Art aims to capture the seasons

Different works: The Ballarat Society of Artists’ Amanda Western, Christine Segaert, and Sue Clarke will be some of the displaying creatives in the group’s next exhibition. Photo: TIM BOTTAMS

A MONTHS-long display by Ballarat Society of Artists members will launch at the Lake Wendouree Art Museum early next month with works showcasing the city through the seasons.

Thirty pieces will on display from 15 of the group’s artists as part of their exhibition called Ballarat – Embracing the Seasons.

Running from July to October, BSA business secretary Sue Clarke said the show will be their third long-term collaboration with the Lake Wendouree Museum since partnering mid-last year.

“It’s become a regular arrangement with the Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society,” she said.

“It’s been wonderful because it’s brought people into the museum and they didn’t used to be open over winter but now they are as a direct result of this.

“Anything we have here at the museum, we’re going to have a Ballarat focus on. This one is to do with anything you might find during the seasons in Ballarat.”

Fifteen per cent of profits made from the exhibition will go to the museum.

Works will vary from en plein air paintings of Lake Wendouree to lino prints of local animals to cards and unframed pieces.

BSA workshop coordinator Amanda Western joined the group in August last year and has previously displayed at their annual Easter show, where she won top prize.

She’ll showcase three lino-cut works as part of the upcoming exhibition, and said they’ll capture a romanticisation of the region to help break the winter chill.

“I’ve prepared a black swan for Lake Wendouree, and a little dragonfly to celebrate the beautiful insect life here,” she said.

“I wanted to bring in something to remind people of spring. People come in and it’s cold so I wanted to capture a bit of sunset in the silhouette.

“I also have a barking owl as a reminder that they quite frequently habituated in Ballarat but it’s the most endangered owl in Victoria now.

“This group has a very active program of opportunities for artists to exhibit and to sell art, and also to network from other artists and learn from each other.”

Ballarat – Embracing the Seasons will run from Sunday July 2 to Sunday October 29 from 10am to 3pm each day.