By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Valley Open Studios ambassador Zoe Warne had a top tip for visitors to the event at the official launch on Friday, 22 August.
“I made a rookie mistake as a first-time visitor last year in thinking I could get to all the artists’ studios in one day. This year, I’ll be spending the whole weekend in the valley,” she said to a packed audience at Oakridge Wines, major sponsor hosting the group exhibition.
Ms Warne, a businesswoman and digital media specialist, described the event which will see more than 40 artists opening their studios across the Yarra Valley on 13 and 14 September, as a tangible experience of art.
“It is all the senses that get touched when you are allowed into these wonderful places,” she said.
“You, the artists, allow people to have that unique, amazing experience.”
YVOS project co-ordinator Ali Griffin said the event had gone from strength to strength each year and in its sixth year was shaping up to be the best ever.
“We’ve always had some brilliant artists in our midst, but now many more are exhibiting regularly, others have opened businesses, most run workshops, and are generally adding another feather to the Yarra Valley’s tourism hat,” she said.
She thanked Oakridge owners Ilana Atlas and Tony D’Aloisio, who she said had entrusted their brand-new building to the exhibition, along with Yarra Ranges Council and Bendigo Community Banks for their ongoing sponsorship support.
Visitors to the group exhibition will get a taste of the diverse spectrum of artists, and art media covered in Open Studios with individual pieces including glass and ceramics to textiles, conceptual art, watercolours, photography, jewellery, mosaics, paintings … and other forms.
The group exhibition is open daily until 14 September.
A second exhibition, ‘Prelim’, is running at The Memo in Healesville until 17 September and the Open Studios weekend is 13 and 14 September.
For more information visit www.yvopenstudios.net.au
