488 Works and Still Room for People!

Opening of a well attended and appreciated exhibition

Lots of people came to see the opening of A4Art Australia. Indeed work did come from all over Australia to form Herring Island's and Australia's "biggest yet" exhibition of A4 sized 2D and 3D art work.

words of thanks to the volunteers

Volunteers from the Contemporary Art Society spent a lot of time framing work that had been posted in - part of the innovative format of the exhibition. Then it was hung - a lot of it five deep in a dazzling array.

Cr Jami Klisaris from Stonnington Council
declaring the exhibition open

The A4Art exhibition is the final exhibition for the 2016 season and runs over Easter - Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 March and Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April.

A4 Art Australia 2015 is open!

The exhibition was opened by the Mayor of Stonnington,
Cr Melina Sehr, accompanied by Cr John McMorrow

The 21st March was a great day - and the weather was kind too. Around 100 people enjoyed the opening and the island and the work was well received.

Guests enjoyed refreshments at the opening

Some of the 378 artworks on display

CAS President Robert Lee thanked Cr Melina Sehr,
Mayor of Stonnington, for opening the exhibition

Guests during the opening speeches

At Last the A4 Art Show!

Your invitation to
A4 Art Australia
An initiative of the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc.

A National exhibition of A4-sized contemporary art in an incredible range of styles and subjects - a delight to the eye and the imagination!
OPENING: SATURDAY 21 MARCH 12 noon

The President and Committee of the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria warmly invites you to join us at the opening at the Herring Island Gallery in a little over a week's time. Our exhibition celebrates the diversity of contemporary art produced by over 140 artists from all across Australia.

A downloadable A4 invitation is available on our website HERE - please circulate the invitation to your friends, family and colleagues. Note: The invitation contains a list of all the artists in the show!
Help us spread the word by printing out the A4 invitation, (colour or B&W) giving to friends or put it up at your local library, shops or community notice boards. If you cannot come along because you live too far away, maybe you have some friends in Melbourne who might like to know about the show.Official opening and exhibition launch:
Saturday 21st MARCH, 12 noon to 2pm at the Herring Island Gallery on Herring Island in inner-city South Yarra, Melbourne.

Over 370 distinctive A4-sized artworks will be on show, covering almost every imaginable subject, and all for sale at very affordable prices! Created in a wide range of media including - acrylic, aquatint, bronze, ceramic, charcoal, clay, collage, crayon, digital print, enamel, etching, felting, giclee print, gouache, graphite, ink, linocut, mixed media, oil pastel, pastel, pen, pencil, photography, polymer, porcelain, textile & watercolour, our collection of A4 artworks is truly a feast for the eye!

Our A4AA exhibition runs: 21, 22, 28, 29 MARCH & 4, 5 & 6 APRIL 2015.

This exhibition is part of the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival.

Herring Island Gallery hours: 11.30 am to 4.30 pm

How to get there? Go to www.herringislandfestival.org.au for directions.

Herring Island really is an island - it's in the middle of the Yarra River! Access is only by boat or punt. Catch the Parks Victoria punt service from Como Landing (Melway Ref 2MC2) Punt fees are: $2 per person or $5 per family. Pensioners, unemployed and children under 12 travel free.

NOTE: All artworks exhibited in A4 Art Australia 2015 will also be displayed on the CAS website at the end of the exhibition.Check-out our website for more info.


Kind regards,

Robert Lee, President
Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc.
PO Box 283 Richmond Vic 3121
enquiries: phone: (03) 9428 0568
email: mail@contemporaryartsociety.org.au
web: www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au

And a great opening it was...

Contemporary by Nature is a great show - a wonderful diversity of media, styles and stories... and you only have one more weekend to see it. Here are some images from the opening to whet your apetite:

CAS President Robert Lee and Cr John McMorrow at
the opening of "Contemporary by Nature"

the crowd at the opening of "Contemporary by Nature"

Contemporary by Nature - Opening 28th February

On behalf of the President and Committee of the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc, we would like to extend an invitation to you to visit our ninth Contemporary by Nature exhibition: An interpretation of the natural world, an art exhibition by CAS members, as part of the 2015 Herring Island Summer Arts Festival.

The exhibition will be officially opened by Councillor John McMorrow, City of Stonnington (East ward councillor)Do join us for refreshments at the OPENING of the art exhibition Saturday 28 February, 12 noon to 2pm, in the Herring Island Gallery.

If you can't make it to the opening, our show is open each weekend including Labour Day, Monday 9 March - Gallery open: 11.30am - 4.30pm.

Exhibition dates: 28th February, 1, 7, 8, 9, 14 & 15 March 2015.
In this exhibition, both established and emerging contemporary artists have explored the many aspects of nature, in a wide range of artistic media! Each day of the exhibition a different exhibiting artist will be "on duty" at the gallery. A great opportunity for you to ask questions about their artwork, and inspiration behind the work.

Contemporary by Nature 2015 will include sculptures in forged steel and painted timber, oil, acrylic & watercolour paintings on various surfaces, drawings and prints in numerous media, photographic and mixed media works, all interpreting aspects of nature in very different ways. Be it animal, vegetable or mineral, land or sea, storm or calm, night or day, light or shadow, there will be something to delight the eye, the senses, the imagination. Come and enjoy ....
More info....
Herring Island is in the middle of the Yarra River, just 3km from the city. The Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park is a haven for nature and art lovers alike. The exhibition will be held in the gallery on the island. There are several permanent sculptures made from natural materials that reflect the island's tranquil setting. A free self-guided tour map of the island is available in the gallery. Toilet & BBQ facilities are also located on the island.

Access to Herring Island is by the Parks Victoria punt service from Como Landing, South Yarra (Melways ref Map 58, G2) and the service operates between 11am and 5pm. Punt charges: $2 per person or $5 per family, with pensioners, unemployed and children under 12 free. Car parking is available in Alexandra Ave.

All images from the exhibition will be on the the CAS website at the conclusion of the exhibition. And get updates about all shows on the Island from the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival website. The Herring Island Summer Arts Festival 2015 is proudly support by the City of Stonnington.

A First for Herring Island

On Saturday 5th April we'll see the opening of A4 Art Australia an Australia wide collection of small format works in 2D and 3D.

You can download your own invitation here

and you can work out how to get to Herring Island here.

This exhibition is the last in the 2014 Summer Arts Festival. If you would like to join our email invitation list and be notified of future Festival events please sign up on our contact and subscribe page.

See you there!

Contemporary By Nature is Open!

A great show and all the glitter at the opening. The weather behaved - and if the approaches to Como Landing were a little primitive we look forward to better this coming weekend - we have a promise from the engineers at Stonnington Council!

Karen Foley with Bromiliad

We'll have more images from the opening soon - some of our photographers are perfectionists and won't let images out unless they are amazing...

Admiring Joy Lea's work

In the mean time prepare for the start of enjoyable autumn weather - 25° both days - the island will be a great place for a picnic!

Robert Lee's "Wandering Shrine"

A Mild Weekend.... and Next Exhibition

The Basketmakers finally had a full weekend to show their work - and wasn't it wonderful! So now you have another exhibition to visit! Here is the information from the Contemporary Art Society - and watch this space for images!

We would like to extend an invitation to you, and all art lovers, and lovers of nature, to visit our eighth Contemporary by Nature: An interpretation of the natural world, an art exhibition by members of Melbourne's own Contemporary Art Society of Victoria. It's part of the 2014 Herring Island Summer Arts Festival and opens Next Saturday!

Do join us for drinks at the opening of our art show THIS Saturday 22 February, 12 noon to 2pm, in the Herring Island Gallery. If you can't make it to the opening, our show is open each weekend till Labour Day, Monday 10 March - we'd love to see you, and we're sure you'll love this year's show! Gallery open: 11.30am - 4.30pm. Note: access to the island is from Como Landing South Yarra via the Parks Victoria Punt service (during gallery hours).Contemporary by Nature 2014 will include sculptures in forged steel and found objects, sculptures in precious metals and stones, oil and acrylic paintings on various surfaces, drawings and prints in numerous media, photographic and mixed media works, all interpreting aspects of nature in very different ways. Be it animal, vegetable or mineral, land or sea, storm or calm, night or day, light or shadow, there will be something to delight the eye, the senses, the imagination. Come and enjoy ....

More info....Herring Island is in the middle of the Yarra River, just 3km from the city. The Herring Island Park is a haven for nature and art lovers alike. The exhibition will be held in the gallery on the island. There are several permanent sculptures made from natural materials that reflect the island's tranquil setting.Access to Herring Island is by the Parks Victoria punt service from Como Landing (Melways ref Map 58, G2) and the service operates between 11am and 5pm. Punt charges: $2 per person or $5 per family, with pensioners, unemployed and children under 12 free. Car parking is available in Alexandra Ave.

In this exhibition, both established and emerging contemporary artists have explored aspects of nature, in a wide range of artistic media! Each day of the exhibition a different exhibiting artist will be "on duty" at the gallery. A great opportunity for you to ask questions about their artwork, and inspiration behind the work.

All images from the exhibition will be on the CAS website at the conclusion of the exhibition. And get updates about all shows on the Island from the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival website.

A Blast for Australia Day!

Ceramics Victoria - ready to demonstrate their art

The "resident " exhibition has been going pretty well - we managed great weather when we were open in spite of a week of 40° days between our first two weekends. The work was well received, a few sold, and the demonstrations inspired curiousity and admiration.

Then on Australia Day all the Groups set up camp in the courtyard and held "court" for an enthusiastic and cheerful flood of visitors.

All the groups were well represented and everyone was inspired to ask questions and try out their skills.

Saeed and a portrait...

Cressida has all the colours there - befitting someone representing the Contemporary Art Society and A4 Art Australia.

Cressida Fox did double duty for the Contemporary Art Society and for A4 Art Australia - so she had all the colours out!

Damien running a walk and talk around the island

Damien from Friends of Herring Island did a walk and talk all around the island - all the plants on the island not withstanding that they are locally indigenous, were planted and nurtured by the Friends. There are pictures on their website of the island in its various modes of construction - levy banks piled high with dredging from the river - you wouldn't recognize the current peaceful bush land setting!

Roulettes on their fly past

And the Basketmakers were there - twisting, weaving, twining - and of course chatting!

Basketmakers very relaxed about getting in a twist

The grand weaving!

Most definitely a  good time was had by all!

Monday 27th is the last day of the sculpture exhibition - and on the first of February Herring Island welcomes the Basketmakers of Victoria!

A sketch in clay

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

The Launch

The formalities were conducted with style

by ASV President Gillian Govan and

Cr. John Chandler, Mayor of Stonnington

Image courtesy Robert Lee

A president with people, food and great weather

It was a great day - food and people and drinks in correct abundance..... the speeches were made and the art admired... we are ready for a great festival. We'll add images as they come to hand...

The exhibiting sculptors also managed the hospitality.

In this case Monica Mauer Jan wields the platter.

Image by Robert Lee.

The first work sold
Image by Janice McCarthy

The throng

The throng admiring the art