Festival Launch for 2016

As the planning progressed we ordered new banners and set them up a couple of weeks before launch date. You can see them from the coffee shop across the river, so a coffee before the punt starts operating at 11am is a real thing.

Then the sculpture was brought in - and for once the setup was accomplished in fine weather - no floods, fires, storms or other catastrophes.

the gathering for the launch of HISAF 2016 image courtesy Cetta Pilati

The big day dawned, the people came and Coucillor Claude Ullin, Mayor of the City of Stonnington launched the 2016 Herring Island Summer Arts Festival and opened the "Narrative" exhibition of work by members of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria.

Cr Ullin speaking at the launch of HISAF 2016
image courtesy Cetta Pilati

The show is open and welcomes visitors - remember only two more weekends to see this one. Then you can return to see the work of the Basketmakers of Victoria.

Fatih Semiz with his work
image courtesy Jackie Mackinnon

Red faces all round

Saturday was hot - Sunday was a disaster - in fact a series of disasters. Yes it would be far far worse in a bushfire zone - but the sitters who arrived on Sunday to open the gallery and care for the hardy souls who braved the heat to see the artwork waited on the landing - in the heat - in vain. The punt had mechanical troubles and was unsafe to run - and no one told our gallant sitters - their red faces were due to a combination of heat stress and irritation.

We have lessons to learn - about communication mostly - as we can't plan for those gremlins in the works. So apologies all round - sorry everyone that you couldn't visit on Sunday. But....

Next weekend will be better - better weather for a start - a blissful 23 degrees - oh joy - a touch of rain - bring it on! Parks Victoria has had the mechanics in and the punt is running well. And no one got in and bought that work that you wanted - so get in this weekend and see those amazing works in fibre.

Too Hot! - No Show Tomorrow!

Unfortunately tomorrow is forecast to be over 40° and the island will be unbearably hot, not to mention the punt operator will be roasted and it's likely to be a total fire ban day....

Herring Island Gallery and 

Summer Arts Festival will be 

Closed on 

Sunday 2nd February 

Don't go there until next weekend when hopefully it will be cooler

Dear Info Centre,

For your information.

The CFA has declared tomorrow a day of total fire ban with a “Very High” fire danger rating for Central District.

Due to the predicted excessive heat please note the Herring Island Punt Service will not be operating this Sunday 2^nd February.

This is in recognition of staff working on board the Punt having little relief from the heat as well as the Basket Makers of Victoria volunteers operating throughout the day.

An information board will be placed at Como Landing to advise of these arrangements.

Regards, Peter Teesdale

An Early Close - and so to the Next

a progressive weaving

Everyone expected the sculpture exhibition to close at 4:30 pm on Monday - people who bought sculpture were ready to pick their work then.... but - the punt operator was horrified to see the tide taking the water out so fast it looked as though someone had pulled the plug on the river. The pontoon at Como Landing started to settle into the mud and it looked as if there was going to be serious trouble getting the punt up to the landing to let people off and on. The same problem on the island side.... so the call had to be made that the exhibition closes early. No pictures, no story just get the people and sold work off the island - thanks to our punt operator for running a safe service. The joys of an island - it could have been flood or extreme weather so take your earliest opportunity to see the exhibitions you don't want to miss a show that you would have enjoyed.

work by Glenda Seymour

And now - the Basket makers are coming! We caught a glimpse of their work and had a chat with them on Australia Day - so we all know that this is a show not to be missed!

Remember Saturday 1st February at 12 noon.
See you there.

Kathy Harry's work

Lift Off!

There it was - the most wonderful sight in the world - the Parks Victoria punt service rounding the bend in the river to take us to Herring Island.

First run of the Parks Victoria punt to Como Landing this summer - hooray!

And we had amazing weather for our opening: mild and overcast in the morning breaking to a sunny afternoon. A few people got lost - the pathways amongst the earthworks are a bit confusing but the aim is to reinstate the vegetation on the river bank so it will all be worth it.

We had a small crowd for the opening - ably performed by Councillor John Chandler representing Stonnington Council - but after that and through the day visitors kept coming, many not realizing that this was the first day this summer that the island has been open.

The sculpture was admired, the festival launched and a good time was had by all... now to make the rest of the festival as much fun - come and join us on the island - there's a lot to see.

The view to the "mainland" from bush-clad Herring Island

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.

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?

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