Shellharbour City Art Society is hosting Art in the Village this month. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Shellharbour’s creative community is stepping into the spotlight with Art in the Village, a new exhibition and workshop series designed to celebrate local talent while inviting the wider community to get hands-on with art.
Led by the Shellharbour City Arts Society, the initiative blends an eclectic showcase of works with accessible workshops aimed at inspiring artists of all ages and experience levels.
Society president Jenine Bailey said while it was the first time Art in the Village was being run, the society had held several exhibitions at the Imaginarium before.
“It’s a favourite haunt of ours,” Jenine said.
“This is our second time we’ve had the exhibition and workshop combination for the holiday period.”
Fifteen artists are exhibiting their works, representing a mix of talents, including photographers, acrylic and oil painters, and printmakers.
Jenine said many of the works reflected the beauty of Shellharbour’s natural and urban landscapes, from the village to the Shellharbour Marina.
She said rather than dictating strict themes, the society encouraged artists to be guided by their passions, resulting in a more eclectic display.
“We try not to be restrictive. We encourage everyone to just be inspired and paint what you love to paint,” she said.
“It’s always a challenge curating, because we have such a variety of different art styles and themes.
“A lot of it is generated from what is actually around the village and local community, because we live in such a beautiful area.”
Jenine said there were a variety of workshops by the artists for the community to get involved in, depending on their own art journey, from 3D texture paste art and wearable denim art to marketing and selling your artwork and art therapy.
She said art therapy workshops included painted threadwork, mindful mandala, and neurographic and zentangle.
“We’ve got one lady who’s quite skilled in how to present your art, as far as a marketing process, which is a bit different to what most people are used to,” she said.
“There’s a bit of a surge in artists around the area, and so it’s nice to know what to do with it when you’ve created this art.
“There’s one lady that is trained in using art as art therapy and she’s running one in threadwork.”
Formed in 2012, the Shellharbour City Arts Society now boasts about 35 members and thrives on creating opportunities for artists to connect, exhibit, and learn together.
“When Shellharbour City Art Society first started, there was nothing available for artists in the area,” she said.
“It’s really about bringing our community together — providing enjoyment and friendship.”
She said the society would continue to run exhibitions and workshops, but would also now look to organise field trips.
“We’re looking at bigger and better things in the future, like doing trips to go and see the Archibald together,” she said.
“We’re hoping to generate a lot more activities that are culturally based so we can go off and do things together.
“It’s about generating something that allows members to do something outside of working at home, because art is such an isolated activity.”
The exhibition, which will run for two weeks, will be officially opened on 17 January, featuring guest speaker and accomplished artist Ali Gordon.
Community members can join the society, with membership available online.
Art in the Village is open at the Imaginarium in Wentworth Street, Shellharbour until 27 January, and bookings for workshops are available. The official opening will be held Saturday 17 January at 2 pm and is open to the public.
