Gallery on the road

Gallery closure no barrier to creative programs

Hamilton Gallery has recently launched ‘Art Outside The Walls’, a program of creative activities popping up in venues across the region during May and June, whilst the gallery building is closed for climate control and lighting upgrades.

The Gallery’s education and engagement officer Amelia Jones said the gallery was excited to be taking creative activities on the road and into our wider community with classes across the region as part of the Art Outside The Walls program.

“We’re heading to Byaduk, Penshurst and Coleraine next plus utilising other spaces across the region in events for adults, too,” Amelia said.

The Gallery’s free HG:Play sessions are held every Wednesday during term time by facilitating artist Madi Whyte.

These popular sessions for ages 4-11 have already included two sessions at the Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning, including learning to draw portraits and create art based on works from the Hamilton Gallery collection.

Upcoming HG:Play sessions include making bird collages at the Penshurst Memorial Hall on Wednesday, May 24, and Peter Tully-inspired Magnets at Coleraine Mechanics Institute on Wednesday, May 31.

In June HG:Play Outside The Walls sessions will also occur themed around public art, printmaking and creating felt food. Places are free but must be booked online via Eventbrite.

For local teens the gallery recently hosted a costumed life drawing event at The Roxburgh in collaboration with Warrnambool’s ‘One Day Studios’.

In ‘Drawn To The Beat’ on Friday, May 5, artist, Gareth Colliton led a free, beginner-friendly class for ages 12-18 which was a great success.

A Creative Mixer event at Pierrepoint Wines was held for the local creative community on Wednesday, May 3, and there are three life-drawing events planned for adults in historic venues in the region’s smaller towns.

Saturday, June 17, is all about the Baroque, with local wine, catering and Baroque string music set within the prestigious Chateau Kolor (pictured bottom right), Penshurst.

he final event in the series is an idyllic life drawing session with a backdrop of the Grampians National Park at Dunkeld’s Mt Sturgeon Homestead on Saturday, June 24.

TAKING ART OUTSIDE THE WALLS: Hamilton Gallery has instigated a raft of programs in the community while the gallery is closed for redevelopment and the kids program has been especially popular.