Meet local artists through Open Studios and new exhibit

Ryan Tews will be opening the doors to his Warburton studio. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

By Renee Wood

The Yarra Valley Arts Open Studio events are back for the year with Yarra Valley and Upper Yarra artists opening their doors over two big weekends.

Yarra Valley artists had their exhibition over the weekend of 19, 20 March and now it’s the turn of Upper Yarra artists open for the following weekend 26, 27 March.

Warburton artist Ryan Tews is joining the event for the first time and he’s looking forward to sharing his work from various mediums, including photography and painting.

Mr Tews said the most rewarding part of creating art is sharing it with others.

“What other people see in the work is usually quite different to what I see and that’s actually one of the joys of making art for me, is to actually see how other peoples’ experiences shape their interpretations of it,” Mr Tews said.

Mr Tews will have his photographic series on display which captures the diverse landscapes of the local area.

“That photography is using all different cameras from all different eras, from ten years ago to 100 years ago.”

Visitors can also get up close to Mr Tews woodwork and paintings, while demonstrations will also take place.

Mr Tews work focuses on the complex ecological systems that make up the Upper Yarra.

“One aspect of it is the river the Birrarung, Yarra River, that’s a massive inspirational force and massive force on the landscape out here.

“One of the jobs as an artist for me is to really just show people what’s already there.”

An exhibit coinciding with Open Studios has also opened at the Yava Gallery in Healesville with works from the various artists on display which will run until 3 April.

To browse the artists involved, visit https://www.yava.org.au/openstudios