Image credit: ®Yasmin Eghtesadi and SULTANA SHAMSHI

Want and the Mentors Exhibition

A diverse exhibition of contemporary jewellery that is both

PRECIOUS & PROVOCATIVE

On display at Ellenbrook Arts as part of

HARMONY WEEK

14 March - 15 April 2018

Nineteen members of the Jewellers and Metalsmiths’ Group of Australia WA Inc. [JMGA (WA) Inc.], having global ethnicities ranging from Baktiari to British together with native born Australians, are to show collectively in WAnt: contemporary jewellery from WA.

Open in Main Street, Ellenbrook during the multicultural Harmony Week from March 14th, the exhibition, supported by floor talks and workshops, will continue until April 15th.

The participants, who were selected by the curators Dr Dorothy Erickson and Brenda Ridgewell for the individuality of each maker’s vision, include recent graduates to experienced practitioners and use a considerable variety of materials that in subtle ways reflect their diverse backgrounds that include; America, Australia, Borneo, England, the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Middle East, India, Iran and Malaysia – a multicultural group who now call Australia home.

Participants have a range of experience from veteran silversmith Jenny Crisp who has been exhibiting since the 1970s, enamelling experts, Jacquie Sprogoe, Jill Parnell and Barbara Cotter who started exhibiting in the 1980s and 90s, through 21st Century lecturers at TAFE Bethamy Linton, Alistair Yiap, and Fatemeh Boroujeni, to Curtin and TAFE graduates Alexandra D’Ulisse, Elizabeth Hawkely, Sultana Shamshi, Betty McKeough and Annika Hauschild as well as a recent convert to the art form Lynndy Young who has learnt privately. Architect turned jeweller Max Ball, multimedia artist Katrina Virgona and environmentalist Blandine Hallé, who has just completed a post-graduate jewellery course in Barcelona, make up the exhibition group. They have worked tirelessly and harmoniously for over twelve months, exchanging ideas whilst being mentored by the two selectors and artist jeweller, Christel van der Laan, to produce work that showcases not only the individuality of each maker’s vision but also reflects their varied interests and backgrounds. Exhibits ranging from pieces incorporating precious gold, silver and enamelling, through titanium, steel, silicone and laminated photographs to works in hair and felt with a political message will be sure to intrigue.

The exhibition, supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, was first mounted for the Radiant Pavilion festival in Melbourne in September 2017 for the National Jewellers and Metalsmiths Conference where it was received with some acclaim. For the Ellenbrook showing work by the curators and mentors (who are themselves internationally exhibiting artists) has been added. Then in May through June 2018 WAnt: contemporary jewellery from WA will be on display at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries enabling regional people to enjoy what one Melbourne viewer called a “Lovely, inspiring, talented, passionate, beautiful collection”.

Featuring the work of:

Max Ball

Fatemeh Boroujeni

Barbara Cotter

Jenny Crisp

Alexandra D’Ulisse

Blandine Hallé

Annika Hauschild

Elizabeth Hawkley

Bethamy Linton

Betty McKeough

Jill Parnell

Sultana Shamshi

Jacquie Sprogøe

Katrina Vigona

Alistair Yiap’s

Lynndy Young

Dorothy Erickson

Brenda Ridgewell

Christel van der Laan

Tami Esancy

Since Confessing

1 February – 9 March, 2018

Women painters have a long history of working in and around their kitchens and domestic spaces, of making ends meet, and making do with what is available, as well as making art as an escape from emotional pain, domestic abuse, and bad situations. These ideas are all evident in Since Confessing.

Approximately half of these artworks – the paintings seen on old kitchen cabinets - were made in 2008, and the remaining pieces were created between 2009 and 2017. In both bodies of work, the artist is developing and exploring the ideas of recycling, and at the same time is emotionally responding to, and processing, her personal life. The original body of work was first exhibited at the Kurb Gallery in Northbridge in 2008 and entitled Confessions and Conversations of a Housewife, Outside, Inside and Hanging on the Wall.

Whilst the disturbing and confronting nature of the original content has subsided as Tami has settled into a more peaceful and happy existence in recent years, she has an enduring interest in using found and repurposed materials to depict her home, her family, her back yard and uses these to reveal glimpses into her day to life, and she paints with a frank and expressive style about own lived experience.

Meet the Artist opportunities!

Artist in Residence

Tami will be working on a new series of watercolour paintings in the front gallery at Ellenbrook Art Gallery throughout February and until the 9th March.

Please feel free to drop by, meet the artist, and chat to her about the exhibition.

Artist in Residence times and dates:

Every Thursday and Friday, 10am – 2pm, 1 Feb – 9 March

Every Saturday and Sunday, 1-5pm, 1 Feb – 9 March

Artist talk

A facilitated floor talk will be held on Friday, 23 Feb 11am – 12 midday

Register your interest with gallery staff to attend this free event

The artist will talk about her work followed by Q&A and light refreshments

The annual member's exhibition is up for another three days, so if you haven't been out to have a look at it yet, make sure you get in to the gallery this weekend and have a look. It's nice and cool in the air conditioned gallery, there are books and magazines to read, and of course there are eighty six artworks to peruse. Better yet, most of them are for sale, including a range of handmade glass jewelry and stained glass artworks, all lovingly made by our very own local artists!

Opening November 17 for 2 weeks only! The exhibition reflects the numerous Healthway-funded youth workshops held during 2017 and showcases the creative talent of young people in the Ellenbrook area! Come along and show your support.

Quite often it's only when one needs to reflect on the previous financial year and gather information on everything that's happened that the magnitude of what's been achieved can be truly appreciated! The infographic here purely relates to the Healthway-funded Act-Belong-Commit Youth Art Program - the numbers certainly speak volumes!

We would like to thank the staff and Board of Ellenbrook Arts, our volunteers, Healthway and the City of Swan Youth Services Team for combining their energy and support to further the artistic and cultural development of Ellenbrook.

Our Annual Report can be access by and is also available under the 'about' menu item.

We are excited to announce a two-part life drawing workshop with male and female models lead by renowned artist Peter Efford; well known for his instructional work around life drawing.

For 30 years he was a Senior Lecturer in the Curtin University School of Design where he developed progressive methods for students to become proficient at Figure Drawing. Later in 2002 he instigated the MJAC life drawing group and is a co-founder of the highly successful Figure Arts Bassendean group which operates from the Bassesdean Community Hall.

He also has a studio at Pondok Saraswati near Ubud in Bali where for many years he has been taking Artists and students to work with figure and portrait study. For more information about Peter go to www.lifedrawing.com.au

When: Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November 2017 from 9am-12pm each day.

Where:The Grapevine Community Arts Space

Cost: $50 including all materials (excluding notebook and camera - see below)

WORKSHOP FULL

Session one - Saturday 18th November

Why we draw.

Understanding human proportion.

Measuring the body accurately, using a process of organic proportion we can readily identify some very easy ways to guarantee that we always get correct proportion and body structure. [Male model]

We will also look at proportion techniques for difficult poses and proportion and anatomy of the head and face.

Mediums: A2 paper and board, Charcoal or 2B Conte. Notebook and camera.

Session two - Sunday 19th November

Female proportion and understanding the character of the pose. Exploring the swing and mood of the body. Freeing up your drawing style through checking out posture and your own body's relationship with the page. [Female model]

Mediums, A1/A2 paper and board, easel, charcoal or 2B Conte, Pastels or other solid mark making implements, avoid pencils. Notebook and camera.

We will also informally cover topics such as:

Putting it all together Tricks of the trade Moving away from line Motivating the page Intensifying the image and mood through use of scale and colour The power of the gaze Analysis and evaluating your drawing Summing up what you want to achieve and getting it done! Show and tell

Ellenbrook Arts is proud to be supporting Ellenbrook Secondary College in hosting the inaugural Ellenbrook's Got Talent competition!

The event is designed to promote the talented performers of all ages who reside in the City of Swan with some great prizes on offer.

A selection of entrants across 4 categories will be invited to perform live on Saturday 25th November followed by the grand final that evening.

Entries have now closed and we thank everyone who has registered and wish them the best of luck!

With 160 entries from all ages and across a range of mediums, the 2017 Ellenbrook Open Art Award Exhibition features a great variety of works from artists across Western Australia.

2nd September - 8th October

Willandra explores the real and surreal with a highly diverse exhibition of oil on canvas works by Helena Valley artist Jenny Hollingsworth.

18th June - 16th July 2017.

Ellenbrook Arts wishes to extend a big thank you to Don Neander for his amazing performance in The Gallery on Friday 21st April.

The audience was treated to a range of works from around the world including Spain and South America and Don's storytelling about the origins of each piece provided a great context to appreciate the music even more.

Stay tuned to the Ellenbrook Arts website and Facebook page for news about upcoming performances in The Gallery.