General News
6 April, 2022
Artists brush up their skills at Wimmera art fair
Artist of the Wimmera and beyond come together to display their various works at the Horsham Regional Art Gallery.
ARTISTS from all across Victoria are showing off their talent at the Rotary Club of Horsham East’s Art Fair 2022.
The April 5 to April 10 event marked the Rotary club’s 42nd instalment and featured around 40 artists from areas such as Horsham, Brim, Nhill, Edenhope, Casterdon, Hamilton and Warrnambool.
Club resident Pam Clarke said she was happy to see the event support local artists as well as the community.
“The art pieces are all for sale and the money raised will be donated to local projects,” she said.
“We’ve donated money to the Wimmera Cancer Centre and charities like the Christian Emergency Food Centre.
“It’s also been very difficult for local artists during the COVID-19 pandemic, so our featured artists are excited to part in the event.”
Last year was a return to hosting art events for the Horsham East Rotary club after multiple cancelled events due to COVID-19.
Horsham artist Fran O’Brien said her passion for making art was a big part of how she got through the pandemic.
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“I haven’t really stopped since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Since the cancelling of art shows I’ve got this build up of paintings,” she said.
“I wasn’t allowed to go out so I concentrated on my art, and it helped me get through it.
“I do quite a mixture of art, from still life to country scenes and waterfalls. I like to have a variation.
“The Rotary Club of Horsham East does an absolutely wonderful job. They have a great band of volunteers … they’re always there to help the artists involved.”
The art show highlighted 20 bays of works, ranging in various styles of art.
For this year’s event, Nhill artist Naomi Zanker said she showed off her skills in the field of still life art.
“I love having the opportunity to show the artwork that I do and have an affinity for the people who are a part of the Rotary club, so I’m happy to support them in their fundraising,” she said.
“Since I’ve had my own art bay I try to have a different theme each year. My work ranges from impressionism, realism, landscapes.
“Last year I featured buloke trees around the Wimmera in my work. This year it will be a mixture of still life and florals.”
Brim abstract artist Joan Goad said the show is an ideal place where artists can connect and share ideas.
“The art fair is a great place to meet with other artists because we’re such a diverse group with lots of different styles,” she said.
“This year I will be showing abstract art pieces of Pink Lake. It will be a part of my arts feature I’ve called Pink Lakes and Paddock Lines.
“We have the Pink Lake in Dimboola and it’s inspiring.
“I’d also been on an aerial silo tour with A.Kube Aviation in Nhill and happened to see all the beautiful lakes from the air. That was a few years ago, but it’s been in the back of my mind ever since.”