Noosa. Where the ocean is beyond blue, the sand dazzling, the hinterland lush and the sun always warm. But, come October, Noosa becomes all things art. Two events – Noosa Open Studios and ARTober Noosa mean installations, performances and a chance to create your own masterpiece.
Noosa Open Studios – Queensland’s biggest art trail
Noosa Shire’s local artists and artisans will put out the OPEN sign out for ten days – October 1 to 10. The event allows art buffs to see artists in their natural environment creating works in their own studios.
Queensland’s biggest art trail is now in its 6th year and 2021 sees 100 artists in the region join the showcase. In fact, there are 5 separate trails where art lovers can learn about creative techniques and processes from the creators themselves.
2021’s trails are Noosa, Beaches, Tinbeerwah to Eumundi, Cooroy and Pomona to Cooroibah. All of the artists studios will be open for all three days of each weekend: October 1st, 2nd and 3rd and 8th, 9th and 10th. Because every weekend in Noosa should be a long one!
Everyone should start the individual trails at Wallace House, home of Noosa Arts and Crafts, where each participating artist is exhibiting a standalone work. Ceramicists, mixed media artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, printmakers and mosaic artists are all participating this year.
Mitchell English
Mitchell English has been painting for over thirty years in Australia and overseas. He describes himself, as having a “deep suspicion of what he calls ‘frangipani art’. A lifelong surfer and painter he has never lived more than walking distance from the ocean. Fittingly, his work depicts idealised Australian coastal scenes. Graphic silhouettes immediately take us to The Endless Summer. In the same way, his Heatwave series taps into what we think we used to look like as Australians – Max Dupain’s Sunbaker.
Charlotte Wensley
Designer, abstract artist and self-described ‘maker of objects’, Charlotte Wensley depicts scenes with expressive colour and organic shapes
Charlotte says, “I use paint to describe my journey through a ‘mindscape’, towards visual and emotional clarity, aiming to ultimately represent a singular concept or moment in time. Ephemeral distant memories are made tangible through abstract conceptual elements and colour”.
Yanni Van Zijl
Photographer, painter and large scale installation artist ceramicist Van Zijl creates statements on the environment. Award-winning site-specific and large scale works are the results of a collaboration with fellow artist Pam Walpole. She uses recycled materials including plastic milk bottles while her ceramics and photography also draw from the natural world.
17m x 4m variable Hand cut Milk bottles
For details on the artists, opening times, trail maps, artist bios, workshops and more see the full downloadable guide here
Also, keep up to date with all the Noosa Open Studios news on Instagram and on Facebook
ARTober
ARTober is a handful of inspiring world-class art events dotted throughout the Noosa region during the month of October. Incorporating Noosa Open Studios, Floating Land and the Tall Trees art exhibition.
Floating Land
Floating Land is one of the most significant events on Noosa’s cultural calendar. For the 11th year, the temporary installations are designed to “reflect Noosa’s national and international reputation as a community, engaging with the special and spectacular spaces in which they are presented”.
Both Boreen Point and Noosa National Park will host temporary art instalments. 52 artists. 21 installations. to the community. Over 16 days.
Saturday 9th 12:00am — Sunday 24th 12:00am
Tall Trees Art Exhibition
Country charm and country style never goes out of fashion and the small hinterland town of Cooran has both in spades. The community-based annual art fest was created to nurture and develop local artists.
On the last weekend of October, Cooran’s main street, King Street becomes Art Central. Local businesses transform into galleries overnight; Banks, cafes and shops all join in. This year 5 installations have been created by 130 artists.
Tall Trees Art Exhibition is on Friday 29th through Sunday 31st October. The latest news is on Facebook and Instagram
More on both Noosa Open Studios and ARTober, see Visit Noosa.
