Artists celebrate diversity

Metal sculpture, hand blown glass-work, textiles, water colours, photography and traditional and contemporary works will feature at this year’s Pomonal Art Exhibition and festival.

Pomonal Primary School will host the 28th annual event at Pomonal Hall from August 31 to September 2.

Organiser Timothy Syrota said the exhibition would open at 6.30pm on the Friday with the now traditional – and often amusing – auction.

“In a wonderful display of community support, all items are donated by local businesses to support Pomonal Primary School,” he said.

Entry costs $10 at the door, which includes a buffet supper catered by Sarah’s Kitchen of Ararat, with beer and regional wines available at bar prices.

“The feature artists for 2018 are Wayne Dickinson, with his recycled metal sculptures combining local inspiration with fantasy and myth, and similarly locally inspired textile artist Barb Venn,” Mr Syrota said.

On the Saturday and Sunday the exhibition runs from 10am to 4pm and entry is $4.

Sunday coincides with Father’s Day and is a family festival day with stalls, food vendors, a coffee van, regional wine and beer stalls and live music from ‘locally grown’ Recalcitrants and The Plastic Bags.

“Free art workshops and demonstrations by Dickinson and Venn will be a delight to children and adults alike,” Mr Syrota said.

“For the kids, other activities include jumping castles, fairy floss, hair-spraying, facepainting and a visit from Halls Gap Zoo animals.”

Mr Syrota said the exhibition was the result of a massive effort from a small community.

“All money goes to Pomonal Primary School and helps support the school in providing art tuition and materials to the next generation of artists,” he said.

People can visit facebook. com/pomonalartshow for more information.