Community Connect in Lorne
Friday 12 Jan 2024
Today in the artist in residence studio, I had a special visit from my old friend Graeme Wilkie OAM. I have a lot to thank him for, especially his advice on my new Dali-esk mustaka I’m sporting in this happy selfie! Nah! just joking!
He has been a constant touch stone throughout my endeavour to make art and was instrumental in my search for a studio to work from while I am in Victoria over summer.
So thank you Graeme!
Graeme is the brains and brawn behind Qdos fine art gallery, an iconic gallery venue nestled just out the back of Lorne among tall trees and a natural amphitheatre. His vision and activation of Lorne as a sight for fine art and a sculpture biennale has made an incredible mark in local cultural engagement and landscape. I was last in Lorne in 2022 when I had three sculptures, including the small sculpture prize, that coincidently were exhibited at Community Connect, where I’m artist in residence. At the time, I was ecstatic to receive Arts NT & NT Regional Arts Fund supporting the travel to the Biennale from my home in the NT and I guess I am reaping the benefits of that connection building visit now that I sit in this awesome studio.
I am still pinching myself that I’m artist in residence at Community Connect Arts Precinct Lorne. With that title, I become the holder of a 24 hour access studio key that opens up a studio, kitchen, and gallery along with a labyrinth of community groups who use the space regularly. I am so far aware of two sewing groups, an exercise group, some canasta card players and the volunteer community committee, and it’s still January and the centre is on the annual go-slow for the Christmas New Year break. Lorne is at its most chaotic and mad over January, with holiday makers packed in and banked up all the way back to Melbourne. Everyone heading to that wet emerald jewel, the ocean. The 2021 census reports that Lorne had a population of 1200 odd people. When I googled what Lorne could expect in terms of tourist traffic over the summer, Times News Group came up with 35000 visitors per year. On some buzzing days, I could imagine there would be more than that, but who am I?
STUDIO VISITS
I am open to commissions and have some great projects on the boil,.
Please contact me to make a date for a studio visit.
Image :B&W selfie with Graeme Wilkie OAM next to the QDOS fine art van outside my artist in residence studio at Community Connect Art Precinct Lorne, Victoria Australia. Jan 2024
