Connecting art with the public - Art Trail gives 45 reasons to visit

Founder of the new Macedon Ranges Art Trail, Nadine Hartnett, with Woodend glass artist, Ettore Di Pilla. Photo: Chris Fleming

The new Macedon Ranges Art Trail being launched this weekend will connect 45 artists, galleries and artisan businesses with the public.

It promotes the area's rich and diverse artistic community, and gives some of the most creative residents in the Macedon Ranges highly desired and strong exposure to a bigger audience than they have had in the past.

By Easter, a vibrant brochure will be available from the Kyneton and Woodend visitor information centres, and various galleries, eateries and accommodation places. It will feature contact details for the 31 participating artists, including website addresses where available, and listings for 12 galleries and two artisan businesses.

The brochure will be downloadable to the shire's tourism website www.visitmacedonranges.com.au, which is the major online information service for the area. According to this website, the Macedon Ranges shire has more working artists per capita than anywhere else in Victoria.

The Macedon Ranges Art Trail is an independent initiative of Woodend freelance writer, Nadine Hartnett, who received $3000 from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council last year to produce a brochure to promote local artists and galleries.

Over the next few months it is hoped the hard copy brochure will be distributed in Melbourne and regional centres.

All private studios on the Art Trail will be open on an appointment only basis until March 2014. Individual artists will decide when to accept visitors.

A Facebook page has been established to display artwork by the participants, advertise exhibitions and workshops, and generate dialogue among anyone interested in visual arts and craftsmanship.

Creative partnership

Daylesford Macedon Ranges Open Studios will partner with Woodend Winter Arts Festival this year.

The local arts trail event, which premiered last November, has announced the first of several new initiatives for its 2013 program. Well known artists Robyn Clarke, Tim Jones, Petrus Spronk and Anita von Bibra will discuss: 'How relevant is landscape today for artists?' in a panel moderated by Mary Lou Jelbart, artistic director of popular fortyfivedownstairs gallery and performance space, former Radio National commentator on the Visual Arts, on Saturday, June 8, during the Woodend Winter Arts Festival. 

Mary Lou Jelbart, artistic director, fortyfivedownstairs, will moderate a panel discussion 

on 'How relevant is landscape today for artists?' as part of the 

Woodend Winter Arts Festival in June. photo: Jeff Busby

Robyn Clarke is a Woodend-based painter, printmaker and art teacher who has written on art for The Age and The Encyclopaedia of Australian Art. She will be guest artist at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival. 

Anita von Bibra is a well-known artist who represents a wide range of metropolitan and regional artists at Woodbine - her Malmsbury gallery.

Tim Jones is a sculptor and wood engraver whose work is inspired by local landscape and childhood memory. He is represented in most of Australia's public collections and the British Museum.

Petrus Spronk lives in a clearing in the forest near Daylesford. He walks in the forest daily and considers it his studio and gallery.

DMROS at WWAF will take place at The Chamber Art and Coffee House, 90 High Street, Woodend on Saturday, June 8, from 5.15 - 6.30pm. The event will be the media launch of DMROS 2013 - and include a celebratory glass of wine and refreshments, along with a copy of the guidebook for the November program. 

Last call for artist applications for DMROS 2013 is Friday, March 22. Download the guidelines and application form at www.dmropenstudios.com.au, email info@dmropenstudios.com.au or call creative producer Jill Rivers on 0418 389 189. 

Bookings for the Queen's Birthday Panel Event are through www.woodendwinterfestival.org.au or WWAF enquiries 0447 570 327.