Ocean Grove Talent abounds at The Hive

Always a hub for creativity, The Hive Gallery’s exhibition is a must see.

Twelve artists will showcase their work at The Hive Gallery for this year’s Bellarine Arts Trail, and five will offer live demonstrations.

The demonstrations will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the technique and process of each artist and allow the artists to illustrate their skills.

Globally renowned environmental and bird artist, Richard Weatherly will paint in the gallery.

His highly successful art career has spanned more than five decades, making his demonstration at The Hive a particularly exciting event.

Signed copies of his book A Brush with Birds will also be available.

Jane Millington, a finalist in the 2023 Mariners Art Prize, will demonstrate how she paints delicate seascapes in oil on canvas.

“My work depicts the dichotomy between the perpetual movements of the water and its ability to evoke a sense of emotional stability and well-being,” Millington’s website states.

“I aim to regenerate the viewer’s engagement with the ebb and flow of their lives reflected in the water’s movement and to develop, within contemporary practice, that critical healing experience through the beauty of art.”

Kirsty Manger’s demonstration also follows her recent recognition in the 2023 Klytie Pate Ceramics Award.

Manger is the talent behind yumDESIGN’s conceptual ceramic sculptures and tableware.

Karen Steenbergen will create beside Manger for the Arts Trail event, demonstrating the potters’ wheel to visitors.

After a close shave with a bandsaw, self-taught designer and maker Jake Lunniss returns to The Hive will only one new piece of handcrafted furniture to showcase.

The piece will be exhibited alongside his striking Japanese inspired red gum table and jarrah lounge chair.

It’s a situation that has been labelled a case of “quality not quantity”:.

In a unique demonstration, local craftsman Rod Thom will explain the techniques involved in creating and transforming burl bowls.

Affectionately known as the Burl Bloke, Thom has been sourcing and working with burls for more than 10 years.

Burls are lumpy growths covered in coarse bark.

They can be found on tree roots, branches and trunks and develop from abnormal bud growth cells.

Each burl is unique in its size, grain and colour, and due to their hardness and shape, are extremely hard to work with.

Thom’s demonstration will walk visitors through burls at different stages, starting from an original edge burl right through to a finished burl bowl.

The Hive will also have many new abstract works by Margaret Delahunty Spencer on display.

Her work will be joined by that of William Linford, Phillip Butters, Pam Connelly, Jo Reitze and Zahidah Zeytoun Millie.

Located in the industrial estate of Ocean Grove at 41 Smithton Street, The Hive Gallery will be open 10am-4pm over the Melbourne Cup weekend, November 4-5.

During the event, 2doorsdown Café, located behind the gallery, will be open for refreshments.

It is worth noting that the highly popular Arts Trail destination, BeMyKeeper studio is also situated next door.