As the Margaret River Region Open Studios event gets underway in the South West, scores of visitors and locals have taken to the region’s roads to discover studios dotted across the Capes, sharing their experiences on social media and spreading the word about the growing art festival.
We take a look at just a small selection of the artists who are opening their studios to the public, sharing their creative processes and meeting fans face-to-face.
Gerry Reilly, Glassmaking
Gerry Reilly has been working with hot glass for 35+ years. His evocative designs capture the essence of WA and vary with the colours of the seasons, the inspirations of the landscape and the ever-changing commissions that come through his studio. A gifted teacher, Gerry has now broadened his practice to give visitors the opportunity to book in and experience making hot glass objects for themselves.
Aidan Lee Smith, Painting/Printmaking/Drawing
”I am an emerging artist focusing primarily with large and bold figurative art. I am proudly self taught, and thus experiment with a huge array of styles, techniques, mediums and subjects. These range from colourful spontaneous-realism acrylic pieces, to Japanese black varnish drip paintings, to oil realism, to huge nudes, to street-art inspired graffiti, and more often than not, a combination of all of the above.”
Alan Meyburgh, Metalwork, Sculpture/Stone Carving
Alan Meyburgh is a self taught sculptor who’s natural contemporary pieces are inspired primarily by his love for the outdoors and natural forms. Although born into a family of artists he started his career as a sculptor in the year 2000, and his work has been featured in a number of publications. He has also appeared on television and radio in Australia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Although he started by producing classical realism in bronze he has incorporated this knowledge with of contemporary and abstract sculpture. When creating sculptures he places emphasis on form, structure, expression of movement and of course the meaning of each piece.
His work is now primarily produced in bronze as well as concrete.
Chloe Wilder, Installations, Mixed Media, Painting/Printmaking/Drawing
A muralist, surfboard resurrecter and accomplished painter, she will take any challenge and create a new dimension.
Her recent time painting in Melbourne has developed her style and her work can be found on brick walls throughout the city.
Her creations swing from the ludicrous and hilarious to the deeply personal, wavering derivatives become distorted through emergent and critical practice.
Chloe has shown in various group exhibitions in Margaret River her work is only available privately at present in her leafy courtyard studio.
The only way forward is to blast through the rainbow!
- Chloe Wilder
John Miller, Jewellery/Silverwork, Metalwork
From his Yallingup studio ‘Jewel of the Capes’, master gold and silversmith John Miller creates a stunning array of unique, hand crafted jewellery reflecting all the beauty and the drama of the Margaret River Region. Both John Miller galleries in Margaret River and Yallingup showcase the work of five talented local jewellers.
(John Miller trading as John Miller Design, Emma Meakes trading as Ethel Red Jewellery, Kate Waters trading as People of Victory, Rachael Prideaux trading as Belle on the Bay, David Moran trading as Loco Mojo and Wicked Trade.)
Kashmir Rouw, Painting/Printmaking/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture/Stone Carving
A multifaceted interdisciplinary approach led Kashmir Rouw on a journey through the arts from the physical to the conceptual.
Inspired by a deep connection to the environment. Infused with geometric patterns. A desire to translate these sacred principals. His art conceives a reality below the physical surface. A space of reflection and timelessness. A mirror to our own fragility.
His iconic sculptural stone forms grace the coastal landscape. “Wave Wall” , “Spiral”, “Shellta” and “Refuge”.
Be inspired by the multitude of art forms, with a personalised collection of sculpture, paintings, t-shirts and photography at his home studio and gallery.
For more information on these artists as well as the full catalogue of Open Studios, visit www.mrros.com.au