There is a movement afoot to form a new art group in Castlemaine.
Visual artists from across the region keen to be part of the friendly new collective are invited to attend a meeting to be held the Anglican Church Hall cnr Forest and Kennedy Streets, tomorrow, Saturday July 23 at 2pm.
The meeting will decide the name and formal direction of the new group.
Sutton Grange artist Chris Moule said Castlemaine, we are told, has more visual artists per square kilometre then any other town in Australia.
“In spite of this, Castlemaine has no viable multi-media artist group to join,” Moule said.
“Castlemaine Creative Artists which were a regular fixture at the Castlemaine State Festival are inactive, the popular Watercolour Group run by Betty Morris at the Mount Alexander Golf Club has ceased. The Plein Air Group is down to two or three active members,” he said.
“In the last few years the Agitation Hill Artists have also put on a successful art exhibition for the Castlemaine State Festival, but the AHA does not meet as an active group,” Moule said.
An initial meeting of interested local artists was held in June and some positives suggestions were tabled.
“We have decided that a new focus and new direction is needed and we are inviting local artists of all ages and mediums, and interested community members which would like to be part of the new group, to join us to chat about what this may look like,” he said.
Some of the suggestions discussed include regular demonstrations from well-known artists, as well as members; instructions in techniques of drawing and painting and different mediums using educational DVD’s; Plein Air Painting, Photography and Life Drawing classes; a biennial exhibition as part of the Castlemaine State Festival; and other opportunities for members to display and sell their work in regular group exhibitions and online.
“The Anglican Church has kindly made the hall available for members to come and paint each week or month, as decided by the members. Come along and help us shape a new chapter in the Castlemaine arts movement,” Moule said.
The meeting will run from 2pm-4pm. If you are unable to attend and would like more information you can call 0402 238 870.