Time to get your Christmas gifts
Exhibitions celebrating seven years of a gallery’s life, exhibitions celebrating a year of exciting explorations, and festive fare that suggests gift solutions are all part of the current creative offerings.
RAYGUN, 249 Margaret St, is holding “Retroactive (retrospective)” a survey exhibition that salutes seven years of the gallery’s existence.
RAYGUN has successfully put Toowoomba on an international map of artist run initiatives (ARIs) by inviting participants from locations including France, Scandinavia, and the United States to exhibit in its gallery.
Many of these artists have enjoyed making personal visits to our city and its surroundings and these contacts have added further to the exciting networking possibilities for local and national artists.
The exhibition, which includes works by local, interstate, and international artists, acts as both document and archive by recalling key events and giving the opportunity for a continuing dialogue between the artist, the artwork, and the audience.
The Toowoomba Art Society, (1 Godsall St) which sees art education as part of its brief, is showing the “Youth Exhibition”, the happy results of classes conducted for young artists.
Through the guidance and tutoring by teacher Mark Phillips youngsters from Primary School through to older High School students have the opportunity to express themselves in various media and in two and three dimensional form.
The exhibition is a colourful, lively, and thoroughly enjoyable body of work.
What is surprising and rewarding is that while mums and dads are perhaps the most enthusiastic audience, the work has general appeal and interest. The Corridor at the Society has a particular energy as it is the province of the youngest artists whose interest and enthusiasm are tangible.
The Toowoomba Art Gallery Gift Shop is well prepared for the Festive Season with a range of beautiful gift lines as well as small ‘one off’ artworks to gladden the hearts of any recipient. There are books, gift cards, scarves and bags.
There is exquisite silver jewellery by Jean Cameron, cheeky ceramics from the Monte Lupo group and bronze sculptures including a German Shepherd, an eagle, and elephants by Peter Evans.
If you haven’t visited already, or forgot something (or someone) the first time around, you still have today and tomorrow to go the Bush Christmas Exhibition at the Masonic Centre, 58 Neil St. This popular yearly event is an artisan expo of unique hand-made items.
There is galvanised iron garden sculpture, an exotic butterfly garden seat, and decorative silhouette iron work. Aprons, tea towels, cushions, and Christmas cakes make an appealing and diverse display.
Yummy jams, chutneys, olives, and oils are but a few of the ‘designer’ foods to add relish to a social occasion. Toys, clothing, handbags, scarves, and jewellery, cute chook doorstops, and fabulous fudge all contribute to this delectable Christmas trove.