o Warren artists at their weekly lesson, Sue Egan, Catherine Beach, Bronwyn Plunkett, Penny Heuston, Jude Fleming and Elaine McLaughlin who will soon exhibit in Moree.
The central western town of Warren is making a name for itself as an artistic hub with a group of local women about to embark on its second public exhibition for the year.
Following the highly successful exhibition Reflections of the Black Soil Plains at NSW Parliament House, initiated by Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, The Warren Westwing Art Group will next month exhibit at The Moree Gallery, The Max Centre, Moree.
Art teacher Jude Fleming said 2012 had been a big year for the group and that exhibiting publicly had been hugely inspiring.
“Our group includes professionals, farmers’ wives, retirees – women from all walks of life bound by a joy and talent for art,” Ms Fleming said.
“To have the opportunity to exhibit in Parliament House and established fine art houses such as The Moree Gallery is empowering, particularly considering many women have never shown their work publicly.”
Ms Fleming said styles within the group, which meets every Friday at her Westwing Studio, vary, but that there was a common love of colour among the women.
“We’re an eclectic bunch with a variety of styles, my personal style changes as my ideas and concepts do but we have some more traditional conservative artists, realists and abstract artists, however the use of bright colours tends to be a common theme amongst us all,” she said.
“The dynamic of the group, which has been meeting for about four years now, is just wonderful and I think part of the secret to our success.
“Of course there is a huge amount of genuine talent which helps!”
Jude said the group was extremely excited to be exhibiting at The Moree Gallery, buoyed by its recent success at Parliament House.
“The prospect of a sale is of course thrilling, but to be able to expose our work to an area broader than the Warren district is fantastic, particularly through a gallery as well regarded as The Moree Gallery.”
The Moree exhibition is entitled Water; The Source of Life, and will run from Friday, August 10 through to August 31.
“We met Moree Gallery owner, Gig Moses, at an art workshop at Haddon Rig last year and she was so impressed with our work that she invited us to exhibit.”
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries will open the exhibition, and said he is constantly inspired by the creativity and initiative of women in the west.
“Women in our rural NSW are wonderful achievers and so adept at uncovering the hidden talent within our communities,” Mr Humphries said.
“I commend this wonderful group of country artists, and The Moree Gallery owner Gig Moses for fostering and encouraging other country artists through her gallery.”
In a further coup for The Moree Gallery, former Mallawa resident Georgia Mansur will be conducting a creativity workshop in Moree on August 11 and 12.
The wife of an ex-cotton farmer, Ms Mansur now travels the globe exhibiting her highly-sought-after works, which include a range of mediums including pastels, acrylics, oils, mixed media and watercolours.
This year alone Ms Mansur has held workshops in Australia, Italy and the UK, with a Seductive Surfaces – Mixed Media Workshop at Red Door Gallery Dubbo on July 28 and 29 and Art Splashy Watercolour Florals workshop at Warrumbungles on August 2 also planned.