Wintery Art

By Meg Kennedy

Dreams during the winter season may evoke a variety of images for many; hot soup, hot-water bottles, Ugg-boots and woodfires are just some that come to mind.
The dreams of local artists will be on display for the rest of the month as part of the B-Mac Art Gallery’s ‘Winter Dreams’ exhibit.
This month’s exhibition, hosted by the Bacchus Marsh Arts Council, was devised back in January and will be on exhibit for the rest of June.
Showcasing artworks all from local artists, B-Mac Gallery committee member Bev Baker said the exhibition is made of “mixed works”, ranging from oils, water colours, potter, glass plates and more.
The theme aims to represent what “the artist may be thinking or dreaming of on a cold winter’s day,” although Ms Baker adds the exhibitors have been given a range of creative freedoms.
Ms Baker said she hoped attendees would leave the exhibit “feeling inspired by our work and to open people’s eyes to the many very talented people that are around our area.”
“Creating something with our hands is a wonderful way to relax and express ourselves and we would love to think people may be inspired to go home and try something themselves…of course we would also love them to take home a piece of original art for their home,” she said.
The gallery will be holding four general exhibitions throughout the remainder of the year, with themes including ‘Hand Made’, ‘B-Mac Mini Archibald Prize’, ‘Loving Moorabool’ and the ‘Christmas Shop’, as well as private exhibits by local artists Alison Durham, Sandra Pelly, Carolyn Aldred, Lesley Rosochodski, and Ri Van Veen.
B-Mac Gallery, established in 2016 by Bacchus Marsh Arts Council, is managed by a small group of volunteers and artists that showcase their work throughout the year.
Ms Baker said the last 12-months have seen the Council “have continuing growth and [are] building a large team of local and nearby artists whose talent is amazing.”
“Our program is put together at the start of the year and contains and full calendar of exhibitions, both public and private,” said Ms Baker.
“There are many amazing pieces on display, and we would love the people of Bacchus Marsh and surrounds to visit us.”
As for the future, Ms Baker said the Arts Council is planning to “add workshops at the gallery for interested locals that are run by our artists over morning tea.”
Artists will be attending the ‘Winter Dreams’ exhibit throughout every day of its run, with local artist Leianne Ivankovic demonstrating her water colour technique on Friday, 28 June from 10am to 5pm.
The ‘Winter Dreaming’ exhibit is located at B-Mac Gallery on the Bacchus Marsh Village Shopping Centre complex (near Anytime Fitness) and is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on weekends from 10am–3pm.