It’s all happening at The Hive

Always a highlight of the Bellarine Art Trail, this year the Hive Gallery has a surprise in store.

Contemporary furniture maker Jake Lunniss will be a special guest, showcasing his handcrafted redgum chair and latest dining table. “You won’t see him on the map but you don’t want to miss these stunning, unique designs from a new local talent,” curator Karen Spreadborough said.

“Entirely self-taught, Jake combines old world craftmanship and traditional techniques, pulling artistic inspiration from decades throughout the twentieth century, to create one-of-a-kind contemporary furniture that will last for generations.”

Lunniss will present an interactive “show and tell” with different joint examples for people to play with, and samples of different Australian timbers. Try his handmade tools and see if you can create the longest wood-shaving.

As featured on the trail map, there will also be new work from eight artists, who will be present to discuss their art and provide demonstrations across the mediums of painting and ceramics.

Established artist Richard Weatherly, renowned author of the book A Brush with Birds, will release his newest limited-edition print on canvas “Pintado Pattern”, with decoratively marked Cape Petrels. It is a “celebration of the evolution of plumage to blend with habitat”.

Original work by Weatherly will be exhibited, and he will be available to sign copies of his book.

Kirsty Manger and Karen Steenbergen will provide demonstrations with hand-building in clay and an assortment of their ceramics.

Margaret Delahunty Spencer, an avid nature lover and permaculture enthusiast, is inspired by her ‘Garden at Night’ and exhibits this beautiful, new series.

Jane Millington has received many accolades recently, selected as a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize and the Basil Sellers Art Prize.

She will delight with her seascapes, in deep, luxuriant colour and light. Phillip Butters and William Linford have new works, typically for Linford with a touch of his quirky humour and underlying environmental themes.

One to watch, naïve artist Wayne Elliott recently returned from the APY Lands and Alice Springs following an invitation to join the Iltja Indigenous art community and NTJarra Arts.

“My head is brimming with new ideas and stories to tell on canvas,” Elliott said.

“A signature of my work is to revisit some sites, which I have done with Fregon, and each time I re-interpret it differently.”

There are strong, yet softer new works from Hermannsburg, Palm Valley, and Bungalow, with a selection exhibited.

Elliott will be on hand to talk about his incredible experiences with these communities.

With several venues on Smithton Grove, including the Keeper’s Gallery next door, make sure you include The Hive in your Art Trail explorations, allowing adequate time to enjoy the extensive offerings.

It will be open at 41 Smithton Grove, Ocean Grove.on Melbourne Cup Weekend, October 29 and 30, from 10am-4pm.

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