Textile talk and GANEAA arts festival launch at the gallery

THE Goulburn and North East Arts Alliance (GANEAA) Across the Arts Festival will hold its official launch in Gallery 2 at the Wangaratta Art Gallery today. The special event will feature a talk by Sydney-based artist Blake Griffiths at 5.30pm, whose exhibition Trading Cloth - a stunning collection of textile artworks - is being showcased in the gallery space. It includes an amazing, large hand-built loom (selected for the prestigious exhibition Radical Textiles at the Art Gallery of South Australia) alongside work inspired by his travels in Iceland. Wangaratta Art Gallery director Rachel Arndt said visitors had been blown away by Blake's exhibition since it opened earlier this month. "Blake is an extraordinarily accomplished weaver and the work is a salient and profound exploration of international textile practices and the particular impact of European practice on Australia’s fragile ecosystems," she said. "Many visitors have been particularly taken by his beautiful weaving with Emu feathers and Kangaroo fur, which are unique, exquisite and complex. "Textiles made from Australian native animal fur and feathers is rare and many have never seen such creations – myself included. "Of course there are also the works that address Australian pastoral narratives, particularly those relevant to this region with, a depiction of Tom Roberts’ painting Shearing the Rams, which was exhibited at the gallery in 2021." Another intriguing work is called Rabid Eradication (Persistent Pestilence), 2022, and is a comment on the introduction of rabbits to Australia and the subsequent environmental destruction they have caused. The work is made from merino wool – another introduced species - but stained with the tannins of eucalypts – a native species. "Blake has cleverly blended recognisable symbols of agricultural life with endemic materials in a way to encourage us to think about how a uniquely Australian textile industry might emerge, with the constant recognition of the incredible cultural knowledge that is held by our First Nations peoples," Ms Arndt said. The community is invited to gather in Gallery 2 for GANEAA's festival launch, to celebrate what is expected to be the final festival after 25 years. Ms Arndt said the gallery was delighted to be hosting GANEAA members and friends, saying they played a significant role in the development of local artists, and local arts and culture. "The rich arts community we have here in the North East would not be what it is without groups such as GANEAA and the activities they support and organise for artists and the broader community," she said. * What's on in brief Southern Sons 35th anniversary performance STEP back in time with Southern Sons, one of Australia's most beloved bands of the 1980s and 1990s, when the band plays at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Friday, 2 May at 8pm. Original front man Jack Jones and fellow band members Geoff Cain, Peter Bowman and Pete Drummond will perform their timeless hits like Heart in Danger, Hold Me in Your Arms, Always And Ever, You Were There and Lead Me To Water, as they celebrate 35 years. Tickets are available at wpacc.com.au. * The Last Blast for Across the Arts concert A TRIO of top entertainers will come together for the 2025 Across the Arts concert, celebrating The Last Blast of the Goulburn and North East Arts Alliance (GANEAA) festival, at The Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta on Saturday, 3 May. All are welcome the special event featuring performances by multi award-winning Australian trumpeter Eugene Ball, Australian virtuoso guitarist Nick Charles, and the inimitable Constantina Bush, the alter ego of Katherine artist, Kamahi Djordon King. Enjoy a spectacular night of live entertainment celebrating 25 years of Across the Arts with doors open at5.30pm for a 6.30pm start and tickets $35, available at thevinehotel.net.au/event-details/ganeaa-across-the-arts-concert. * Across the Arts retrospective exhibition THE 2025 Across the Arts retrospective exhibition is being held in the Bainz Gallery at the Wangaratta Library during May. The exhibition features 31 artworks by 18 Goulburn and North East Arts Alliance (GANEAA) members in a wide variety of styles and mediums including ceramics, printmaking, painting, photography and textiles. It can be seen throughout the month during library opening hours, with an Across the Arts retrospective celebration to be held on Sunday, 25 May from 2pm to 4pm. * Art Gallery on Ovens Obscurity exhibition AN exhibition by new resident artist Maureen Varnavsky is open at the Art Gallery on Ovens in Wangaratta. In this exhibition, the abstract works explore the concept of obscurity as it impacts upon our ability to see beyond the obvious, still life paintings are simple and pure in form, and seascapes reflect the artist's love of the ocean. The exhibition is open weekdays from 10am until 4pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 2pm until 6 May. * Bright Autumn Festival continues this weekend THE Bright Autumn Festival is a 10-day celebration of the wonderful autumn colours and autumn produce of the valleys of Victoria’s Alpine High Country. The 2025 program features a variety of special events, including an Autumn Art Exhibition at the Bright Art Gallery, open gardens and the Alan Findlay Memorial Gala Day on Saturday, 3 May with a market in the morning, music in the streets and a grand parade starting at 1:45pm, which has a "movies of the 80s" theme. To find out more visit brightautumnfestival.org.au. * Crystalline at Wangaratta Art Gallery AN exhibition called Crystalline at the Wangaratta Art Gallery brings together existing and new bodies of work by Brisbane artist Elizabeth Willing exploring the interconnected qualities of alcohol and sugar. Working across textiles, sculpture and installation, Willing’s works are performative and often participatory explorations of foods both concept and material. Crystalline can be seen in Gallery 1 at the Wangaratta Art Gallery until 18 May. * Wangaratta community market THE Wangaratta community market runs every Sunday (except Easter Sunday) at Moore Than Swimming, located at 11-13 Mason Street in Wangaratta, from 8am until 1pm. There are a wide range of stalls to browse with new and used items, plants, fruit and veg and more, with refreshments available. Stalls are available for just $20 each (no bookings required) and car boot sales are welcome for $15, with more information via the market's Facebook page or call Sheree on 0401 665 886. * Wangaratta Historical Society open weekends TAKE a trip down memory lane each weekend by visiting the Wangaratta Historical Society and Museum in the old fire station in Ford Street. The museum is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and entry is free. Anyone who has interesting items from Wangaratta's past they think should be on display are welcome to bring them in or donate them to the museum, with more information via email to wangarattahistorialsociety@gmail.com. *

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