Local artists join forces for seaside exhibition

A collective of Limestone Coast artists have joined forces for create the inaugural collaborative exhibition for 2024 at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex recently redevelop gallery space.

Nine artists have offered works for the exhibition, title Coastal Life, showcasing the district’s unique coastal environment delivered in a variety of mediums including photography, colourful mosaics, sea kelp creations, bright paintings on canvas’ and surfboards, clever ghost rope works, and driftwood sculptures and furniture.

District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston said council welcomed established and emerging artists to share their creative works in the recently renovated gallery.

“We have many wonderfully talented people within our community and it is great we, as a Council, can help support them and provide a platform to showcase what they love,” Mayor Boston said.

“It is also great to see our districts coastal beauty being promoted through art in such a unique way. Council looks forward to seeing more people within the creative space utilise the Complex’s modernised facility and introducing more locals and visitors to our regional art collections.”

District Council of Grant growth and tourism manager Rebecca Perkin said the collaborative exhibition hoped to engage and inspire people by sharing local stories of the district through art form.

“The complex is delighted to be showcasing impressive pieces by creatives who live, work and play in our region,” Ms Perkin said. “Our new coordinator Emma has done an amazing job of curating this collection of ocean-inspired works for this exhibition.

“The Coastal Life exhibition takes visitors on a unique visual tour of our beautiful, rugged coastline through the lens of local creatives. We encourage community members and visitors to explore the artworks and discover new perspectives on our coastal surrounds.”

Artist and Nene Valley resident John Magarey said it was a fitting way to start the year in a recently upgraded space with a diverse range of interesting art styles inspired by the ever-changing coast.

“The ‘Coastal Life’ exhibition has demonstrated our location to be an inspiring environment and community with much talent,” Mr Magarey said. “This is confirmed through the different mediums of photography, painting, sculpture and mosaics, harnessing inspiration and resources – some recycled from our coast..

“I use driftwood found on our local beaches to make different pieces of artwork, hence my hobby cards titled Flotsam and Thensome. The most popular of my creations would be my fish and pieces of furniture. My favourite is a large driftwood copy of the Cutty Sark on the front of a shack in the township of Nene Valley.”

The Coastal Life exhibition is on display until Sunday, March 31.

Community members and visitors are welcome to view the local artworks for free during the Port MacDonnell Community Complex’s opening hours of Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and Saturday to Sunday between 1am and 3pm.

It was in December last year, the District Council of Grant unveiled the enhanced gallery after $70,000 was invested towards the facility upgrades. Renovations resulted in increased display capacity, and improved acoustics and exhibition lighting to allow a greater range of works to be shown.

The ‘Coastal Life’ exhibition features the following creatives: