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I started taking photos in the 1950's but I am old enough to remember the poor farmers of the 1930's. This, and the rapid expansion of Melbourne in the 1960's led me into documentary photography - as a means of recording my time. I spent five years as a member of Group M. In that time we exhibited our photographs at the Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne, however, our major exhibition 'Urban Woman' was show at the Melbourne Town Hall in 1964. It was then curated by the National Gallery of Victoria as its first collected series of photos on a single theme. It was heart-breaking when this collection of 200 large B&W prints was destroyed during riots at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968, where it had been displayed on the walls of the Australian Pavilion. I came to live in the Belgrave South area in 1969, was elected onto the Shire of Sherbrooke council in 1976, and was burnt-out in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. I served as a councilor again from 1984 to 1986 when I became chair of the council's finance committee; thus the five years I spent on council made me a regular visitor to this building, now Burrinja. It is a disappointment that the Shire of Sherbrooke as a political entity has disappeared, but I am gladdened when all round me I see the open landscapes which my colleagues fought so hard to retain. It is wonderful that the old council building has come to be such a fine centre for the arts. I left this area in 1987 and by the mid 1990's was living on the outskirts of Sunbury. On those wide flat landscapes I started this photographic series, the Sunburnt Country.
PHOTOGRAPHS So much of Australia is flat, dry and harsh; it must be unforgiving. Yet somehow our farmers scratch a living, and city people are honored to be a part of this wide brown land. Out of all logic, we come to love it. In fact, all people love their land because it becomes so familiar, perhaps it has the record of their lives scratched on it. As Dorothea Mackellar says in her poem 'My Country', For flood and fire and famine, she pays us back threefold. I have used Mackellar's poem to gather my love of this land and help make it translatable to others. But the photos mean little unless they show people blessing the land with their presence; this does not mean that they must show happiness. The 17 lines I have chosen start: Core of my heart, my country! I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of drought and flooding rains. I'm sure you know the rest.

Through My Eyes BURRINJA ARTIES 8-20 AUGUST 2009 Through My Eyes presents the fourth annual exhibition of this group of adults of varied abilities and art experiences. All the artists have a unique way of seeing and depicting their experiences though a wide range of mediums, including fabric, film, fans, masks and mandalas. This is the third time the Arties have used disposable cameras as a means of recording how and what captures their artistic interests, in their world at the Burrinja program. Through the lens provides a visual record, a means of communicating with others from their eyes. The Arties are brought weekly to Burrinja and are an integral part of the Burrinja family, truly experiencing and loving, building community through the arts. This group is the highlight of the artists’ week, and their exhibition gives the group and their creations visibility, and recognition in the community and media.
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ANOTHER DEAD POSSUM EMMA JOHNSON 11 JULY – 2 AUGUST 2009

After leaving Art School in London 2 years ago, Emma traveled back to her birth country to have a look around and see what happened. “I’d have never guessed that I would land an Artist in Residence spot, I thought I was coming to get a tan.” Emma studied at Wimbledon College of Art under Kier Smith and Tamiko O’Brien, and has exhibited internationally in gallery shows, and created sculptures and installations for festivals. “Now I am artist in Residence at Burrinja Gallery for a year. I remember walking out of the train station in Belgrave for the first time and thinking, ‘wow, it’s like emma land. there’s more health food shops than supermarkets, no surface is left undecorated and everyone has dreads.’ The lifestyle my work represents is critical to my concepts. I don’t separate my emotions from my art and so they come pouring out. Thus the ingredients are very important; after all, you reap what you sow. Up here I fell in love with the beautiful environment and sizeable community of eccentrics (you know who you are), which ceaselessly nourish my work.” Emma has been working away in the basement at Burrinja creating a new series of drawings extended from an earlier project ‘when you go round a corner and fall into a bin’. Alongside these will be interactive works that give visitors the chance to get arty. ‘The Awesome Laughing Chalkboard’ as the title suggests is a 1m x 1m large 3-D laughing face chalkboard that you can draw and write on. Photographs will be taken frequently and, at the end of each day, placed on display around the chalkboard, putting your artwork on the wall. Emma will also be creating a large 2m x 3m painting and collage during the show and will be in the gallery everyday 10am – 4pm for the show until the 31st July. Visitors are invited to bring to the artist items of inspiration, which may then be interpreted on the gallery wall, at the artist’s discretion. Emma says ‘If things don’t make it up onto the wall, don’t be disheartened; just try harder to bring something impressive! Items can range from writing, photographs, objects, ideas… anything, be creative!’. Expect to find an atmosphere where everyone, no matter what age, can feel free to have fun and get involved. “‘another dead possum’ came about as if by magic. I’ve got a list of fairy godmothers and godfathers well into triple figures by now and a big big big thankyou to all of you! In truth it’s all about amusing myself, I’m just getting you guys to entertain me. Play on the chalkboard and give me inspiration to make drawings from! “ ANOTHER DEAD POSSUM CLOSING PARTY! 7pm Friday 31st July As a large part of the work will be created during the show, the exhibition event, which is more like a closing party, will be held towards the end of the show, on Friday 31st July at 7pm. At this event you can see the finished collage and Emma will be selling it in fragments. Every 10cm x 10cm is $5. Prices range from $5 to $360. The last drawing on the chalkboard will be by THE INGY TROUPE, a theatre group, who will be performing from 7.15pm. Raw chocolate goodies (100% good for you!) and hot chocolate will be served to you by gorillas and speeches will be at 7.30. All welcome! The catering on the night is supported by the Melbourne based company Loving Earth so expect lots of hot chocolate, raw chocolate, cakes and treats. So much fun is guaranteed to warm you up this winter…

Emma at work

Working out what weightlessness means on her planet (spiritually and physically), through the idea that nonsense is powerfully good for society, Emma is creating art. This can manifest through many mediums; performance, sculpture, installation and drawing, often involving laughter, nudity, hot air balloons, bubbles, swings, love, butterflies and moons.

In this solo exhibition Emma will create a live art collage creation taking over the whole Jarmbi gallery. During the exhibition spontaneous creatures, patterns, and poetry will appear across the walls…

Emma in her studio

The local community is invited to participate by donating their old household paints, spray paints, varnishes, brushes, rollers, pencils, artists materials etc so that they may be recycled … anything goes, and everything appreciated. During the exhibition visitors will also be encouraged to give their creative ideas to the artist, for interpretation on the gallery walls.

Map of Emma's studio

Emma will be in the gallery throughout the exhibition, and otherwise can be found in her basement studio at Burrinja most days from 10am – 4pm, and she can be contacted by email; emmajohnson_28@hotmail.com Visitors are most welcome! Check out Emma’s work at www.emmajohnson.net

PRESENT, WITH A FUTURE Moonyah Counselling and Survivors of Trauma Support 24 JUNE – 8 JULY 2009 Present, with a Future is an exhibition of mandala artwork created in the Moonyah Survivors of Trauma Support group. Lindy Bearup (B.A.(H.Svs).,Grad Dip.(P.Couns).,Grad.Dip.(M.Health Sc.)., Ass.Dip Welfare., Cert.Trauma Couns. & Psychotherapy. MATT, ASTSS, AIWCW) opened Moonyah in 1996 as a safe place committed to assisting individuals taking ownership of themselves, reclaiming their lives and moving towards mindfully living their potential and developing a better future. Through holistic therapies individuals are empowered to reclaim themselves in a new and exciting way. ‘I work very hard to maintain an atmosphere of safety in my rooms, and in the work. Teaching skills to victim/survivors to learn how to build appropriate boundaries to keep themselves safe is a vital component of the recovery journey.’ Lindy Bearup Survivors of Trauma Support and Education Program is the pro-bono, pro-active arm of Moonyah Counselling which works towards ‘recovery’ and also ‘prevention’ of abuse trauma through counselling, education and support. Unfortunately within our society today the primary modus operandi to assist victim/survivors is within the mental health system, where ‘victim /survivors of trauma’ frequently lose their dignity and respect and become ‘mental health service users’ and ‘mental health labels’ are an integral part of that process.’ - Lindy Bearup Lindy Bearup developed the Accelerated Trauma Recovery Mandala as a vehicle to resolve historical trauma and establish a ‘congruent coalescence’ (sitting with oneself) within the traumatized psyche of adult survivors of childhood trauma. This package has been independently evaluated and found to be useful in: assisting the resolution of trauma, in the reduction of alienation; increasing insight into the impact of trauma; creating appreciation of survival strengths and in developing a sense of ‘future hope’. Present, with a Future is an exhibition of artwork created through this process. ‘Having come out of my own trauma history and receiving the benefit of counselling and support from others when I needed it, this is my way of giving back.’ - Lindy Bearup Moonyah continues to sponsor Survivors of Trauma Support + Education Program, and continues in its own small way to educate the community through workshops and presentations to community groups on: a) the impact of trauma upon the developing brain of children and b) the trans-generational nature of trauma. c) how to mindfully work towards change

RENEWAL CHAN ACADEMY AUSTRALIA 3 – 21 JUNE 2009 The Chan Academy Australia presents the exhibition Renewal. The exhibition features works by Chan Artist Melba Nielsen and is based on the ancient ink painting style originating in China. The art form has been adopted by Buddhists and used as a form of Meditation, creating aesthetically beautiful artworks reflecting nature. The Chan Academy continues this ancient tradition in an Australian context. This exhibition entitled ‘Renewal’ has been inspired by how the Australian bush, after being ravaged by bush fires, with great energy springs back to life and renews itself. Melba is an accomplished artist, she worked as an illustrator for The Age in Melbourne for 11 years, she then worked as a freelancer and a book illustrator and has been Chan painting for the past 30 years. Her first major exhibition in Melbourne (1988) was opened by Gough Whitlam. Last years Chan Painting exhibition was one of the most successful ever held at Burrinja and received great appraisal from the gallery, the public and artists alike. Originally founded by the late Master John D. Hughes in 1986, this painting school has inspired many local people to take up this form of painting. ‘The Way of the Brush’ is taught by Melba Nielsen at the academy in Upwey and this exhibition features many of her works and also includes works by the painting school's students. The Chan Academy is located at and run by the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Ph: 9754 3334. The opening event for this exhibition is from 1-3pm on Sunday 7th June 2009 – all welcome. “Using the Four Friends; ink, brush, paper and water, we paint from nature through the Four Seasons and as nature grows and renews so does the Chan Painter”

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REGENERATE ANNUAL DANDENONG RANGES OPEN STUDIOS EXHIBITION 15 – 31 MAY 2009 Opening 7pm Friday 15th May In the lead up to the Open Studios weekend artists work is being shared with the community through exhibitions in cafes, gardens and sculpture parks. In particular, the Open Studios weekend is previewed in the Open Studios Exhibition at Burrinja's Jarmbi Gallery. All 30 artists are creating work for the 2009 exhibition theme Regenerate, promising inspiring expressions of physical, emotional and spiritual regeneration. 'Regenerate' will be opened at 7pm on Friday 15 May in a carnival atmosphere including roving performers, wandering minstrels, music, and colorful costumes. The exhibition will run from 14-31 May 2009. Gallery hours are 10:30am - 5pm, Monday-Sunday. Admission is free. This exhibition makes Burrinja a great place to collect your Open Studios guide book, check out the artists' work, and start your journey through the range of art in the hills.
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Ehistential Angst - Donna Williams		Window Mist - Chris Samuel

WE’RE AFRAID OF THE DAYLIGHT NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT 1-14 APRIL 2009 Opening Event 7pm Thursday 2nd April – all welcome

We’re afraid of the daylight is a youth driven photographic project coordinated by Burrinja with the support of local artist and photographer Tiffaney Bishop, for National Youth Week (28 March – 5 April 2009). Before beginning this project Burrinja consulted with local young people to determine their needs, interests and ideas. Five 13-14 year old young people expressed a strong interest in photography, combined with a driving desire to connect the project with real social issues faced by youth in the area. Issues of particular concern include violence, bullying, and general anti-social behaviour perpetrated by youth. This project aimed to assist the young people involved, to help them express their ideas and have their voices heard within the broader community through the development of photographic skills, leading to this public exhibition in Jarmbi gallery at Burrinja. Random and premeditated acts of violence in the community of Upwey are specifically worrying the young people taking part in this project and their peers. Three of the five young people involved in the project are themselves victims of youth violence in this community, and the other two are concerned friends. All of them have witnessed violence, or have felt vulnerable in Upwey, and surrounding communities, on a regular basis. Between them, they have created a body of artwork that presents their real life experience of Upwey in the hope that they will gain greater community support and acknowledgement. The project is managed by Tilla Buden, the Burrinja Visual Arts Coordinator, in partnership with the young people involved and local photographic artist Tiffaney Bishop. The project has been developed with a strong emphasis on creative collaboration. Weekly sessions were held over a period of three months and included tuition in location photography, digital processing and manipulation, visual narrative, image sequencing, art history, exhibition planning and publicity. The success of this project began to emerge early on and both the young people and the facilitator’s involved plan to continue the development of further projects. Funding applications and various community engagement initiatives have already begun in the hope that this intelligent, sophisticated, edgy, but above all constructive project can continue to support issues surrounding young people in the hills and public safety.

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DAVIED FARRIES 12-29 MARCH 2009 Opening Event 2pm Sunday 22nd February 2009 – all welcome Davied Farries sees this exhibition as the evolution of a lifetime passion for the Australian landscape. His enthusiasm for the countryside eventually lead him to the outback where he worked as a jackaroo for five years, learning to see the landscape as a dramatic backdrop teeming with life and colorful characters. Through this unique work Davied shares his vision of the Australian landscape as a spectacular theatre for the drama of life. He presents the outback as a colorful, living stage populated with cowboys, dinosaurs, and startroopers. Davied began his career as an artist in 1992, and shortly afterwards met his biological mother and discovered she was also an artist. Davied has been working solidly ever since, investigating the landscape through his colorful work. He completed a Diploma in Visual Art in 1998, and continues to exhibit regularly.

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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Ivan Milano 18 FEBRUARY – 9 MARCH 2009 Opening Event 2pm Sunday 22nd February 2009 – all welcome “My works to me are like the songs of Neil Diamond, varied but instantly recognised. I believe that in this way viewers will always find something for themselves in my work...” Ivan Milanovic was born Croatia in 1946. A talented child artist, Ivan was self taught and progressed over the years showing great promise. Due to the pressures of the communist system of the former Yugoslavia, Ivan was unable to continue to further education in the arts, but instead was forced to undergo an apprenticeship as a barber, a profession which he was also very skilled in and awarded for. Ivan has now been painting for over 40 years, and has exhibited in Melbourne annually in the Australian-Croatian Art Association exhibitions. Much of Ivan's inspiration and learning was provided by his friends in the academia of Zagreb, and the heroes of Impressionism such as Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Cezanne + Manet. Ivan paints with oils on canvas, creating a sculptural effect by intricately detailing layer on layer of paint to give the work fuller dimension and depth. [	O00

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VIVID VISIONS Showcasing the Best Year 11 Artwork from across the Yarra Ranges 21 JANUARY – 15 FEBRUARY For the past five years Burrinja has searched the schools of the Dandenong Ranges to bring together a showcase of the best artwork created by Year 11 students from across the hills. In 2009 the fifth annual Vivid Visions exhibition features diverse, energetic and insightful Year 11 artwork. Six schools from across the Dandenong Ranges will be represented in Vivid Visions 2009, which includes artwork across a range of mediums from Monbulk Secondary College, Mater Christi College, Billanook College, Emerald Secondary College, Mountain District Christian School, and Belgrave Heights Christian School. This year over 70 artworks were submitted to Vivid Visions. Of those, the work of 24 students was selected for this exhibition. Heading into its fifth year, the Vivid Visions exhibition continues to provide an important forum for local Year 11 students to express themselves creatively and be represented publicly in the community. This exhibition also creates a space for young people from different schools to network with each other, connect with other young artists, experience great professional development opportunities, and share ideas and techniques. VIVID VISIONS CELEBRATION AND AWARDS NIGHT 7pm Tuesday 3rd February Light refreshments will be served and awards will be presented as selected by a panel of successful local artists and industry professionals: Tiffaney Bishop, Tiriki Onus and Neil McLeod. Also – Great Earthquake (local musician Noah Symons), will be performing some lovely tunes live – check his music out at www.myspace.com/greatearthquake.

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Celebrating Ten Years of“Building Community through Arts” at Burrinja / DRCCC It has been an eventful ride since 1998 when the Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre took up residence in the old Sherbrooke Shire offices as cultural centre for the region. On our journey we’ve evolved from the DRCCC to Burrinja. Now our tenth birthday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on where we’ve come from, what we’ve achieved and how the community sees our role – past, present and future. Our key theme for the celebration & exhibition is TEN. oo TEN Questions; oo TEN years past; oo TEN years from now; oo What it means to be TEN – for us, for the community, for people; oo A TEN Year Time Line.

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RESONANCE Tracey Roberts 26 NOVEMBER – 10 DECEMBER 2008 An exhibition of original, vibrant musical images by visual and performing artist, Tracey Roberts. I have always been fascinated by the various effects of music - the rich diversity of sounds from the many countries of the world, and the vast array of musical genres and instruments we create - as well as the sensual and primal components of the human form and psyche. This collection of work, entitled Resonance, is born out of that fascination and my constant intoxication with the emotion, imagery and synergy created by that magical relationship between instrument and performer. It is also an exploration into the intriguing world of those gifted with synesthesia. As a singer, song writer and performer I am acutely aware of the vulnerability around exposing songs and music that often reflect very intimate and personal thoughts and experiences, hence the recurring themes of nakedness and closed eyes. The bright, rich colours and artistic styling are my visual interpretations of sounds, motion, atmosphere and effect emanating from different genres of music as well as particular musical instruments and the way they are played in relation to the performers' various states of mind, body and spirit .One of the most rewarding compliments I have received was from a woman at an exhibition who was looking at one of my pieces of artwork and she said " I can hear that instrument being played." Tracey Roberts

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KALORAMA Vivienne Carter 6 – 23 NOVEMBER 2008 Opening Drinks 7pm Thursday 13th November This series is an exploration of mediums, textures and natural imagery interpreted using brush, camera and technology. This series ‘Kalorama’ is created with a deep affection for my natural environment and other experiences I have encountered along the way. See more of my work on artistsonline.net.au – this is my website and is open for any artist to join free of charge. Coming up is a new website that should be up and running in the next month: worldartgalleryonline.com and waggonline.com (chat and exchange). Vivienne Carter

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RELIEF TIRIKI ONUS 16 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER 2008 Relief, so called because of the 3D relief aspect of the artwork, is a showcase of some of the recent technical shifts in TIRIKI ONUS’, style of artwork. This exhibition is an attempt to combine a life-long love of sculpture with the practicalities of creating and showing 3 dimensional works. Many of the ideas for the works in “relief” have been gestating for many years, and the introduction of new mediums and techniques has allowed Tiriki to play with ideas from his past as well as new concepts, permitting him to create a show that’s essentially just for fun. “These are the works I’ve been looking for an excuse to make, an excuse to be free with ideas despite the consequences. This makes RELIEF egocentric, self centred and completely lacking in altruism, but hopefully it will make it fun.” - Tiriki Onus, 2008 This exhibition is to be opened by Gary Foley at 2pm on Sunday 19th October. Foley is an internationally renowned indigenous Australian activist, academic, writer and actor. Best known for his role in establishing the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972, and for establishing an Aboriginal legal service in Redfern in the 1970s. In the last thirty years, Gary Foley has worked as an actor, academic and curator.
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STATE OF MIND the sunny side of mental health Artists from the PATS and TRACTION programs 2 - 12 OCTOBER – Mental Health Week Opening Wednesday 8th October 6:30pm When times are tough, it can be difficult to see the bright side of life, but that is just what a group of young Yarra Ranges artists have done. The artists, aged between 12 and 25, have had experience with mental health issues. All of them have managed to reflect on their experiences in a positive way and the outcome is the group photographic exhibition, State of Mind – the sunny side of mental health, being held at the Burrinja Cultural Centre. Presented by Shire of Yarra Ranges Youth Services, in partnership with Burrinja and UnitingCare Community Options, the exhibition will be shown during Mental Health Week from October 5-11. Yarra Ranges Mayor Tim Heenan, who will officially open the exhibition on October 8, said the aim was to show positive images created by young people whose lives have been affected by mental health issues in some way. “The artists are all members of the Shire’s Paying Attention to Self (PATS) and Traction programs that work with young people in the shire who are coping with a range of mental health issues,” “The art work is fantastic, but more importantly, by exhibiting it we can help to increase awareness about mental health issues in the community, while we celebrate the creative talents of the young people involved.” - Cr Heenan said.
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THE RITE OF SPRING Ikebana Exhibition 23-28 SEPTEMBER 2008 An exhibition of Ikebana, Japanese floral art, arranged by students and teachers of the Sogetsu School. The love of flowers and flower arranging is universal. Those who study Sogetsu Ikebana develop a new appreciation of plant material, which includes the harmony of colour, line and space in design. Students develop creativity, friendship and inner peace. Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, commenced with the spread of Buddhism from China in the 6th century. Over the centuries, changes in custom and environment have been mirrored by changes in ikebana. It no longer retains its religious significance, but has become a purely decorative art form accepted throughout the world.
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BEN BLACKET interpretation new photographic works 29 AUGUST – 20 SEPTEMBER 2008 To be opened by Brian Gilkes (Master printer, former Lecturer, Dept of Photography, RMIT) Friday August 29, 2008. 6.00pm

Ben Blackett - Laughing Face

In this emotional series of photographs Ben Blacket paints his midnight stories of isolated suburban youth on the outskirts of Melbourne. Exploring the edges of social dislocation, danger and dark despair, Ben’s pictures tell of his journey through depression and point towards a fierce hope for the future. “my name can be stretch. i am a 20 year old photographer / artist from tecoma, victoria. i’ve used the situations and people i’ve encountered during the past 14 months ago. i’ve tried to highlight the emotions or feelings one might go through in the healing process that is RECOVERY. whether it is love, loneliness, happiness or sadness. because life changes, so does art. it’s all how you see it…. i’ve learnt that you can do anything if you really, really want to. Even if you don’t want to, you should for the people around you.” Ben Blackett

Ben Blackett - Motion Face

Ben Blacket - Station Top

THE FOUR SEASONS, THE FOUR FRIENDS Chan Academy Australia 9-24 AUGUST 2008 Opening 1pm Sunday 10th August Official Opening by Shire of Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr. Tim Heenan

The Chan Academy Australia presents the exhibition The Four Seasons, The Four Friends. This exhibition is based on the ancient ink painting style originating in China. The art form has been adopted by Buddhists and used as a form of Meditation, creating an art that is aesthetically beautiful. The Chan Academy continues this ancient tradition in an Australian context. A few simple brushstrokes capture the beauty and charm of nature. Inspired by the natural surroundings and the change of seasons, a gum tree blowing in the breeze or a frog jumping into a pond. Originally founded by the late Master John D. Hughes in 1986, this painting school has inspired many local people to take up this form of painting. ‘The Way of the Brush’ is now taught by Melba Nielsen at the academy in Upwey and this exhibition features many of her works, including some works by the painting school's students. Melba is an accomplished artist, she worked as an illustrator for The Age in Melbourne for 11 years, she then worked as a freelancer and a book illustrator and has been Chan painting for the past 30 years. Her first major exhibition in Melbourne (1988) was opened by Gough Whitlam and her work in both oils and ink and brush on rice paper continue to evolve with the Four Seasons. “Using the Four Friends; ink, brush, paper and water, we paint from nature through the Four Seasons and as nature grows and renews so does the Chan Painter”

The Chan Academy is located and run by the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd 33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Ph: 9754 3334.

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TAKEN FROM LIFE Gabrielle Willmott 23 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2008 Opening 1pm Sunday 27th July From the first stages of pregnancy to the years ahead, the changes of the woman’s body, mind and emotions are monumental. Her body accommodates for the child growing inside the womb, Her mind and maternal instincts are sharpened as she becomes more aware of the responsibilities that come with nurturing a child. Her empathy and compassion deepens as she prepares to go beyond her own capabilities to show love for another. Each woman’s journey of pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing are unique and varied, yet the experience in its self is common to all mothers. The exhibition ‘Taken from life’ will seek to capture experiences taken from several women’s journeys of becoming a mother.

Gabrielle recently moved from Wollongong in NSW to settle in Ferntree Gully. She is a mother and fulltime painter, and has exhibited widely across Australia. Working across media, from sculpture and painting to drawing, Gabrielle is interested in people and their relationships. Her artwork is figurative and expressive as she aims to capture the emotion and spirit of her subjects.

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VESSEL Sebastian Nicholas 2nd - 20th JULY 2008 Opening 12:30 Sunday 6th July

Vessel is an enchanting new series of work by Canadian artist Sebastian Nicholas. Over ten years ago Sebastian had a dream where he was shown a spiraling column of luminous human souls descending from a moonlit sky, each carrying a vessel used to draw water from the surface of the ocean. Sebastian came to an understanding of the soul and container as vessels for gathering the experiences needed to continue the journey of life. This image remained with Sebastian, and eventually inspired his new series of work. Combining the appeal of sculpture, drawing and painting, Sebastian explores an entirely unique visual form to give expression to the intangible. His vessels suggest many purposes while specifying none, instead celebrating ambiguity. Playing shadow against light, he creates the illusion of volume, hinting at the capacity and potential of an alluded internal space. “I enjoy the different meanings of the word ‘vessel’ …and I like that the purpose of these vessels is ambiguous yet they all seem to be specific in their own way.” – Sebastian Nicholas

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TRANSMOGRAPHY Mark Westaway 23 FEBRUARY - 10 MARCH 2008 * trans mog ri fy verb, humorous - to transform magically, esp. in a bizarre or grotesque manner.

Electric Chair

With a background that encapsulates not only photography and digital media, but also graphic design, painting and screen printing, Mark communicates fun, shape and colour in a range of disciplines and media. He utilises multi media forms to create ideas that are inspired by nature and the imagination.

Nectar Kiss

Dogwood

You are invited to join Mark Westaway at the opening afternoon in the Jarmbi Gallery at BURRINJA on Saturday 23 February 2008 at 2PM.

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Derek Erskine is best known for his near-abstract landscape/figurative paintings, in which he discovered, in the words of one critic, ``a way of making the Diversity of the Australian Landscape seem viscerally igniting’’. Those who have experienced a long journey by car or train through rural Australia will immediately recognise where Erskine’s imaginative landscapes derive from: he paints the endlessness and vastness. Erskine's new exhibition is now reminding collectors that there are many facets to his art; and that, like all great artists, Erskine is an individual who even in his early career constantly strived to extend the boundaries of his work. What is compelling about this very diverse, and often experimental work is the sense of the artist’s curiosity: about nature and about what paintings possibilities are. And above all, about how to go about defining the character of the Australian landscape. To say that Erskine is obsessed with the Australian landscape is obvious, yet, more often than not, he has been discussed as an international artist; his work routinely compared formally to artists as diverse as Cezanne and Picasso,to Australian abstract painters of the 1960s. But a new way of looking at Erskine’s work, which is perhaps just beginning to dawn in the ‘2007, is that he was not just an internationalist, formalist painter but also a deeply Australian and regionalist artist. His work conveys a strong sense of specific landscapes layered through the enduring cultural memories of the peoples of our region,

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David Erskine at work in the studio
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David Erskine, Figures		David Erskine, Landscape

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Wiremagic 1 - Bill Kemp and Helen Varner-Kemp		Wiremagic 2 - Bill Kemp and Helen Varner-Kemp

Tesslars - Bill Kemp and Helen Varner-Kemp

Skyhigh - Bill Kemp and Helen Varner-Kemp

Finding the Wild Woman Valezka Exhibition July 26 to August 5 “I would like to share my journey with you. A woman’s journey. One that has taken 36 years thus far and still continues. I am just a woman, just a mother, just a wife, just an artist. In my work I express my loves and fears, my many dreams and many shapes and forms. It shows I am ever changing, constantly moving from one vision of myself, of womanhood, to another. I hope you enjoy my story.”

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Daniel Rigos - The reunion of opposing thought

	oo	Dandenong Ranges Open Studios (Working Studios Making Art) Open Studios is a fabulous arts, community and tourism initiative of Burrinja, with funding support from the Shire of Yarra Ranges through the Community Cultural Grants program, and from the artists themselves and Burrinja. 2007 will be the fourth year that artists of the hills have opened their studios to the public. Featuring 26 artists and 23 studios, Dandenong Ranges Open Studios provides an inside look at our artists' work environments as well as their art. Open Studios features artists working in all media, and taps into the continuing rich and vibrant artistic tradition which has always been a major part of the Dandenong Ranges. Open Studios provides an innovative way for artists and the community to directly engage with each other on an on-going basis. It allows for interaction between people of all ages and all cultural/social backgrounds. It is an inclusive, no-cost cultural activity for the community to participate in, building social engagement and cultural awareness, and by providing the opportunity for increased economic activity and thus sustainability for artists, it enables such artists to continue creating in innovative ways that contribute to community.
Sue Jarvis. The Barber at the Top of the Town

Henrietta Manning – Storm Passing, Scotland

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	Peter Forward The World is America

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	Man Fred No Sanctuary 3

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	Fiona Ruttle Pawn Stars

Cheryl Small - Untitled

Zandrina An Exhibition of the Works of Artist Zandrina Tacey Opening Saturday Feb 3, 3pm to 5pm Guest Speaker: Madeline McCristal Exhibition 3rd - 25th February 2007 Zandrina lives through her spectacular collection of artwork, which was mostly hidden during her lifetime and is about to be released to the public. It can reduce one to tears of happiness with its beauty and spectacular colours, which in form depicts females and families in an inspirational light. This enlightening exhibition gives a glimpse into her very private life and transports the viewer to another place..

A bird or a boat can carry a soul - Zandrina Tracey	My chair changes to a sphinx - Zandrina Tacey

I’ve lived my life while it was mine to live” (Journal 2004) How hard can life get? When the cards were stacked against her, Zandrina re-lit the fuse and fought the fight of her life. Rising from the depths of pain, Zandrina Tacey artist and poet, produced wonderfully positive, loving, inspirational and very often-spiritual artworks and poetry. Zandrina’s life was truly special, productive and blessed with artistic gifts. Cancer, for all its suffering, anguish and uncertainty brought out the fighting spirit in Zandrina and helped her to attain high quality in her artistic and poetic work and show the spirit of her journey on earth

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A selection of recent and not-so-recent photographic works by Michael Nadir Dewhirst. The images come from many areas of Australia, from New York, and from nature. The images are taken on both transparency and negative film. Some of the images have then been scanned and printed onto canvas. The texture of the canvas gives an added dimension to the photographic image. Others are presented as montage.

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Inspired Presented by 'The Steel Magnolias' of Sherbrooke Art Society Opens November 22, 2006. Closes December 3. This exhibition named Inspired was arranged by eleven devotee artists who have been painting together at Sherbrooke Art Society for many years, under the guidance of one of Australia's foremost artists, Glenda Wise. The medium is mainly in oils. All paintings will be available for sale, and can make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates art. ‘The Steel Magnolias’ are: Lydia DeGraaf, Jenny Feller, Great Fry, Julia Guglielmi, Deb Hunter, Malcolm Ives, Terry Lane, Sue Martin, Wendy Roads, Angie Steer, Glenda Wise Rosemary Renouf will also be exhibiting photographs which were taken within Australia of scenery to inspire. These beautiful photographs are available as cards and will be for sale. Inspiration for art is often found nearby in our beautiful Dandenong Ranges, and can be aided with the help of photography to complete a painting.

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Rosemary Marchington Without all the Masks “The essence of being nude“* (*from a poem by Robin Blanchette) Opens Saturday October 14, 10.30am Exhibition until Sunday October 29 Rosemary Marchington is an emerging artist whose early works for exhibition convey a convincing combination of emotion and line which has found its place after many years being denied expression due to strict family religious influences. The beauty and sensuality of the female form leads throughout her current works and is in part an expression of her emergence out of the strict collar of religion. Her works express on one hand controlled gentle works in black and white and then conversely, flowing forms brought to life with strong colour and powerful emotion.

Rosemary won the "Peoples Choice Award" at her first exhibition at the Fernlea House Art Exhibition in Emerald in October 2005, and was invited to participate in the popular Canterbury Art Exhibition where her works sold on the first night.

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Rosemary's works on display at the Jarmbi Gallery centre around the female form and include charcoal on paper, chalk on artboard, coloured pastel on board and textured paper, and acrylic on canvas

Opens Saturday October 14, 10.30am Exhibition until Sunday October 29

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Burrinja presents The Melbourne & Sydney Stencil Art Festival Exhibition September 21 to October 8 Emerging from the underground arts scene into the contemporary limelight, stencil art is shedding its illicit associations and proving itself to be an exciting, gritty, and often political art form. Burrinja is proud to present an exhibition of the best works from this year’s Melbourne and Sydney Stencil Art Festival’s. The Fine Cuts exhibition will see the works of many of the most respected stencil artists in the world today. The exhibition will be opening at Burrinja’s Jarmbi Gallery on Thursday, September 21 at 7pm and is a chance for hills residents to see the best exponents of the hottest artform around. FREE stencil art workshops To complement the exhibition Burrinja will be running a series of stencil art workshop for high school students. Over three weeks, the students can learn how to design, cut and spray your own stencil masterpiece, guided by two of Melbourne’s top stencil artists. Shoes, skateboards, bedroom walls – the whole world is a canvas when you’ve got stencilling skills! The free workshops will run at Burrinja and strictly limited to 12 participants.

Contemporary Quilters ‘stitches - textures - surfaces’ August 26 - September 17, 2006 Eight contemporary quilters with an eclectic range of influences come together in a wondrous and inspiring eruption of colour and texture To be opened by Joy Serwylo on Saturday August 26 at 2pm

	oo	Suzanne Francis Suzanne is a relative new comer to the art of contemporary quilt making. Prior to this she spent many years teaching and learning many of the traditional crafts. It was only upon the completion of a three year course at Box Hill TAFE, ‘Diploma of Art’ in 2002 that she began to explore contemporary ways of utilizing fabric with patchwork being the medium and also began to dye her own fabrics using silk paints and procion dyes.
Above - Quilt - Suzanne Francis

	oo	Jann Haggart Jann came to quilting as a non-sewer but with interests in fabrics and colour. After 10 years of making traditional quilts, she realized that something was missing, as she always wanted to make individual pieces. In 1999, after a contemporary design workshop with Glenys Mann and a subsequent workshop with Joy Serwylo, the door was opened to the world of self creativity which gave her permission to “do her own thing”. This has allowed Jann to extend her use of hand dyed and other alternative fabrics in her work which heavily reflects her love of nature.
Above - Quilt - Jann Haggart

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Judy Leong Judy’s fairy Godmother gave her a brush, some paints, a sketchpad, a needle and some threads and pushed her out the door into the jungle of creativity, and she has not stopped playing with her toys. It gives her such a buzz to be able to come up with a workable design and then to be able to transfer that with the help of her ordinary sewing machine into a textile art. It gives her enormous excitement when viewers are able to read the message, or be able to relate to its meaning and respond emotionally to her art work.

Above - Quilt - Noelle Lyon	00	Noelle Lyon Noelle began quilting in November, 1991 when she enrolled in a class for a “quilt-as-you-go” Post & Rail quilt which took her another 4 years to complete. When the making of traditional quilts no longer offered her a challenge, she “drifted” into contemporary design and her quilts moved from the bed to the wall. Wanting to explore textile art and design, she enrolled in a course at Melbourne Institute of Textiles in 1996. Her love of hand dyed and painted fabrics, was enriched during this course, and she uses them extensively in her work. Bright fabrics and geometric design features strongly in her work as does the use of computer design.
She experiments with the quirky and is constantly in trouble from the “quilt police” for bending the rules a little too far.

Above - Quilt - Barbara Macey	00	Barbara Macey I began quiltmaking late and it happened by chance. Though I began sewing, embroidering and knitting at an early age I knew nothing about either art or quilts. My work is not traditional but I use a tim-honoured foundation piecing technique adapted to my needs. I often make reference to traditional formats and motifs putting them in a different and unmistakably contemporary context. In designing my quilts, I use a volatile mixture of planning, trial and error, and improvisation that involves risk, problem solving

and lots of decision making as I work. All of my work is abstract and geometric whether it’s about landscape, visual fantasy or anything else. Pattern intrigues me, whether strictly ordered, or chaotic and improvisational. I find it exciting to work with repeating units as their components can be endlessly rearranged and modified. Often they surprise me by taking on a life of their own! When creating a quilt, I aim for the originality, fluency and coherence that make for a striking visual experience. Colour is very important to me, not from the point of view of what’s fashionable, what’s in ‘good taste’ or what I like and dislike, and it isn’t always harmonious. I mainly use colour as a tool for achieving particular visual effects and moods. Colour can work magic! I use commercially plain dyed fabrics, but not prints. That’s because they don’t really suit my style, not because I don’t like them. I’m still surprised that I can make quilts at all! I love meeting the constant challenges. I enjoy the satisfaction when everything goes well and consider myself wiser if it doesn’t. Quiltmaking is not a recreational activity for me rather it’s central to my life and an endless source of satisfaction and excitement.

	00	Jane Rogers Jane has retired from art teaching and hopes to spend a lot more time making artist’s quilts. She enjoys collecting, dyeing and embellishing fabrics to go in her eclectic quilts
Above - Quilt - Jane Rogers

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Anna Seeley Left - Quilt - Anna Seeley

Above - Quilt - Kama Shattock

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Kama Shattock Kama trained as a Secondary Art and Textile teacher and taught for a number of years. Over the years she has pursued drawing, water colour painting, fabric painting and applique on clothing. She purchased a retail fabric shop in 1987 and started to promote Australian made wool fabrics.She is a relative newcomer to patchwork & quilting and has dabbled in traditional techniques, however

prefers to explore the potential of wool as a base medium to combine all the skills she has developed over the years.

Exhibtion dates - August 21 – September 17

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CHONK | ORGANIC A joint exhibition by Simon Duiker and Rius Carson Combining contemporary painting and sculptural works Thursday July 27 to Sunday August 13.

Simon Duiker Simon’s recent abstract works address identity, bodily and universal, and draw on the natural world, the urban, and their interplay within the inner mind. These selected works draw inspiration from indigenous art and artists like John Cattapan. “My works are an organic expression of my response to the urban , rural , and literary scapes I interface with. I am interested the inherent unpredictability that I find in the process of art-making ; each new thought space becomes an endoscopic frontier. Since completing his Bachelor of Visual Arts degree at University of South Australia in 1998, under the supervision of artists Fiona Hall and John Barbour, Simon has regularly exhibited in various galleries around Melbourne. His solo exhibition this year, ‘silver crossing’ was held at Chapel on Station Gallery, in January.

Above Metro - Simon Duiker	Above Melway Dreaming - Simon Duiker

	00	Rius Carson In 2006, Rius has embarked on a new body of work again exploring his ‘Chonk’ aesthetic. Rius focuses on the development of his ideas through sculptural work combined with his bold use of painting techniques. Hundreds of dots of colour are repeated in patterns akin to Aboriginal dot painting techniques to reflect grids of urban design and the city’s inherent uniformity and, at the same time, complexity. Special attention is paid to the combination of sculpture and painting to accentuate the underlying grain, texture and shape of the wood he uses in his works. ‘Chonkism’, ‘to Chonk’, can be a different experience for everyone. What it means for me is getting in touch with a more free style of make art or anything. In my artwork I try to reflect the beauty and chaos of nature and express the contradictions in the world we live in " Rius Carson, 2005" This approach applied to his iconic, mesmerising and animated fish and bird sculptures, as well as new investigations into masks, faces, human figures, creates a unique visual harmony. In his biggest step away from his more familiar themes, the redefining pop culture images such as plastic toy guns, Rius aims to create symbolic work that comments on difficult issues that confront contemporary society. Rius first exhibited at Kick Gallery in a group show with Michael Portley in 2002 – “Thought Installations and Chonkism”. Rius produced a bold suite of sculpture and painting for his first solo exhibition at Kick, “Chonk Manifesto”, in May of 2005. Chonk Organic is in the Jarmbi Gallery from Thursday July 27 to Sunday August 13.
Above RC1 Rius Carson

Above RC2 Rius Carson Above RC2 Rius Carson

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Which Truth - Peter Forward

Liberty at Last - Peter Forward	Liberty at Last - Detail - Peter Forward

Island Solution - Peter Forward Top

Above - Heather Manley - Felted Jewellery

Exhibition pieces include: hats and hair pieces Jewellery Scarves and shawls Garments from Shazzarazz Fashion Parade Costumes from Sherbrooke Community School's production of: A Midsummer Night's Dream Top

	Mixed Media works: Catreeana Saunders

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Thirst A cocktail of creativity

D.Ranged Artists Network present their 2004 group exhibition. An exploration of the notion of 'Vessels', in mixed mediums. August 22' to 'August 29'.

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After a public absence of some 2 years the Dandenong Ranges contemporary artists network D.Ranged Artists return with a powerful and eclectic exhibition at the DRCCC Foyer Access Gallery. D.Ranged are a collective of like-minded contemporary artists from the hills region working across all media. Formed some 6 years ago, D.Ranged were an integral part of the original DRCCC set up; exhibiting regularly at the DRCCC and running an arts collective shop in the foyer through the first few years. The past few years have seen the group continue as a supportive artists collective without the public presence and profile. Left: L. Bechervaise

Above: L. Ortman

Above: J. Rowe & K. Birch	Above: J. Rowe & C. Delpratt

Above: Various Works

Above: M. Kaluza

Thirst – a cocktail of creativity, marks the artists’ return to the public limelight with an exhibition based loosely on the theme of vessels. Top

From the Tea Cup and eXpressions

From the Tea Cup China, Paper, String

o	Celebrating the age old ritual of sharing stories over a cup of tea An interactive exhibition by Julie Tipene-O’Toole, Visual Artist & Storyteller Eltham based artist Julie Tipene-O’Toole’s ‘From the Tea Cup’ installation pays homage to the age old ritual of sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences over a cup of tea. The artwork features numerous teacups, old and new, big and small with messages, anecdotes and recollections written on paper tags and left inside the cups to be shared by others. Julie’s art installation is not only evocative of past experiences, but is also evoking enormous audience participation as viewers are invited to contribute their own messages about loved ones, and recollections about times shared over a cuppa.
	“From the Tea Cup” has toured various Victorian locations and will be featured at the Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre from July 5 until July 25 with visitors encouraged to add their own stories, which Julie is collecting to record and preserve local history. DRCCC Foyer Gallery July 5 until July 25, 2004

eXpressions Art Show

DRCCC Foyer Gallery July 10 until July 25, 2004

eXpressions is a culmination of works created in joint art classes held over the past 18 months at the Wantirna campus of Villa Maria’s Gateway Adult Day Service for adults with intellectual disabilities and the Wantirna Aged Care Hostel.

The show will feature pieces created by the residents and clients, many of whom cannot communicate with the outside world in regular ways. The Art classes offer a variety of artistic techniques as well as some sensory experiences for the participants. The range of techniques used allows each of the artists to express themselves and their view of the world.

Viewing and Sales will be conducted from 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday and from 11am until 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Villa Maria is one of the largest providers of disability services and aged care in Victoria, caring for over 4000 people state wide. For more information on Villa Maria, or its services, telephone 9854 5111 or visit the website www.villamaria.com.au. Top

o	THE DANDENONG RANGES OPEN STUDIOS EXHIBITION Works from all 29 artists participating in the Open Studios scheme will be on exhibition in the DRCCC Foyer Gallery during the Open Studio Weekend on April 3 & 4. Visitors are encouraged to browse through the sample of works in the gallery, pick up a free map, then visit the artist's studios. Opening Friday April 2nd at 6pm and running until April 18. DRCCC Foyer Access gallery : 7 Days 10am – 4pm
Follow the link for Open Studio Weekend Details and Map

Above - Elaine Healy	Above - Helen Varner
Above - Ches Mills
Above - Bill Kemp Top

LIME MOON

A solo exhibition by Derek Erskine A solo exhibition of 75 vibrant ‘free expressionist’ works in both Charcoal sketches and Acrylic on Canvass

Derek Erskine knows how to capture many moods with simple forms and precise execution, be it charcoal forms or acrylic abstracts. Expressionism is the word Erskine himself favours regarding his works – bright splashes of colour creating big impacts in abstract forms that beg comparison with Pollock and DeKooning
Derek Erskine is an artist, actor and film director resident in Olinda, although he originally hails from Scotland and then to Tasmania before finding the arts community of the hills. Apart from this solo exhibition he is currently completing a feature film which includes over 300 residents of the Dandenong Ranges! Erskine is also a published poet and dramaturge, creating in whatever medium is at hand. He is keen, however, to separate the art forms and his approach to them. Erskine, however, is not fond of long winded explorations or ‘prattling on about what art is”. For him, it is only the making of the art itself in the here and now that matters.
Artists Statement "This exhibition represents love, devotion and inspiration. My goal is to complete 30,000 pieces of art - and I hope I don't run out of time! I'm inspired by life in itself, its fun, its simplicity. My work is a dream, I don't remember painting most of them, and yet they are here… in his world. So enjoy, and have fun with them…" Derek Erskine
Exhibition from Friday July 25 Until Sunday August 17 - 2003
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THREADS OF TIME A celebration of indigenous and non-indigenous women’s culture and land as expressed through their art Threads of Time explores the knowledge, skills and stories passed from mother to daughter, generation to generation and between different cultures and communities through art and cultural practice. This major exhibition of works showcases artists in a variety of mediums including textile, Aboriginal threaded objects and sculpture, screen printing, basket making, weaving, lithograph and painting. Works have been assembled from women artists across Australia and including East Timor. The exhibition crosses cultural, generational and medium-based boundaries   Above right - Joy Serwylo, textile detail from "Home Fires" series BURRINJA GALLERY Opening Friday October 10, 6.30pm Exhibition October 11 – December 21, 2003 Gallery Hours : Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am – 5pm Free Admission Download an exhibition invitation here - If you need Acrobat reader, get it here Exhibition Preview Above - Lena Yarinkura - 'Camp Dog' - Fibre Sculpture. Maningrida ARTISTS REPRESENTED Joy Serwylo ‘Home Fires’, an exploration of Landscape in textile East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Co-op (Vic) Auntie Phyllis Hewat, Auntie Rachel Mullett, Frances Harrison, Rachel Harrison, Vicki Couzens, Jennifer Mullett, Lisa Kennedy, Elaine Terrick, Penny Hood, Lee Darroch Ernabella Arts Inc (SA) Nyukana Baker, Nungalka Stanley, Renita Stanley Makinti Minutjukur, Tjunkaya Tapaya, Pantjiti Lionel Ungakini Tjangala, Dora Haggie, Alison Carroll Maningrida Arts Centre (NT) Shirley Minyingarla, Elizabeth Mipilanggurr, Isobel Yamara, Lorna Jin-gubarrangunyja, Mary Jin-guwaraba, Freda Wayidjba Ali, Rhoda Bayambula, Emma Gundurrubuy, Natalie Djimangarala, Shirley Malgarrich, Mary Brown, Betty Wanduk, Lily Pascoe, Bonny Burrarn.garra, Lena Yarinkura, Jill Yirrindilli, Selina Brian, Brenda Almarrga, Lena Kurriniya, Jennifer Wurrkidj, Elsie Marmanga, Una Olsen, Mary Na-balangkarra, Mabel Anaka-anaburra, Dixie Wurrpamirra, Susie Wilson, Rosita Ankin, Rachel Mason, Belle Marami, Melba Gunjarrwanga, Dorothy Galaledba, Susan Marawarr, Kate Miwulku, Smantha Stewart Healesville Indigenous Arts Enterprise (Vic) including Auntie Dot Peters, Kay Van Bockel Taibesi Artists of East Timor - (Tais) oo Zig Zag Susan Mathews, Yvonne Voss and June Brown – (N.E Vic) Isabel Foster, Kim Lampton – Yorta Yorta Wendy Fitzgerald, Nancee Segnit Public Program Media Preview Jarmbi Members Night Free Guided Tour Morning Tea with the Curator Guided tours by Appointment oo Thurs Oct 9, 11am Weds Oct 15, 8pm Sun Oct 26, 12 noon Thurs Nov 13, 10.30am $12.00 bookings are essential +61 3 9754 8723 * EXHIBTION PREVIEW Above - Spun fibres, painted seeds & emu feather. Ernabella Arts Inc Above Alison M Carroll, seed necklace (detail). Ernabella, SA Above - Wendy Fitzgerald, Emu Clutch. Textiles Above left - Woven Koorie basket, Victorian Above Right - June Brown, Gimlet Avenues. Textile. Zig Zag/Pattern Nation Above - Susan Mathews. Dance of the Kurrajongs. Textile. Zig Zag/Pattern Nation Above - Tais (ceremonial dress), detail. Taibesi, East Timor Above - Batik design - Ernabella Arts Inc Top

PRECIOUS LITTLE: CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY An exhibition featuring works produced at Robyn Holtham’s Jewellery studio at the DRCCC April 4

Robyn Holtham has been producing fabulous contemporary jewellery in the Hills for more years than we can remember. For many years now she has run classes at her studio at the DRCCC to pass on the knowledge acquired through her training and experience as an artist working with precious metals and stones. Her students are dedicated and inspired by her own creativity, and have produced an exceptional body of material. Examples of Robyn's work are shown below.

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In the ‘Precious Little’ exhibition Robyn is proud to present the work of her students for public exhibition and for sale in the Foyer gallery at the DRCCC. Exhibiting works by: Robyn Holtham; Lynette Forrest; Marianna Hinch; Elaine Jordan; Erin Copeland; Sharlima Angelica; Eva Scheer; Suzanne Hipgrave; Laya Clode; Helen Cameron; Heather Manley; Samantha Ronalds; Laura BoHinch

DRCCC Foyer Gallery Opens Friday April 4, 7pm Exhibition: April 3 - 27 DRCCC 351 Glenfern Rd (cnr Matson Drv), Upwey (melways 75B12) Info 9754 8723 10am 4pm Weekdays and 11am 5pm Weekends

This exhibition has been supported by a community grant from the Shire of Yarra Ranges Top

The DRCCC will host an exhibition of paintings by M. M. Kennedy Renown local artist Margaret Kennedy will present a special exhibition of her works depicting the local bush environment of the Dandenong Ranges at the DRCCC Foyer Gallery. Bushland and wildlife artist Margaret Kennedy has been painting the bush of the Dandenongs for 20 years, during which time she has had over 20 successful solo exhibition which have been greatly appreciated by the community. She began painting oils in 1979, using this medium which most easily produced the colours and textures of the bush. In the past 10 years, acrylics have been added to the range of media utilised. Margaret Kennedy trained in the Meldrum tonal technique with esteemed teacher Max Casey, and since developed her own distinctive style and choice of subject. Wider scenes of bushland as well as studies of individual plants and birds portrayed in the background of their native environment have been the focus of the all the exhibitions. In her paintings, the artist does not attempt to shock the viewer by depicting the ravages of encroaching suburbia on the fauna and flora of the hills. Rather, she seeks to highlight what she describes as ‘nearly the past beauty’ of the original native bush. Margaret Kennedy has won numerous awards for her art from the early 1980’s to the present day, has exhibited widely, and has numerous works in both private and public collections in Australia and overseas. The local Shire of Yarra Ranges has a considerable collection of her paintings. The exhibition will be opened on Saturday February 8 at 3.00pm by Darcy Duggan, local environmentalist and chairperson of UDEC, with Cr Robyn Hale from the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Opens Saturday February 8, 3.00pm Continues until Sunday March 9 10am – 4pm Weekdays and 11am – 5pm Weekends DRCCC, 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey. (Melway 75 B12) Phone 9754 8723 Ends: Contact Ross Farnell @ Burrinja for further details 9754 8723 Top

Toques, Tippets and Togs : The art of the Costumier DRCCC Foyer Access Gallery Opens Tuesday December 10 – 7.30pm Until Friday December 20 Come to this stunning exhibition and explore the intricate world of toques, tippets and togs! Elizabeth Conolly and Lisa Von Muller, 2 local designers, invite you to an exhibition of historical and character costume, costume jewellery and stage design. The fabulous exhibition, complete with intricate sets and scenery to show the full wonder of the costume works, will be opened by Neil McLeod on 10th December. It is an opportunity to enter the wondrous and fantastical world of theatrical costume and design, featuring exquisite fabrics and materials, millenary, needle work and more. Tuesday December 10 – 7.30pm Until Friday December 20 - 2002 Top

BRENDON MURRAY SOLO EXHIBITION OF RECENT WORKS Fri Nov 22 – Sun Dec 8 2002 Brendon is a young indigenous artist and performer who has been living locally in the Hills for a number of years. His people are the Wiradjuri, one of the largest Aboriginal areas from the Murray river up to central NSW. His background includes dance, didgeridoo and acting as well as the visual arts. Brendon has spent many years demonstrating Aboriginal art and culture to students. He currently runs the Aboriginal art workshops run by Burrinja gallery. His art combines many styles common to different regions of indigenous art; line work, dot painting, ‘x-ray’ and traditional symbols; all combined with bright acrylics.

o Above left Brendon Murray - Kookaburra Above Right Brendon Murray - Going Home This is an exhibition with impact. “Art for Aboriginal people” , say Brendon “ was traditionally a means of expressing their culture and life. There was no written language so information was passed from one generation to the next by song and dance cycles, story telling and through art. Art was used to convey important social and cultural messages for record keeping and for ceremonies.” Brendon Murray - Down the Drain Entry Free 7 Days 10.30am – 4.30pm DRCCC Foyer Access Gallery Top

Can the arts help to develop a broader understanding of terrorism?
11 - 29 September 2002 DRCCC Foyer Gallery
Terror: the Exhibition Timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, the exhibition aimed to establish counterpoints to the one dimensional world media view of terrorism.

Images from the exhibition opening and selected works

The exhibition attracted an excellent response from the arts community and general public, with over 200 people attending the opening and many participating in the full day seminar program.

				The DRCCC believes the arts can play a unique role in redefining our response to terrorism. September 11 can become a catalyst for review and renewal. Artists are able to provide new and different perspectives to the mainstream debate, offering insight from the margins. They can use chosen media to get to the heart of an issue and bring people with them. Is it only terrorism when it is against your own people? Does it have to be sudden violent death? What about the personal terror of family violence? Children forcibly removed from parents? Slow death arising from globalised hunger? And is it possible to eradicate the origins of terror through global warfare? Exit: left, by S.E. Dewantoro [Acrylic on canvas] [Indonesian Artist]
The arts can provide a platform for people to explore their own response to terror post September 11, and help establish a broader, healthier base for communities to grapple with terror in all of its forms. The exhibition features works in all media including 3D, installation, performance, web art, video and spoken word. Opens Wednesday September 11 with special guest speakers and performance The Hidden Shame: right, By Denise Dempsey [Mixed media on canvas]
		Wednesday September 11 Special guest speaker Rod Quantock will open Terror: the Exhibition Sunday September 15 features a full day Seminar and Performance Program with guest artists and speakers presenting their perspective on 'Terror!'. Saturday September 28th Art Auction DRCCC Foyer Access Gallery 351 Glenfern Road Upwey Vic Download the program and registration form Download the Terror Flyer Get Acrobat Reader

Just make it all go away - Denise Dempsey

Terror: the exhibition - opening address

Masks - Jenny Rowe

Viewing work at Terror: the Exhibition opening

Untitled - Alida Leerveld

Agricola de Cologne A web artist based in Germany whose works formed a part of the new media arts on display during the Terror exhibition http://www.nmartproject.net/agricola/mpc/never/never.html http://www.a-virtual-memorial.org/

The DRCCC wish to thank the following artists whose contributions made this exhibition possible

Douglas Amar Amarfio John Andrews Greg Bogaerts Agricola de Cologne Robin Dale Denise Dempsey S.E. Dewantoro Janine Brophy-Dixon Kevin Donnelly Roger Elliott Gabrielle Fabiane Man Fred Joel Gailer

Eve Heim Robyn Holtham Barbara Holtham Petrie Alan Humphries Alan Jones William Kelly Alida Leereveld Aroha Marino Feyonna Mitaxa Richard Mitchell Paul O'Halloran Michelle Redman Wendy-Maree Reiss Rebecca Renshaw

Judith Rodriguez Jenny Rowe Jenny Saulwick Alex Ruschanow Rodney Saulwick Kristin Scherlies John Spooner Shannon Sproule Patricia Sykes Ron Tandberg Graeme Taylor Daniel Truscott Kim Vincs

The DRCCC also thank all of the volunteers and the organising committee members who put in significant effort to ensure the success of the exhibition.

Margaret Bull Carol Campbell Shirley Day Robyn Holtham Gordon Lyall Paul O’Halloran Caitilin Punshon Louise Rockne Vanessa Russell Jenny Saulwick Rodney Saulwick

Rod Quantock at the opening Top

'Material Girls' present 'Windmills of your Mind' A textiles exhibition by the 16 artists who are… 'Material Girls'

'Material Girls' is a collective of passionate and evolving textile artists. We are students undertaking a three year Diploma of Arts, Studio Stitch/Textiles at Box Hill Institute, a course that aims to develop knowledge of design for creative application in the broad field of textile and embroidery. We enjoy the challenges to extend ourselves to our limits and sometimes seemingly beyond.

The Material Girl's interests cover a range of textile media including patchwork and quilting, cross stitch, handmade paper, spinning and weaving, felting and hand and machine embroidery. All of these diverse media will be represented in the Windmills of your Mind exhibition at the DRCCC. Our past experience with textiles is diverse. To date, most members of 'Material Girls' have expressed our passion for textiles by perusing hobbies, many of these stemming from childhood. Some members have won Royal Show trophies and work professionally with textiles whilst others have simply explored ideas and techniques. Each of us is making major shifts as new ideas evolve and new interests emerge.

The idea to exhibit grew from viewing the wonderful textile exhibition Beauty with Fire at Burrinja Gallery in October 2001. We were so inspired by this work that we took the challenge to exhibit our own creations at the adjoining DRCCC Foyer Gallery. This is our first exhibition as 'Material Girls' and we are excited at the prospect of showing family, friends and interested members of the public what we are capable of achieving. Many of the major exhibition pieces will be for sale as well as smaller pieces such as art cards, brooches, bookmarks and notebooks. Exhibition from June 26 - July 14 Free Entry Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 4.30pm & Weekends 1.00 to 5pm DRCCC Foyer Access Gallery 351 Glenfern Road Upwey (Cnr Matson Drv) Enquiries 9754 8723 Top

		Coonara Community School In May 2002 students from all ages at Coonara Community School put together an exhibition of works that came out of their studies of Aboriginal art and culture. The results were stunning and the response to their work fabulous. A selection of images taken during the exhibtion are shown below.
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100:001 an Australian journey Photography Kyla-Jane Hunt. Text Claire Wallace March 21 - April 17 2002 One Hundred to One: An Australian Journey is a touring exhibition that consists of one hundred, black and white photographs of Australian faces. These dramatic portraits are accompanied by an anecdote about the person's life, memories and achievements. Visitors to the exhibition will be encouraged to explore what it means for each of the subjects in the collection to be an Australian. The one hundred profiles collectively highlight our cultural diversity and celebrate its existence. The human and emotional content of the images evokes pride and confidence in our heritage and consideration of our future as a nation of talented and spirited individuals. Photographer Kyla-Jane Hunt and author Clare Wallace The Book A publication featuring the one hundred Australian profiles and a brief explanation of the project's evolution accompanies this exhibition. This fully bound publication will be available at the exhibition to purchase, through bookstores nationwide and via the website. The project aims to spread the celebration of our nation to as many Victorians as possible and create a legacy that will last longer than the original touring exhibition. The imagery and personal histories will share with future Australian generations a strong sense of our heritage and recognition of the toil, achievement and vitality of those before them. Images from the exhibition 100-00: An Australian Journey Foyer Gallery open 7 days. Entry by donation. School / Group inquiries for 100:001 welcome. Top

a celebration of everyday happiness A remarkable exhibition combining sound, story, painting and treasured items in an examination of happiness in our everyday lives. Wipe out the gloom and doom of the past year as you enter the world of happy house! Artist Deb Bain-King is fascinated by how we build moments of equilibrium into our rushed everyday lives. "People have different ways of creating moments of happiness that help them through the tough times as well as the general every day grind. I wanted to explore that through my art." 23rd of February 2002 at 2.00pm until the15th of March, 10.00 - 4.00 daily

A wide circle of friends nominated items that inspire and help them through the day. These range from the ethereal call of the magpie, to the roar of a full house at Colonial Stadium. From an old pair of trackpants to cherished family photos and letters. From these varied responses Deb has created a range of small scale paintings that combine to create a tapestry of rich colour and meaning, awakening our senses and reminding us of treasured moments in our lives.

o Guest Enjoy The Exhibition Opening

happy house Saturday the 23rd of February 2002 at 2.00pm until the 15th of March, 10.00 - 4.00 daily Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre 351 Glenfern rd Upwey Further information 9754 8723 or speak to Deb Bain-King on 9754 4441 burrinja@burrinja.org.au Top