Plein-air (or ‘open air’) artists will visit Braidwood’s Bedervale Farm to create onsite works available for purchase directly off their easels. Photo: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
A treasure trail of artistic offerings is set to wind its way through regional towns this October, as artists open their doors and performances pop up in unexpected places.
Showcasing a broad gamut of artistic work, the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) Arts Trail will take place across three weekends in Braidwood, Captains Flat, Bungendore and Queanbeyan.
According to Janita Byrne, QPRC Team Leader for Arts and Heritage, the event aims to strengthen connections between the local arts community and the general public.
“Our annual Arts Trail assists our local arts community to connect with and engage directly with the public and for the public to experience the studios and spaces that artists inhabit to create their artistic worlds,” Janita said.
“Galleries and other spaces offer direct contact with the artists through talks, demonstrations, and casual direct contact throughout the trail weekends.”
Kicking off the trail on 4 and 5 October, Braidwood’s main street will come alive with music acts such as The Gypsy Jazz Project popping up to perform from its iconic verandahs.
For a quiet retreat, nearby Bedervale Farm joins the trail this year, where visitors can watch as artists capture the rural views and historic homestead onsite.
Plein-air artist and Queanbeyan Art Society Secretary Alana Foster says their visiting artists are excited at the opportunity to enjoy all Braidwood has to offer.
“It’s absolutely beautiful out there,” said Alana, “Our Plein-air painters group are going to enjoy a weekend away and – in between a good pub meal or two – they’ll be painting at the homestead, and the public will be able to buy their art right off their easels.”
Joining the trail for the first time, historic mining town Captains Flat will have woodwork, jewellery and other crafts on offer at the country markets on 4 October, before visitors can call it a day with live music at the Captains Flat Hotel.
Continuing into Bungendore on 11 and 12 October, the recently closed Woodworks Gallery space is set to transform itself into an eclectic artisan market.
Adding to the patchwork of artistic expression, the Bungendore Quilters will sew seeds of inspiration, while the new Artist Shed Nostalgia will showcase Australiana paintings and vintage toy memorabilia.
The trail winds into Queanbeyan on 18 and 19 October, with more than 20 different galleries, pop-ups, performances and artist studios to explore.
Partnering with Cartel Taqueria Restaurant, the Queanbeyan Art Society will again head outdoors to combine art, music, coffee and cocktails on the shores of the Queanbeyan River.
“We will have artists at work both days,” Alana said.
“From 10 am to 3 pm, our artists will be out there, including plein-air artists, life drawing and life painting artists – with a live model,”
“The council will have an arts trolley there, so people can pick up a bit of paper and drawing utensils, and they can have a little draw while they’re watching.”
Operating for over 50 years, the Queanbeyan Art Society is a non-profit and fully volunteer-run organisation. The working gallery supports around 200 members with regular art exhibitions, competitions and classes.
“We welcome anybody who does any type of art,” said Alana, “We have a lot of professional artists, but we also have a lot of people who just do art for fun – I’m one of the ‘art for fun’ people.”
Alana said the council’s support keeps the organisation alive.
“They are our biggest supporters,” she said,.
“They own and maintain O’Neill’s Cottage – the historic cottage our gallery is in – and it’s been here since the 1860s, so it’s one of the oldest in Queanbeyan.”
In addition to providing their premises, Alana said the QPRC’s Arts Trail activation brings tourists to their doorstep whilst also engaging the local community.
“It promotes and opens doors for us,” she said.
“Tourists come to visit and may buy a souvenir which promotes us, but it’s also saying to Queanbyean ‘You’ve seen this little old building, come in and see what we’re doing’.”
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail will be launched on Thursday, 2 October, at 5.30 pm at the new Nellie Hamilton Centre Forecourt in Queanbeyan, featuring newly installed First Nations art projections, the official opening of the new LinQ Gallery, and live music by Jerikye Williams.
To learn more, visit Arts Trail.
