By Jim Fagan
Twenty-five years ago Gwen Blair wanted to join an art group in Noosa but she couldn’t find one so she started her own.
Gwen passed away six years ago at Katie Rose Cottage and her friends in the Tinbeerwah Art Group still remember her and the work she did in founding the group.
Each year they hold an art show at Tinbeerwah Hall to showcase their work and support the hospice with the sale of donated art books, magazines and DVD’s.
This year’s art show is on June 28-29-30 and, according to co-ordinator Jan Cooke it’s a “very special one. We’re celebrating our Silver Anniversary year and it’s bigger, better with something to suit all tastes and budgets.
“We’re featuring a variety of mediums -acrylics, watercolours, oils, pastels, charcoal & pencil, collage and mixed media and we are grateful to our award winning tutors Fiona Groome, Michele Knightley, Dale Leach, and Pam Taylor who have encouraged members to try new techniques and develop their skills.”
Jan said the group had grown from a few friends meeting on a Thursday morning to a membership of over fifty local artists who paint in two groups on Thursday and Friday mornings.
‘Many of our members are seniors. It is amazing how many who join our group had either never painted since childhood or had forgotten how much they enjoyed painting. Our tutored classes offer the opportunity develop new skills and to make new friends.
“We are very enthusiastic about the wonderful, caring work by the volunteers at Katie Rose and we are again supporting them by donating all the money we raise from the gold coin door entry, raffle and artists donations.”
As a preview of the 25th Anniversary Art Show a selection of some of the artists work is on display in Noosa Civic Shopping Centre.
Meet the artists and enjoy some light refreshments at the official opening on Friday, June 28, at 5.30pm at Tinbeerwah Hall, on the corner of Sunrise and Cooroy- Noosa Rd, Tinbeerwah. The show will also be open on Saturday, June 29, 9am-4pm and Sunday, June 30, 9.30am-3pm.
For more information phone Jan Cooke on 5473 0235 or 0412 769 351
