" Wylie including from the booklet produced by The Ocean Street Art Society Inc.n.d.; Founding Member Conversation with renowned Artist Alfred Engel; Current Member Conversations with Margaret McEntee, Wendy Jennings, Annette Vandenberg, Yvonne Mc Glone & Anne Blanchard; Kate Shierlaw… VHRG venue – “Old Bakery Building” information; William Henry Smith - Baker of “Port Victor” Publication; The “Victor Harbor Art Society” web site.
The Victor Harbor Regional Gallery Members Co-op acknowledges the Ramindjeri & Ngarrindjeri people as Traditional Custodians of the land and oceans where we live and create works of art.