Small but sensational

A treasure of this year’s Kangaroo Island Art Feast is the Birds and Bees exhibition at Clifford’s Honey Farm.

Ros Stoldt, Sharon Simons and Merrill Hansen have mastered the art of reduction lino p

Chook – a reduction print by Ros Stoldt

rinting and created some stunning prints in the process. They have also constructed a demonstration of the stages of the process so we mere mortals can gain some appreciation of the effort and time it takes.

But the exhibition is more than prints.

Babs Wiadrowski has produced beautiful bird decorated bowls and other pottery pieces.

Nikki Redman’s photos are a joy and they are complemented by Kelly Berry’s painting and young John Simon’s digital art which his mother Sharon says he loves to do and spends many an hour creating.

And Wendy Leonhardt has excelled herself in her exquisite native bee homes. Each of the four is an original and quite individual. Each is a true work of art. Wow!

This small exhibition is a gem and well worth the trip down Elsegood Road. There are some patches of road that are a little tricky because of the recent flooding but just slow down and you’ll make it through just fine. And it’ll be worth it.

Ripples on the River

As the only American River venue in Art Feast this year, Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge has made the trip down the road to the river worthwhile.

The exhibition which features photographers Pete Nash, Dean Wiles, Yvonne Merendi and Katrina Kenny, painter Helen Gerschwitz, fabric fantastic Margaret Smyth and Kenita Williamson who recycles washed up objects into gorgeous wall hangings.

Local ball of action Jacqueline Geisler has done well to bring together an interesting assemblage of artists who reflect the area well and make the most of a very large space.

American River is a lovely spot with public art, particularly the pelicans by Dave Clarke, and art trail and other walking trails to get you to the best scenic spots – actually, there aren’t any bad scenic spots in American River.

The beauty of the area begs to be photographed.

Local resident Pete Nash presents black and white landscape photos in elongated horizontal form which captures the essence of the area.

Dean Wiles concentrates on the Dutch tall ships that recently visited on their way to Sydney Harbour, where they are now participating in the Australian Navy celebrations.

Painter Helen Gerschwitz has a mannered style that is all her own. Her usual subjects of glossy black-cockatoos and leafy seadragon are complemented by other creatures she is now portraying as well as an interesting venture into landscape.

Margaret Smyth is a knitter and fabric artist with and keen imagination and eye for garments out of the ordinary and those that suit day to day wear.

The Snapper Class from the local school, Kangaroo Island Community Education, have rendered paintings on paper of the things that inspire them about the river. It’s a colourful wall.

Buy a ticket in the raffle for the ‘Rebuild the Independence’ fund. First prize is a tall ship portrait by award winning painter Nicholas Burness Pike.

Ripples on the River at Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, Scenic Drive American River, open every day, 10am to 4pm, until Sunday 13 October.

Friends, neighbours, artists

On the north coast of Kangaroo Island two friends find themselves neighbours who meet on the beach at Western Cove and marvel at how they came to be in such a beautiful inspiring place.

Caroline Taylor and Audrey Harnett share the inspiration of their home with us in the exhibition Western River: Wilderness, weather and winding tracks that opens at Fine Art Kangaroo Island tomorrow night.

Painter Caroline Taylor says that they are both interpreting the hills of the area. “Enormous hills and deep dark gullies; big skies and changing landscapes with the weather.”

“I do love those hills – they were formed millions of years ago and they will be there forever. They stand beside us as something solid and timeless.

Caroline Taylor, North Coast Road

“There are places on our land where we have ever been and maybe no one has, the hills are so steep.”

Caroline is very focused on her oil painting, mainly works on paper. She uses a textured look with verdigris and rust oxide. “People can interpret them as cloud or wind or whatever they like.”

Caroline, who is in the last year of her ‘mature-age’ Fine Arts degree at Adelaide Central School of Art, believes that her and Audrey’s art complement each other. Audrey has completed her, also mature age, TAFE arts course at Adelaide College of the Arts.

Audrey’s sterling silver jewellery is inspired by beauty of raw nature of Western River, as are her relief prints from lino cuts, some hand coloured with gouache, some black and white.

“All the work is really speaking about the sense of place and inspired by Western River – what I experience there and with different species.

“My particular connection is the bush we are surrounded by – the birds, animals and plants.

Audrey Harnett, Western River panel, relief print

“What we really appreciate is the character of the area – it is about the hills and the wilderness, the sense of remoteness all the time – watching the weather coming in.

“I love working with the raw materials we find on the property. It’s raw and natural, inspired and elemental – that’s what you feel when you are here.

Caroline Taylor and Audrey Harnett, Western River: Wilderness, weather and winding tracks, at Fine Art Kangaroo Island, Dauncey Street Kingscote, 26 September to 20 October.

For the young and young at art

Youth Art Feast, a new initiative of Kangaroo Island Art Feast for 2013, holds its first event this Sunday 22 September at Kingscote Airport (venue 18).

That’s when ‘Art at the airport’ by students from Kangaroo Island Community Education is unveiled at 3pm along with afternoon tea. And the installation will stay in place, even after Art Feast.

Scarecrows and roadside characters Locals are making scarecrows or roadside characters for their gates in town or out. Maybe you’d like to make one too.

Photography with Pete Secondary students can learn about photography with professional island photographer Pete Nash (venue 6), all day Tuesday 1 October, $15. To enrol, call Pete on 8553 3002.

Create a box art wall At Pelican Lagoon (venue 22), the boxes are waiting to be painted by young artists, with help from some older artists if necessary. Each box forms a brick in a box art wall. Turn up and join in on Sunday 6 October between 2 and 4pm. It’s fun and free.

Where wild things are – Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kingscote

Kangaroo Island – Where wild things are The Aurora Ozone Hotel (venue 3) is home to some really wild things during Art Feast, many pieces of art by the island’s young people. The whole family can enjoy extraordinary art and the digital display during hotel opening hours, 27 September to 13 October, free

Youth Art Feast’s opening celebration with KICE on Thursday 26 September, 6pm at the Ozone is free for students and just $15 for adults. Stick around for the KICE fund-raising dinner for $25. Bookings essential, phone 8553 2011.

Three books by Kangaroo Island young people will be launched during Art Feast: at Youth Art Feast opening Thursday 26 September: Kangaroo Island – Where wild thing are, Book 1 and Book 2; at Kangaroo Island Art Feast opening night Friday 4 October, Penneshaw Hotel: Love shines through.

Picnic places Students of KICE are making three picnic placesready for Art Feast – one each in Kingscote, Penneshaw and Parndana. The mosaic-topped tables with seats are surrounded by native gardens.

Originality plus with The Coathangers

Kangaroo Island songsters, The Coathangers, will sound off on the Life on the Edge theme to open the exhibition of the same name.

The EcoAction exhibition will be staged on the shores of the fragile environment of Pelican Lagoon during the two weekends of Art Feast 5–6 October and 12–13 October. The opening concert begins 11am on Saturday 5 October.

All of the music you’ll hear is original and new – it’s a world premiere concert from start to finish.

Les Montanjees and Scott Macdonald write the music and lyrics. They work separately and bring their songs to the band which arranges them together.

So how would we describe them and their music? The group is all acoustic and their music is in the vein of singer–songwriter to folk. Les said that he has spent about 6 months to produce seven or eight songs.

“The lyrics are very important, said Les. “We are all dedicated environmentalists and want to get message across.”

“But we know we have to be entertaining. So the lyrics have humour, as well as pathos. We have tried to make it as musically interesting as possible.

Les has no one method of composition. “It depends how it goes – sometimes words come into my head and I write a tune for them. Sometimes, I’m walking along the beach and a tune will pop into my head.

“Having the theme does help to focus the mind.”

The band is fortunate to have a range of instruments, the fiddle (Doug) and mandolin (Les) for melodic interludes, and guitars (Scott and Les) for harmonic structure and rhythm. Fouth member Tony Geyer has to miss this gig.

 

The Coathangers: Scott Macdonald, Les Montanjees and Doug Grey (absent: Tony Geyer)

“We are putting all the lyrics in a booklet. It will be available after the concert – we don’t want to give the punchlines away before the event.

“All the songs pretty well have a Kangaroo Island theme. The major environmental issues on KI, particularly of the past few years, are all in the lyrics.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s one of the most significant Art Feast events ever for me. It deals with issues that are so core to what this island stands for.

“And I’m so excited to write music for it.

“I really enjoy the process of writing songs – using the software, playing myself and focusing on Kangaroo Island themes.”

Space is limited for the concert and bookings are essential. To book, phone Joan on 08 8553 7463 or 0417 052 040.

Thirty artists will be exhibiting, or playing, at Life on the Edge, Pelican Lagoon. You’ll see textile art, painting, sculpture, installations, found object art, prints, stunning photography, and original, entertaining music.

Art Feast program highlights

Our program is bedded down and getting a final touch up from volunteer graphic designer Janine Mackintosh before it goes to the printer. Janine and Scott Hartshorne have donated their considerable graphic design expertise to Kangaroo Island Art Feast – and their exhibition, Flora, is bound to be one of its highlights.

Janine Mackintosh’s Resonance

Janine’s assemblages present in mesmerising detail the natural world of Kangaroo Island and in particular her own Heritage listed property. Her art is a message to save what we have left of the complexity of biodiversity.

Scott Hartshorne’s oversized branchlets of native Kangaroo Island trees are the perfect complement to the detail of Janine’s assemblages. They strip down the tree to its essence and present it boldly and powerfully.

From little things by Scott Hartshorne

Both artists have been winners of the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize People’s choice prize, Janine three times, and their chosen venues, Mrs Valentine’s Cottage, on the edge of Penneshaw is a delight. Visit during Art Feast and you’ll find two engaging and articulate people who are on-site throughout the 10 days, Friday 4 October to Sunday 13 October.

Mrs Valentine’s Cottage, Penneshaw

And so we come to the end

The ten days of the tenth Art Feast have come to an end after a blockbuster weekend finale.

Saturday’s  visit to Sunset Winery, which overlooks a stunning view along American Beach, allowed me to enjoy the Soft Touch exhibition and the company of painters Jennifer Woodhouse and Merril Hansen, and woodworker Roger Hansen. These artists were working on site for anyone who cared to come along and see them making art.

Jennifer Woodhouse, Roger Hansen and Merril Hansen work at Sunset Winery

In the evening, seven of us took advantage of Grant Mellon’s bus service for the trip to the women’s dinner at KI Spirits near Kingscote.

The tapas food was delicious and generous. Hosts Sarah and Jon Lark (Jon is also the chef) made the night one to remember.  About 30 women had a great night among Sean McGowan’s  photos and near Evette Sunset’s installation. Evette took time off from her labours to enjoy the evening as well.

The Sunday finale began with the Kangaroo Island Farmers Market at Lloyd Collins Reserve Penneshaw. Nicholas Burness Pike set up shop in the Penguin Centre nearby and his bird paintings, prints and cards proved to be quite popular.

At Frogs & Roses Lindy Bruce’s garden was almost in full bloom and was a beautiful introduction to the pavilion where Pamela Kent and Suzanne Jarmyn displayed their landscape and floral paintings.

Out at Emu Bay the wind installations were blowing in the wind as were the kites and one radio controlled plane. Jacob Hinves, who is a secondary school student on Kangaroo Island, had produced the highlight of the show with his wedge-tailed eagle made from old farm tools and metal discards.

Back out at Dudley Wines, the finale had the cellar door rocking with music and conviviality. Jeff Howard made the draw of the Friends prize of three nights at a lighthouse keeper cottage courtesy of Natural Resources KI, one dozen wines from Springs Road Winery and a decorated cake from SweetP Cakes and Cookies. And the winner is … Caroline Taylor. Congratulations Caroline!

So that’s it for Art Feast 2012, apart from a few exhibitions that continue for a little longer. May I recommend a visit to KI Community Services delightful exhibition which will be open Tusday 9 to Thursday 11 October in Kingscote.

Debra Edson’s Peacock at KI Community Services

Friday on my mind

After a day off the trail it was a pleasure to get out to some more Art Feast venues today and gear up for the weekend’s festivities.

I dropped into Teasdale’s on Pelican Lagoon to scan the impressive range of work by members of the Ayliffe family. Jenny and Bob were enjoying the first quiet day they’d had since Art Feast began.

Over at The Shed at American River the woodwork was a quirky treat in among the cakes, paintings and giant doll house.

Paul Zabukovec’s small table

And outside the installation looked like the sort of place that will generate stories, companionship and play. It was a work of community and it’s sure to be a place of community.

And so to the Spirit Feast and guest choir, Young Voices of Melbourne. What a joy to hear skilled, joyous, disciplined young voices with instrumental interludes. Just lovely. And those youngsters tucked into the country supper afterwards with just as much gusto as they’d put into their singing.

Young Voices of Melbourne (not in KIngscote)

And towards the end of the day I had good news about further substantial sales from Art Feast artists. Excellent news for our hardworking and talented Island artists.

Kingscote rules OK?

The Young at Art group exhibition closed up after their planned 4 days. They are a community group that meets once a fortnight to work on their art. It’s a little bit arty and a little bit community but it works and that’s the main thing. Their exhibition is an Art Feast mainstay but they can’t afford to continue beyond 4 days. To me they are an integral part of Art Feast.

Ros Stoldt’s new abstract

I popped into Chocol’art & Coffee for Pete Nash’s Characters of KI exhibition. Yes, great portraits Pete but are there no female characters of KI?

Art from the Heart is an exhibition put on by the women in the Art and Craft Group at KI Community Services. It’s quite delightful and a pleasant surprise.

The opening of the exhibition at the KI Gallery was also a pleasure. Clasina and Fluorolin are put on a fabulous display of fluoroart – which is a lot more difficult to do than we might think. I turned the lights off in front of the Remarkable Rock fluoro canvases and I could see as clear as day that the strange light effects kept happening. But Brian couldn’t. Ah well.

On the Beach by Clasina Boss

Peter Hastwell’s photos of India brought back many memories of almost 30 years ago, when I travelled there.

Washing by Peter Hastwell

Another great Art Feast day. There still plenty more happening so check out the program.

Holidaying on a Monday

Janine Mackintosh and Scott Hartshorne are two of Kangaroo Island’s most accomplished and admired artists. Each has a unique take on nature, Janine with meticulously sewn assemblages of natural objects and Scott with his giant, sparse oils reminiscent of herbarium sheets.

Plethora by Janine Mackintosh

The two forms complement each other beautifully. Together, in the small rugged space of Mrs Valentine’s cottage, that perfectly enriches the hangings, their art sings  of love of nature, of Kangaroo Island and of protecting each and both.

To me, this exhibition says Art Feast has come of age.

From little things by Scott Hartshorne

Down the road at KI Artworks, Baudin Beach, the artists of the Artists’ Collective KI are inspired by the colours of Kangaroo Island and they were demonstrating their work to the many visitors who called in on the day.

Both exhibitions continue until Sunday 7 October.

Dudley Writers’ Group pulled a crowd at the Seafront Penneshaw and kept them entertained with a variety of writings. Poetry, stories of attempted murder, Humpty Dumpty and couple of good old-fashioned rants – it was all there. And a quartet of local women sang up a storm, finishing with Abba’s Dancing Queen.