Art’s collective force The Courier 24 June 2015 - Dellaram Vreeland IT started with Lynne Makings walking her dog. As the two made their daily treks through the neighbourhood, they met a range of people, many who seemed to have one thing in common – they were artists. And so the Soldiers Hill Artist Collective was born; a group of artists – experienced and emerging – who came together to share their love for art. Soldiers Hill Artist Collective is an eclectic group of artists from all various disciplines, living within the region of historic Soldiers Hill. “Because you’re walking your dog, you talk to people and people will talk back and you can make a connection with them,” Ms Makings said. “It was a Eureka moment. I saw a need for artists to have a space where they could talk to other practising artists.” Next month, the Soldiers Hill Artist Collective will have its first exhibition.
Entitled Diversity within Boundary, the exhibition will bring together more than 30 works from varied mediums and styles. The works range from drawing, weaving, photography, painting, printmaking and sculpture and will all be for sale. Ms Makings said it was the aim of the collective to encourage and mentor artistic endeavour in the Soldiers Hill area as well as in art lovers and the general public alike. “We want to encourage others in Ballarat to form collectives too,” she said.
“We can all form groups that can rise up together and make and form connections that are enduring.” Diversity within Boundary will be held from July 4 to 31 at the popular Fairbanks Eye Gallery at 917 Sturt Street, Ballarat.
A LOVE FOR ART: Soldiers Hill resident and artist Lynne Makings. Picture: Justin Whitelock