Step back in time at 41st event
Art lovers will take a step back in time when they enter Horsham Town Hall for the 41st Terry White Chemmart Wimmera Art Fair at the weekend.
Rotary Club of Horsham East has adopted an art deco theme for this year’s event, which runs from Friday night through to Sunday.
President Steve Holmes said Rotarians would don 1920s-inspired outfits for Friday’s opening night, which he said was considered a premier event.
“We have partnered with the Horsham Art is… festival for the second year in a row and Art is… participants will decorate the hall for the occasion,” he said.
“It really will be like stepping back in time.”
Mr Holmes said 2018 was an exciting year for the club.
“It celebrates 41 years of promoting art in Horsham and the wider Wimmera community,” he said.
“The club is very grateful for the support from Stuart Hall’s Terry White Chemmart. It has been some time since the art fair had a major sponsor.”
Mr Holmes said the club had received a good number of entries for this year’s competition, which will be judged by renowned Australian artist and teacher Paul Mcdonald Smith.
“We look forward to welcoming Paul to Horsham,” he said.
“He was unable to come last year because of a death in his family but he said if it worked out this year, he would be happy to come.
“He has family in this area and he was thrilled to be re-asked.
“The artists who enter the show will have a wonderful opportunity to be critiqued by Paul.
“If anyone wants to see him for inspiration or to ask questions, I’m sure he would be open to that as well.
“He will be there on opening night and will also present the prizes.”
Mr Holmes said he hoped this year’s fair would again raise enough money to buy an oncology chair for the new Wimmera Cancer Centre.
“The club has a history of providing physical and financial support to Horsham’s major projects that improve the lifestyle of our community,” he said. He said the idea for oncology chairs stemmed from a visit Wimmera Health Care Group cancer nurse practitioner Carmel O’kane paid to a Rotary club meeting in 2017.
“She said the centre would need about 16 oncology chairs and they were about $8000 each,” he said.
“Last year we raised enough money to buy one chair and we’re hoping to do the same this year. We’re also hoping we might gain the interest of other community groups who might consider doing the same thing.” The club will boost its fundraising capabilities with a raffle.
“It’s certainly important for us to source good raffle prizes and we’ve had fantastic support from everybody,” Mr Holmes said.
“We have a great first prize, which is a two-night accommodation package in Melbourne valued at $1000, from the Mobile Travel Agents’ Laura Bald.
“Mackay’s Leading Edge Jewellers has donated Swarovski jewellery valued at $350. They are very generous and support us every year.
“There is also a combined Horsham Town Hall and Sassi Beauty Bar voucher with a combined value of $100.”
Wimmera Art Fair organisers will start setting up for the show tomorrow.
“The club hopes the whole community will support the art fair,” Mr Holmes said.
The art fair opens on Friday night at 7pm. Admission is $30 and drinks and gourmet-style nibbles will be provided.
Tickets are available online at www. horshamtownhall.com.au.
The fair is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Admission is $5.
Mcdonald Smith will announce the winners on Friday night.