Seymour Art Society president Terri MacDonald, vice-president Rosemary Scott and Sam Plunkett of Wine X Sam invite the community to the Art Beyond the Divide exhibition.
Photo by
Billie Davern
This year’s Art Beyond the Divide exhibit boasts an impressive almost 300 works, proving the region is far from being a so-called ‘arts desert’.
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Hosted by the Seymour and District Arts Society, the annual exhibition is an anticipated event marked on many artists’ calendars, both locally and across the state.
Since 2018, the display has found its home at Wine X Sam on Anzac Ave, which, arts society president Terri MacDonald said, was a crucial aspect of the show.
“We like the partnership because (Sam Plunkett has) got excellent wines, it’s in the middle of Seymour so it’s not hard to get to, and it’s just a great venue,” she said.
“We enjoy it — I love the industrial look and having the artwork in that industrial setting.
“The big thing about Art Beyond the Divide is taking artwork out of the gallery and bringing it into the community and getting the community to come see it. I think this really epitomises that objective.”
About $6000 in prizes is to be shared among the winning artists, with 12 categories up for grabs for the nearly 100 artists displaying their works.
The exhibition’s opening night will be held on Friday, November 28, from 7pm. The display will remain open over the weekend, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
Tickets for the opening night cost $15, while a gold coin donation will be asked of attendees wanting to view the exhibition throughout the weekend.
Terri MacDonald has welcomed a number of entries for the category of artworks depicting the Old Courthouse Building in Seymour.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Ms MacDonald said while a profit would be welcome, the event was far from being about making money.
“It’s good if we break even. If we make a little bit of money that’s good, too, because it goes right back into the work the art society is doing, but the objective isn’t to make millions from it,” she said.
“For us, it’s all about promoting regional artists and bringing out people in the community who may not have thought they had an artistic talent, or inclination, giving them an opportunity to hang.
“We discover new people every year. That’s the whole point of it: to grow what we do, but to also grow the visual presence of the arts in our area.”
Attendees can expect a diverse range of artworks on display and delicious wines, as well as a lucky door prize, raffles and being able to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Arts society vice-president Rosemary Scott said it would also be about inspiring other local artists.
“I think that’s the really good thing, locally, as someone who doesn’t get to see art in places like Melbourne, you can see that breadth of art,” she said.
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