Inaugural art exhibition in Ballarat Cemetery

ANNMARIE Sloane took ownership of the Gatehouse cafe, located by the Lydiard Street entrance to the Ballarat General Cemetery in May.

Described by Ms Sloane as a goth vintage cemetery café, it is the venue for Light and Shade: An Exhibition by Sarah Eida throughout August.

Ms Sloane said the Gatehouse has a great event space in the loft and wants to use it not just for wakes but for exhibitions and musical performances on a regular basis

“Sarah is a multifaceted performer I’ve known for 20 years, I’ve always admired her art and have been encouraging her to put it in front of the public,” Ms Sloane said.

“That’s why I wanted her artwork to be the first exhibition I hold, it’s not just a business decision, it is a personal endeavour for us to do in conjunction with each other.”

Ms Eida and fellow musician Matt Malone performed an acoustic set in the loft during the recent Ballarat Heritage Weekend.

When it comes to her paining she defines her acrylic on canvas artwork as entwined with her feelings.

“I’ve been a musician since I was seven and while my art has been back and forth all my life it started to really hit me when I turned 30,” she said.

“I started drawing in notebooks, doing henna painting in a bohemian style very much like Vali Myers dairies and surrealist H R Giger has been an influence on my work.

“I am really happy and excited about the 12 canvasses we’ve hung for the exhibition, but when one sells, a part of me aches just like a mum feels when she lets her kids out into the world.”

Light and Shade: An Exhibition by Sarah Eida is at The Gatehouse, 1201 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat North until Saturday, 31 August.

The Gatehouse and exhibition are open Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am to 3.30pm with a gold coin donation entry to the exhibition.