An interesting start to 2020
So much has changed since mid-March when we were on the cusp of releasing our first Victor Harbor Arts and Culture newsletter!.
In the months prior to COVID-19 Arts and Cultural activity was abundant in Victor Harbor!
Michael Jeffrey’s artwork from the A Play on Colour Exhibition
Coral Street Art Space Volunteers enjoying the My Summer Holiday in Victor Exhibition
Display from the South Coast Camera Club’s Photo 19 Exhibition
Since opening in August 2019 The Coral Street Art Space hosted 8 exhibitions. To re- live some of these great experience please jump on over to our Past Exhibitions Page.
The January Victor Harbor Artisan Market surrounded the Rotary Art Show on Warland Reserve, with over 30 stall holders and the Telstra Stage played host to 4 talented musician and a world class poet.
People enjoying the January 2020 Artisan Market
Telstra Stage at the January 2020 Artisan Market
The Artisan Market extended the January program by hosting the inaugural Culture Hub which provided space for our local aboriginal artists and elders to meet and share with the public their art, cultural practices and language. This cultural sharing program carries on from ‘Our Place’, which was presented by Coral Street Art Space in October, where painting demonstrations, weaving, and language workshops were offered.
Pic of Phyllis is talking to Maryanne Gale about Cedric Varcoe emu feathered weaving, at the opening exhibition of the space.
Cedric Varcoe sharing as part of an Our Place workshop.
During March three of the Fleurieu’s most well know established contemporary artists Margie Hooper, Peter McLachlan and Linda Forrester joined forced to present Traversing Terrain.
Artwork from the Traversing Terrain Exhibition
Artwork from the Traversing Terrain Exhibition
Unfortunately this exhibition was closed due to COVID-19 as were The Easter Artisan Markets and Drawing on Country - Murrawang (Kent Reserve).
In April Coral Street Art Space was set to host I See Me - Youth Arts Festival and in May the South Coast Coral and Arts were to present ‘70 years of SCCA’ as a part of History Month. During June and July we were planning to share stories and culture with our community around Murrawang (The Inman River & Kent reserve), and we had two magnificent exhibitions planned for SALA.
However during lock down all our Arts and Cultural activity didn’t come to a complete halt!
Telstra Exchange Building Mural - Before
Telstra Exchange Building Mural - Almost finished
Commissioned Artist Nicole Black was a regular feature on the Mainstreet as she revealed the new mural for the Telstra Exchange Building (see above).
Plans for the Bay Road Blocks project has continued. After consultation it was advised that a mosaic project would offer this project greater longevity, as it will be more resistant to the weather exposure that occurs at the low road level. There are at least two large community mosaics groups (Bunnings and Coastal Hive) who have expressed a strong desire to be involved in this project. Local artist Mike Tye and renowned aboriginal artist Cedric Varcoe have a wealth of experience in large community Mosaic projects. We have applied to Country Arts SA to help support this exciting community cultural development project and have our fingers crossed for a great outcome for this application.
Cedric Varcoe
Bay Road Blocks Site
Moving Forward…..
Some of the projects in the future pipeline include:
Creating the Coral Street Art Space Online Store which is set to launch on Saturday 6 June 2020.
Offering monthly on-line live streamed Arts workshops and discussion groups.
The Coral Street Art Space Window Gallery Space will be activated with a series of installations from 6 June until 3 October 2020
Exploring all the potential for new murals in Victor - watch as blank canvas’ start to appear on our interactive Public Art map.
From October 2020 we look forward to welcoming the community back into the Space with some exciting exhibitions paving the way into 2021.
Like all things, this will take a bit of time but we are optimistic about the potential of these ideas.
