Gallery Open 11:30am to 4:30pm

Weekends, Australia Day, Labour Day, Good Friday and the Monday after Easter
Proudly supported by Parks Victoria

Monday 30 December 2013

Soon, Soon but can we get there? YES!

Construction work around Como landing looks pretty scary still - but we have access - the work will continue but on the weekends we can use a lovely gentle ramp from the cafe outside area, down to river level and from there to Como Landing - here is what it looks like on a screen shot from Google maps:

When you look from Herring Island, as you will be able to in a week or so, you can see the path that's been made for us:

Follow the stars to Como Landing and Herring Island

And just imagine what the end result will be! The whole area should be a delight so come and check on progress when you visit the Festival through 2014.

Friday 29 November 2013

More Cheering needed?

Could everyone at the coffee shop please join in on the cheering? We want to get down to the landing and onto Parks Victoria's punt service..... soon.... next January 11th..... and we prefer dry shod and wheel accessible too - spoilt aren't we?

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Two months to go and......

What is happening on Herring Island and more importantly Como landing? Well Stonnington Council is doing great things for the landscaping in the area. You can check their website http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au for more details - or just look at the work under way! We are sure that access to Como landing will be restored in time for the festival - and to that end we'll go and cheer the workers on - only on sunny days of course and from the safety of a coffee shop!

Como landing on 11th November 2013

Thursday 28 March 2013

The Opening Buzzed - Now Easter Pops Up

The announcement of the prizes
The 23rd March saw the opening of the Ceramics Victoria exhibition Haven. And the opening saw the announcement of the Ceramics Sculpture prizes 2013 - the judges were Melissa Scheele, who studied ceramics at ANU and RMIT and works in the arts industry, and Dimi Sansico, Branch Manager of Commonwealth Bank RMIT and kind sponsor of our 2nd and 3rd prizes.

Glenn England "Forest Floor"
The prizes awarded were:

1st Prize sponsored by DBM Graphic Design and Editing – Glenn England for her work Forest Floor.


Barry Wemyss "Barraranna"
2nd Prize sponsored by Commonwealth Bank RMIT – Barry Wemyss for his work Barraranna.

3rd Prize sponsored by Commonwealth Bank RMIT – Ana Maria Hernandez y Jensen for her Untitled  work.


Ana Maria Hernandez y Jensen "Untitled"

Highly commended to Mirta Ouro for Energetic Quietness, and Rosemary O’Neill for Belong.

Over the Easter weekend Ceramics Victoria will also offer their cash and carry pop up sale. Many of the exhibitors in the exhibitions proper will have smaller work in the pop up sale.

The gallery will be open until 4:30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the punt will stop nominally at 5pm - but best to be there early.



Wednesday 20 March 2013

Haven Opens on Saturday

Here is a preview of work in the upcoming Haven exhibition featuring work by members of Ceramics Victoria:



Tuesday 19 March 2013

And then ......

While we are waiting patiently for the opening of Ceramics Victoria's exhibition there is a review of the Contemporary Art Society Show at http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au/casvnews/reviews/herring-island/182-review-herring-is-exhibition-2013

And yes Haven promises to be another amazing show:

HAVEN is the last exhibition of the 2013 series and one not to be missed! Only one week to go before the official opening of Ceramics Victoria’s exhibition HAVEN, on 23 March from 12pm to 2pm. The exhibition will run every weekend (including Easter Monday) to April 7, 1130am to 4.30pm each day. Plus, don’t miss the unique cash and carry sale over the Easter long weekend – an opportunity to purchase small works by our exhibiting artists. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Great Opening, Great Weather by Nature

The opening of the Contemporary Art Society's exhibition was well attended in perfect weather - a great combination for both the intense art admirers and those whose preference lay somewhere out in the courtyard drinking in the peace.
The Exhibition was opened by CAS President Robert Lee
Over the long weekend you can picnic and barbecue on the island, enjoy the peace and take in the exhibition over three days of relaxing weather - not too far from the madding crowds of Moomba.
Enjoying the courtyard

The glimpses of the work in this image are all you can get without being there - until CAS uploads the exhibition to their website http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au/.

Enjoying the art - the opening

Friday 22 February 2013

Contemporary by Nature, coinciding with the 2nd March

The Basket makers will keep us enthralled for one more weekend - don't miss out! Those of you who have made purchases can pick up the works between 4:30pm and 5pm - between the closing of the exhibition and the latest punt service. Enjoy.

Then, coming up on the 2nd of March - the grand opening of the Contemporary Art Society's exhibition "Contemporary by Nature". And here we have a preview:
"Dancing Dreams", mixed media on canvas, 60 x 137cm, by Robert Lee

There will be a great array of paintings, prints and works on paper - a range of 2 and 3 D work to delight and inspire.
"Shadows", Oil on canvas, 76.5 x 101.5cm, by Robert Lee

See you there at 12 noon for the opening.

Sunday 10 February 2013

Baskets? Yes, Really...

The opening was well attended and many of the artworks are promised to good homes already. We captured some of the artists to talk about their work:


There is a huge diversity of work - thinly disguised as baskets. All unique, some with fibers from the garden - others from fishing shops or the wardrobe.
President Sue Dilley opened the show
Jean Stone "Hanging Around"
Kathy Harry "Sea Waves"
Sue Rowell "Outa Ya Tree"
Sue Rowell "Wild Goose Chase"
Jane Henry "A Bit Off Centre"












Friday 8 February 2013

The Basket Makers have set up!

Today they set up and here is a preview of the work that you'll see from the 9th to the 24th February. What a treat!

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Australia Day Public Holiday 2013

Cressida Fox from the Contemporary Art Society
With the tennis over, life on the river settles back to its normal rythm. You never know when 250 people might decide to spend the day on Herring Island in sunshine (not too hot) and pleasant company. The island's barbecues were well used and some people went on the tour of the island led by Damien from Friends of Herring Island.

The Basketmakers' display
Bridget Nicholson was out wrapping people's feet in clay.

Liz Reid's flying fingers working on a basket
Ceramics Victoria's display - in addition to working with clay for visitors
And in the courtyard the four exhibitng groups were well represented with demonstration and participation events.
ASV member, John Bishop nearly completed his limestone sculpture on the day

Thursday 24 January 2013

Right under the great tennis player's nose


Herring Island
Herring Island is hidden in plain sight between Alexandra Avenue and the South-Eastern Arterial – just a good crowd's roar from Rod Laver Arena. Many of our visitors say that this is their first visit to the island. Some, when we talk about the island, don't know where it is.

This Australia Day holiday all this could change – good weather will favour more than the tennis:  members of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria, the Basketmakers ofVictoria, the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria and Ceramics Victoria will be on the island in the gallery courtyard and giving demonstrations of their various creative skills. This is a collaboration between the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival – a series of exhibitions of work from members of each of these organisations and the Australia Day Council (Victoria).

The exhibition currently in the gallery is that of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria. All the work on display has been recorded and images are available on the ASV website http://www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au.

Elsewhere on the island artist Bridget Nicholson will be working on her Touch This Earth Lightly project http://www.touchthisearthlightly.com/

Saturday 19 January 2013

Launched!

Councillor Barbour from Yarra Council opened the exhibition
Blessed with perfect weather the Summer Arts Festival got off to a relaxed start with celebrations in the gallery and pleasant sunshine in the courtyard. The work looks great and already three of them are promised to new homes. It is quite a compliment to the artist when someone puts down their hard earned cash for a sculpture.



And here is a preview taken before the launch.