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

A4 Art Australia continues...

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!

If you have not yet been to see our exhibiton A4 Art Australia, it continues this weekend (28, 29 March) and the Easter Holiday long-weekend (4, 5 & 6 April).

There are many beautiful and imaginitive artworks in our show of over 370 A4 sized artworks still awaiting a red sticker, so come along and snap up your favourite ones! Prices are quite affordable. All 2-dimensional artworks come complete with a stylish black frame (under glass). You don't need much wall space to hang one or two!

Access to Herring Island (located in the Yarra River, Melbourne, between Richmond and South Yarra) is by Parks Victoria Punt Service 11am-5pm (on the dates mentioned above) leaving from Como Landing South Yarra, and the Gallery is open from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

See the Mini Review of the official opening last Saturday (21 March) on our website with a photo gallery to give you an idea of what to expect.
Check out our website for more info.

Basketmakers of Victoria exhibition opens Saturday 7th February

The Basketmakers of Victoria are about to set up their exhibition on Herring Island. You can see more about their work on this page of this website.

The show opens on 7th February at 12 noon.

If you wish to receive invitations for future exhibitions in the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival series you can subscribe here.

Australia Day 2015

Not too hot, not raining - just great to check out the skills of all the artists - and to experience the island.

Enjoy!

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.

Summer Time and the Drift is ...

Yes it will be hot on the island on Saturday, and only marginally less hot on Sunday - so gird up - take your hat, sunscreen and water bottle - there are cool drinks and amazing artworks in the gallery.


















The Gallery opens at 11:30 am - before the heat really gets going? Be there to enjoy the work.

Images courtesy of Andrew Dilley

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

A Great Opening

Jean Stone with her "Drifting by Fruit Bowl"

an exhibition full of great work

Maree Brown with her work

Don't miss this show - come as early as you can to dodge the heat. There's plenty to enjoy.

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

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 2^nd and 3^rd prizes.

Glenn England "Forest Floor"

The prizes awarded were:

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

Barry Wemyss "Barraranna"

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

3^rd 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.

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"

Opening Today

"Back from the Brink" Edit Meaklim

See you at midday on the island!

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!

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.

Australia Day 2012

Cressida from the Contemporary Art Society working in the courtyard

We had perfect weather, a beautiful place and representatives from all the exhibiting groups to engage in conversation. There was John Bishop carving, three Basketmakers weaving, Cressida Fox painting and drawing and a lively contingent from Ceramics Victoria encouraging visitors in the delights of clay modelling. Plus a guided tour led by Damian Curtin from Friends of Herring Island.

A Weave of Basket Makers

A chip of a sculptor

A walk in the park

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

Before the 2012 Festival

As we work towards the Festival it's sometimes good to reflect on the other groups who have helped make Herring Island into a bushland retreat. Friends of Herring Island were working there today - Sunday 8th January - and the place is looking great - so welcome to some background clips of sleepy Herring Island.

Opening the Ceramics Victoria Exhibition

The weather was very unkind to Ceramics Victoria - in fact a lot of people in Victoria had it seriously bad on Friday evening the 4th and Saturday 5th February. The river was running high and people were busy coping with the results of flash flooding. So the beautiful exhibition had to wait a day to open. Unfortunately the sponsor, Decal Specialists, couldn't be there - but the prizes were announced:

Highly Commended "Out of Earth VI" by Sharyn Masson

Prize Winner Lene Kuhl Jakobsen with "Earthly Gifts"

Sharyn Masson's "Out of Earth VI" was the runner up and Lene Kuhl Jakobsen's "Earthly Gifts" won the Decal Specialists Prize.

Robert Lee was able to snatch an interview with Yvonne Torrico, to talk about the work she has on Herring Island.

Working on Tanderrum

In 2007 visitors to the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival were generous and as a result - we - the artist/organising committee were able to undertake repairs on the permanent collection of sculpture on Herring Island. Under direction from the artist, Ellen Jose, we set about restoring Tanderrum.

First Ellen came and inspected the work and approved our approach - then the work began: bringing together Castlemaine slate, mortar, oil for the wood and all the little bits and pieces needed to make the process a success.

It was hot work - Summer again by the time we had everything - and the artist - altogether. At last the work is ready to re launch - and the Island is a-buzz again with the 2008 Summer Arts Festival. We are ready for Australia day when Ellen will speak a few words about the significance of her work and its place on Herring Island - in the centre of a ring with five stones.