Gallery Offers Exceptional Australian Art
KI is a unique arts destination and beloved home to hundreds of creative souls.
With a long tradition of captivating artists, the island’s uniquely evolved habitats and surviving species have again provided a wellspring of inspiration for those shortlisted to exhibit in the annual SALA exhibition at Adelaide’s National Wine Centre.
[Read more…] about Final Days of Kangaroo Island Artists Exhibition for SALA
It’s just three weeks ‘til the official opening of our SALA exhibition, “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways… KI − The Intertidal Zone”.
With every day bringing us closer to this, our 8th annual exhibition of Kangaroo Island art at the National Wine Centre, we’re excited to help the South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA) celebrate its 20th Anniversary year. There’s creativity in the air, and we’re going all out to make sure the event has even more to offer than usual.
And there’s news…lots and lots of news.
[Read more…] about SALA Exhibition Brings Kangaroo Island Art to Adelaide
Fine Art Kangaroo Island’s newest exhibition “Island Spotlight” opens this Tuesday at 5:45pm.
Timed to coincide with the 15th Islands of the World conference, this memorable exhibition features recent works by renowned Island photographer Quentin Chester, Kangaroo Island’s talented environmental weaver/sculptor Kenita Williamson, and visiting marine biologist and internationally awarded photographer Richard Wylie.
[Read more…] about World Spotlight Turns Toward Kangaroo Island
2017 brings with it a very special celebration for the iconic South Australian Living Artists festival, more affectionately known as SALA. The arrival of SALA festival this year celebrates twenty years as the largest open access visual arts event in Australia.
Fine Art Kangaroo Island will recognise this very special milestone in two ways. First, we welcome SALA Chair, the Hon John Hill, as our special guest. Mr Hill will officially open our annual exhibition of Kangaroo Island artists at the National Wine Centre on Sunday 6 August at 2pm. “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…The Intertidal Zone” is the eighth edition of what has become one of the most sought after events on the SALA calendar.
But twenty years is such a wonderful achievement, we’ve decided to turn up the heat on your SALA celebrations this year. We’re launching a competition that could win you $300 to spend at the exhibition! Entry is free, and the winner must be present at the official opening of “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…The Intertidal Zone” to collect their prize.
Each person who completes the official entry form will receive one entry, and extra entries can be earned by sharing the competition with your friends. Enter now and you could be coming home from this year’s exhibition with a fabulous piece of Kangaroo Island art all your own.
Since its beginnings, SALA has grown tenfold in both size and duration. From a festival lasting just a few days in a handful of galleries, to more than 4500 artists with work exhibited in over 600 exhibitions. All venues are accessible for free, with locations as diverse as Colleges, Law Courts, shops and cafes as well as traditional gallery spaces.
South Australian Artists are encouraged to take part regardless of experience level or medium. Their imaginative, entertaining and sometimes interactive outpourings are loved by audiences around the state, both die hard art lovers, and those who simply stumble upon a show in an unusual or unexpected venue.
Kangaroo Island’s artists have long been part of this uplifting celebration of South Australian art and artists. Contributions by those who draw their inspiration from life on Kangaroo Island are regular and varied.
In 2005 the spotlight turned to Kangaroo Island when it was chosen as the festival’s regional focus. In that year we hosted SALA founder Paul Greenaway OAM at two events, and exhibitions were held across the island.
In 2010 a brand new tradition was established when Fine Art Kangaroo Island convened the first “How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count The Ways…” KI exhibition at Adelaide’s National Wine Centre. At a time of year when visitor numbers to the island are generally lower, SALA provided more visibility for Kangaroo Island’s artists among mainland audiences.
Our first exhibition at the Wine Centre was a huge success, with nearly 1000 people attending opening day. It was obvious from that very first day, that this was something truly special. Still attracting huge interest, the Kangaroo Island artists exhibition has become a “must-see” event on the SALA program.
Mainland audiences eagerly anticipate each year’s carefully chosen conservation theme, and flock to the National Wine Centre on opening day to catch first glimpse of the work it inspires. Two floors of the stunning Vines corridor are abuzz with art lovers every opening day. For those looking to snap up an exquisite visual expression of the environment from a favourite artist or emerging island talent, there is no other place to be.
This year’s exhibition theme ‘The Intertidal Zone’ focuses on the ever-changing realm between the high and low tides. Kangaroo Island has an extraordinary 540 km coastline, including some of the least disturbed shores in the temperate world.
Twenty three Kangaroo Island artists have produced more than 80 fascinatingly beautiful new works in a diverse and exciting range of materials and mediums.
Eleanor Scicchitano of Country Arts says “It has been great to see the artists working on pieces for the Wine Centre show, and what a wonderful theme has been chosen this year. I am really looking forward to seeing the work when it is up.”
Featured artists for 2017 are Audrey Harnett, Caroline Taylor, Cath Cantlon, Cecilia Gunnarsson, Dave Clarke, Dean Fox, Diana Keir, Fred Peters, Glen Ash, Janet Ayliffe, Jennifer Woodhouse, Jenny Clapson, Kenita Williamson, Maggie Welz, Merril Hansen, Michele Lane, Mishka Ammann, Nick Hannaford, Nicholas Burness Pike, Patti Blucher, Peggy Rismiller, Quentin Chester, and first timer Sara Hourez.
The exhibition will be officially opened by the Hon John Hill on Sunday 6 August at 2pm. The artworks will be curated on both the ground and first floors of the Vines Corridor, at The National Wine Centre. You’ll find the Centre on the corner of North Terrace and Hackney Road, Adelaide, and the exhibition can be viewed daily between 9am-6pm from August 4-27 2017.
It is no wonder Kingscote is where we have lived and worked in the arts for the past two decades. What a wonderful privilege to be a part of discovering and revealing the amazing hidden talents of people we have rubbed shoulders with in this community on almost a daily basis.
We were especially reminded of this when we saw Gethin Creagh included in the SA Weekender spotlight on the people of Kingscote which aired a couple of weeks ago.
Gethin Creagh is a retired film industry insider. He is an Oscar nominated sound mixer, recipient of numerous motion picture AFI and BAFTA awards and has been responsible for sound mixing for over 130 motion pictures including The Piano and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Gethin chose to build his home nestled within a stand of the island’s narrow-leaf mallee on the edge of the glorious Bay of Shoals. A tiny patch of private wilderness, just ten minutes from Kingscote, and 30 minutes by plane to Adelaide’s international airport. The best of both worlds is how Gethin described his lifestyle, between jobs and international travel, when he exhibited with us at The Sights And Sounds at Sunset exhibition a number of years ago for our sixth Art Feast at Sunset Winery.
Whilst he is not a visual artist, clearly Gethin is respected for his creativity at the highest level of his profession. In a wild fusion of art forms we brought together cinematic art with the works of local visual artists synthesized in a display of moving and static imagery. Gethin provided a visual sound backdrop to larger than life oil paintings, animated sculpture, vivid photography, and vector artwork inspired music and rhythms.
Ever wonder what it would be like to see a movie with no sound? Sound in movies has become as critical as the visual image. Exhibition goers were mesmerized by Gethin’s artistry in bringing to life sequences of well known movies on split screen audio presentations first without and then with full sound.
These days he is making waves of an entirely different kind. Now retired from film work, and an active member of local Radio Station KIxFM. Visitors who tune in are likely to also hear Gethin’s own voice as he broadcasts across the island.
Thinking back on what makes Kangaroo Island so special, not simply for those of use who live here, but also for those who come seeking works of art from our community, the attraction is not hard to understand. Kangaroo Island has a tranquility and natural beauty that draws creative people to its shores. Many talented people pursue a quiet life focussing on their vocation far from the gaze of the public eye, so there is no mystery in the treasure-trove of breathtaking treasures we see every day.
Of course Kingscote – the main township – and surrounds are home to almost half the Island’s population. For those who long to live close to urban amenities but surrounded by panoramic sea views, and bounded by tracts of undisturbed bushland, this is the perfect place. Here we can co-exist with resident mobs of kangaroos living on the town’s edges. Let’s face it, Koalas have even been known to wander into the main street from time to time.
So many more wonderful island artists have been a part of the Fine Art Kangaroo Island story over the years. Keep an eye out here as we dedicate some time to helping you get to know them from time-to-time.
~ Fleur