open studio, open for business

This year's Dandenong Ranges Open Studio marks 10 years of artists throwing open their doors to visitors over an autumn weekend in the Dandenongs.



It was terrific to see local artist Neil McLeod drop in to the opening
of the Open Studio Group Exhibition at Burrinja, we were
joined by local artist Joy Serwylo, who has been exhibiting as
part of Open Studios every year since the exhibition's inception.
Back in 2000 Neil McLeod donated a significant collection of
indigenous art to the people of Yarra Ranges, a very generous
and wonderful gift.

Be sure to pencil Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April into your diary for a weekend of art, good food, fine company and gorgeous scenery up in the Dandenong Ranges.

Don't forget to drop into Burrinja to visit the group exhibition, remember 20% of Open Studio purchases at Burrinja go to local emergency relief agency, the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service.

For more info on Open Studios click here.

open studios open for business

What a wonderful display of creativity this year's open studio in the Dandenong Ranges is.

Glass artist, Kirsten Laken, from Spirit of Glass (Studio 16) 
and Cr Samantha Dunn. This is Kirsten's wonderful creation
as part of this year's open studio. It's an extraordinary piece
made out of recycled chandeliers and a beautiful piece of
wood sourced locally in Kallista.

On for two days over the weekend of 26 & 27 May and in its ninth year, the event is going from strength to strength.




Cr Samantha Dunn, with the Juet Sculpture team,
Michael Hyett and Martin Judd - Studio 6. Michael
and Martin used reclaimed materials, including steel, iron
copper and stone to make their beautiful garden sculptures.

This weekend artists throw open their studios and encourage visitors to walk through their space, chat to the artists and perhaps buy a piece you like.

Yarra Ranges Council is pleased to support Open Studios through a community cultural grant.

It's not too late to get to see some wonderful art in a beautiful environment. Artists studios will be open again on Sunday(27/5) from 10am to 5pm. If you'd like to know more, visit Open Studios here.

Local artist, Emma Johnson with Cr Samantha Dunn
at the lantern making workshop - Studio 13.
Emma is part of the team behind this year's
Belgrave Lantern Parade, you can make your own
lantern for the parade on the 23rd June, get some
help at a lantern making workshop or purchase
one of these gorgeous butterfly lanterns.

If you're not sure where to head, perhaps start at Burrinja and visit Curves and Corners, the Open Studios group exhibition for a taste of many of the artists in this years event.

You can find Burrinja at 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey.

dandenong ranges open studio - this weekend

It was a great pleasure to officially open the Dandenong Ranges Open Studio group exhibition for 2012.

This is the wonderful team leading the workshops for the Belgrave
Lantern Parade, coming up on the 23rd June. From left to right:
Cr Samantha Dunn, Emma Johnson, Renate Crow and Jane.
What a magnificent job they have done on these powerful owl
lanterns, stunning.

In the Jarmbi Gallery at Burrinja, the works were impressive and a great sample of the works on offer over the Open Studios weekend.

On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May, artists will throw open their studios to visitors, it's a great way to see some local art, have a chat with the artists and tour the magnificent Dandenong Ranges.

The fine team from the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief
Service in Belgrave.
From left to right:
Bob, Carol, Tania, Cr Samantha and Fr Frank.

This year 20% of sales from the exhibition will be donated to the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service. DRERS provide a valuable service to those disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community and this is a great way to support them.

This years Open Studio showcases 33 studios representing over 200 artists and cements our reputation as a place of great inspiration for artists.

Local artist, Roxanne Hull, with her newest creation
Dragon Riders.
Roxanne is a regular at Kallista Market.

If you'd like to download the Open Studios booklet, click here.

Potter, Helena Griffiths, with her volcano installation, very impressive.

Don't forget to stop in to Burrinja too, to see the group exhibition, it's a great way to work out where you might like to head next.

It's a wonderful event, it's great to see it go from strength to strength.

Executive Director of Burrinja, Ross Farnell with artist Tracey Roberts,
Cr Samantha Dunn and artist Roxanne Hull in front of Tracey's work
"Rest".

It's that time of year again, autumn in the Dandenongs and time for the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios.

Scattered amidst the Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne, lie some of the Victoria’s hidden artistic treasures. Over one exciting, interactive weekend in May the Open Studios program shines light on over twenty-four of these vibrantly-diverse artists as they open up their homes, studios and artistic process to the public. 

The weekend sets an eclectic range of artists and mediums against the backdrop of one of the state’s most beautiful and popular tourism destinations – one with a proud heritage of artistic inspiration and appreciation. Celebrating its ninth year in 2012, the annual event attracts artistically-minded, culturally interested and generally curious people from across Victoria. Visitors use the Open Studios map to guide them through the tall trees and winding roads to the artists’ secluded ferny studios. There they can experience the artwork in its natural environment, while meeting the artists as they work and gaining a unique insight into their creative process.

Artists’ studios are open from 10am to 5pm onSaturday and Sunday, 26-27 May (as well as other times right throughout the year by appointment). An easy-to-use Open Studios guidebook with touring map is available free online, and in hardcopy from Burrinja Community Cultural Centre and other tourist and arts locations throughout the Hills.

I'll certainly be taking a wander through our iconic hills, hope to see you on the arts trail!

open studios coming soon - 28 & 29 may

The group exhibition for the Dandenong Ranges Open Studio opened this week at Burrinja. It was a terrific night and a great way to showcase all the artists involved in this year's open studios.

It was wonderful to catch up with local artists and chat all things art in the Dandenongs. Open Studios is on next weekend, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May across the Dandenong Ranges. Local artists open up their studios and welcome visitors across the two days.

Joy Serwylo does amazingly intricate work, this year's works feature rusted cars and torn encyclopaedias in a new body of work called "relics". Joy's studio is well worth a visit.

Kirsten Laken is a very well known and loved glass artist. Working with a variety ot techniques, Kirsten uses hot and cold glass, stain painting, fusing and slumping. She pushes the boundary of glass art and always has an extraordinary breadth of work. A must for this year is checking out the solar panelled chook shed with self opening doors!

CJ Baxter and Brent Dakis are newcomers to Open Studios, operating Limerence in Belgrave, they are both committed to Australian made and local art. CJ, under the label Twisted Fig, creates unique clothing and accessories from reclaimed fabrics whilst Brent creates amazingly unique jewellery from found objects under the label Depths of the Never Never. They have created a wonderful space at Limerence in Belgrave, it's well worth having a look.

If you'd like an Open Studio's catalogue click here.

Can't make up your mind who to see? Perhaps a quick visit to Burrinja for a bit of a preview will help.

open studios about to open their doors

It's that time of year again when the wonderful artists of the Dandenong Ranges throw open their doors for Open Studios. This year's event proves to be yet another spectacular visual delight.

This year's theme is Naked Beast - Where the Wild Things Are, artists have combined their efforts for a joint exhibition of works at Burrinja, which opens on Friday 20th May at 6:30pm and runs through to June 26th.

Dandenong Ranges Open Studios weekend runs over the weekend of the 28th & 29th May features 30 local artists across the Dandenongs. It includes artists across a range of mediums including painters, potters, wood carvers, digital artists and even a digeridoo maker. Open Studios is an eclectic event with something for everyone. Its a wonderful day trip to a region that is looking stunning against a backdrop of tall eucalypts and the colour of autumn leaves.

If you'd like a catalogue of the Open Studios artists for 2011 click here. I look forward to crossing paths with you at one of the many artist studios on the trail.

yarra valley artists open up

It was terrific to go to the launch of the group exhibition of Yarra Valley Open Studios at Sticks Winery in Yarra Glen.

Open Studios has something for everyone, from felt artists to jewellers, sculptors to potters and of course many painters it's a great exhibition in a great location.

In its second year, this year's exhibition sees 70 artists throughout the Yarra Valley throw open their doors to let the public into their private studios.

It's a great opportunity to get to know the artist in their space and gain a greater understanding of the creative process.

The group exhibition is open now at Sticks Winery and the weekend of 17^th through to the 19^th of September sees the artists open up their studio's for visitors.

To keep up with latest news find Yarra Valley Open Studios on

It's a great opportunity to see some great art in a gorgeous setting.

art of glass

I had the pleasure of officially opening Kirsten Laken’s exhibition, Transparent Works at Burrinja over the weekend. Kirsten is a local artist based in Selby, who does exquisite work with glass.

Me with glass artist, Kirsten Laken. Kirsten's work is superb and ranges from the contemporary to the traditional. Be sure to visit her studio as part of Open Studios.

Glass has been her passion for a very long time, I’m sure it runs through her veins, her feel for the medium is extraordinary and she has completed many commissioned works throughout her career.

Kirsten is busily preparing for the Dandenong Ranges Open Studio weekend coming up on the 29th & 30th May. It’s a time where artists across the region throw open their studio doors to the public. In it’s seventh year, it is an event well worth supporting. A great way to spend a day, travelling around the Dandenongs and visiting our local artists. If you’d like to know more visit Burrinja or find them on facebook.

yarra valley open studio hits the ground running

Yarra Valley Open Studios was a great success over this weekend. I found myself travelling from McMahons Creek, where I visited local artist Christine Goode right through to Julia Peddie, a painter, in Healesville. I also popped in on the Marysville artists showing their work at the Church St Gallery.

Julia Peddie, painter from Healesville with one of her works. Julia's works have great depth, built up layer upon layer. She now finds herself moving on from a focus on bushfire to regeneration which is the subject of this piece.

Artists were excited about the success of the Open Studio weekend, their visitor books overflowing with entries and positive feedback. I look forward to seeing this event become a regular entry on our annual events calendar. Well done to all involved.

arts open up

Today saw the first day of the Dandenong Ranges Open Studio weekend. It was a great day out, artists threw open their doors to welcome visitors from near and far to chat, visit the studio, find out more about the artist and perhaps buy some work.

I managed to get around quite a few artists, seven studios in total, all welcoming with artists readily chatting about their work and the creative process.

This is me with artist Joy Serwylo (from Upwey). Joy's work is exquisite, intricate and detailed, using many different media in her creations. She has a great creativity and the political and social commentary in her works is engaging as well as thought provoking. Her studio is always worth a visit.

This year I also visited the studio of Karen Scott in Upwey. Karen does the most amazing mandalas and she has a particular passion for insects in her work. Her work is very precise, the colours rich and vibrant, it's quite stunning.

Here I am with Jenny Rowe, a sculptor based in Tecoma. Jenny's studio, set in a lush gully with towering tree ferns is wonderful. Her works are dotted throughout the garden and set quite a stunning sight. Her work inspires tranquility and her sculptures are steeped in mythology.

Dandenong Ranges Open Studio has a record 24 artists participating this year, their work diverse and covering many different media, themes and aesthetics all based on the theme 'regenerate'. If you want to see a snapshot of all the artists participating this year I highly recommend a quick visit to the Jarmbi Gallery at Burrinja, it's an impressive exhibition and reinforces the Dandenongs as an inspirational place for artists to live and work.

open studio opens

Next weekend (23rd & 24th May) will see the annual Dandenong Ranges Open Studio event on for the 6th year. The weekend is an opportunity for artists to throw open their doors to the public, show (and hopefully sell) their works.

Me pictured with Tracey Roberts and Stax at the Jarmbi Gallery - Burrinja, both feature in next week's Open Studio.

It is a great way to spend your weekend, meandering from one artist to the next, throughout the spectacular Dandenong Ranges, which is looking amazing with all the autumn colour.

There were some very colourful characters providing entertainment at the launch.

Friday night was the official opening of the Open Studio exhibition at Burrinja. If you can't make it around to the studios, the Jarmbi Gallery has a great display of the many and varied works of the local artists involved with this year's Open Studio.

Me with Neil McLeod and Mark Westaway - that's Mark's work in the background.

.

The Dandenong Ranges has long been a place of great creative inspiration and Open Studio reaffirms the links between artists and local region.

Tracey Roberts and me, with her work in the background, Tracey is exhibiting in Open Studios for the first time.

forests, arts, palliative care, scouts - a busy weekend out and about

What a busy weekend it has been, I started the weekend up at Warburton speaking at a Forests & Water forum put on by the local community.

The Warburton community have been very disturbed by the logging trucks that have been going through the town at a very rapid rate. (This has stopped now as logging doesn’t occur over the wetter months).
.
.
.
Sarah Rees from the Central Highlands Alliance and me with 'Legacy' a book produced by TCHA to highlight the legacy we are squandering by continuing to log Melbourne's water catchments.
.
They cannot understand why our catchments are being logged in a time of water scarcity. Neither can Yarra Ranges Council so that’s why we oppose logging of Melbourne’s catchments.

It has been very satisfying to see that nine other municipalities have joined with Yarra Ranges to oppose logging, with council 9 and 10 being the City of Melbourne and the Maroondah City Council. This represents over 1.2 million Melburnians, I hope the state government is paying attention.

Next stop on this busy weekend was Open Studios, a weekend where local artists throw open their studio doors and welcome the public to talk about their art, their inspiration, their lives. I managed to get round to 8 studios and was warmly welcomed by the artists. It’s a great initiative, a great drive around the Dandenongs and it cements our region as a place of great creativity.


Anne and Helen from Fernlea House with Charles 'Bud' Tingwell and me. Charles spoke about his career from the early days and how it continued after his wife died. Charles cared for his wife throughout her illness but never saw himself as a 'carer', just doing what family does.
.
On Sunday I dropped into Open Day at Fernlea House, who provide palliative care services for the hills region. It has been a very tumultuous time for the house, their federal funding was cut meaning the service could only be provided to 30 June. A reprieve was granted after a fair degree of people power highlighted the plight through the mainstream media, with the minister granting Fernlea funding to continue the service in the short term.

However the house still has a shortfall in funding and an ever increasing need to provide palliative care services in our region. I wish them well in their discussions with the minister and will do as much as I can to support them in their efforts to secure long term funding at a state and federal level.

Me at Lloyd Park, Belgrave South, getting to know the finer arts of firing water cannons, archery, poi making, bridge climbing and all sorts of scouting fun.
.
.
.
Last on the list of events for the weekend was the Scout’s Family Fun Day in Belgrave South. There were all manner of devices, contraptions and activities for children to participate in and children had the opportunity to experience the many facets of scouting. It was a great event and very well attended.

It’s been a busy weekend, but a great way to experience the Dandenongs (and Yarra Ranges) there’s a lot on offer with a lot to offer!