Giant arts show for refugees | Pat Cale artist profile: MV Art Festival

A GIANT ARTS SHOW CELEBRATION FOR REFUGEE WEEK

Sonder Studio Gallery at Unit 20 / 5 Taylor Court, Cooroy is hosting an art exhibition to celebrate Refugee Week entitled The Global Need for Healing. It will showcase artworks by refugees who have been, or are still, living in refugee camps around the world. The free exhibition will open at 6pm Saturday 18 June with readings and music by former refugees (bookings essential) and runs from 18 June to Sunday 26 June, 2022.

Also featured is a giant message, made up of letters creatively decorated by over 30 community groups and individuals from across the Sunshine Coast, coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Refugee Action Network. Several groups attended a workshop in May at the Sonder Gallery to decorate letters. Pictured friends of Sonder in action recently.

Sonder founder, Gabby Sutherland said “The great thing about this community project was how many different groups jumped on board – from schools to climate action groups, artists to multicultural groups. Everyone was very enthusiastic and took this opportunity to find out more about refugees.”

On 4 June, all the groups came together for the first time in Federation Park, Palmwoods to spell out the giant message of welcome, which was captured on film by drone.

Photos of the letters being created, and the drone footage, also form part of the exhibition. And feature on the SCRAN Facebook page.

“One of the aims of Refugee Week is to focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees. Recent events in Ukraine have brought home how people leading ordinary lives can become refugees overnight,” Ms Sutherland said.

For more details visit – www.sondergallery.com – open 10am to 4pm Thursday to Sunday. Opening event is free but bookings are essential.

Pat Cale, Mary Valley artist.

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST CALLS IMBIL HOME

Imbil abstract artist Patricia Cale pictured left has attained international renown with work in collections in Australia and overseas. She is also a regular competitor at the Mary Valley Art Festival. As planning is finalised for this year’s event on 21-24 July in Imbil, Pat is prepping her brushes to prepare her entries.

Mary Valley Artslink president Heinke Butt said Pat was among the elite artists attracted to the annual festival, which this year offers more than $10,000 in prizes (see page 7 advert).

“We are very lucky to have her here – she is a valued member of MV Artslink, as a mentor, previous judge and participant,” Ms Butt said.

Pat has been instrumental in sharing her deep understanding of life drawing with participants during regular life drawing sessions hosted by MV Artslink in Imbil. Pat was raised in Northern Sudan, and says she has been an artist all her life.

“That desert enigma has always dictated the economy of my work – I tend to pare it down until it appears deceptively simplistic,” she said. Training in England, she came to Australia and instantly connected with the landscape. “The vast horizons and the subtle colours were as music to me. My work is a message of shared experience – if a piece can make a viewer look with deeper understanding, then I would call that successful. Humanity is very much part of my view of the landscape.

“I do teach but regard that role as guidance fundamentally, and I take care to pass on the skills that I have learned. I take pride in the fact that my 'students' find their own voice through our shared time. This, the making of images is my passion, gets me up in the morning and is, above all a privilege and a blessing,” said Pat.

Artists from throughout SE Queensland are encouraged to enter before 27 June. Entry forms and conditions can be found on the website www.maryvalleyartfestival.com.au

The festival is at the Imbil Public Hall from 21-24 July 2022, 10am to 3pm daily, with the gala opening night and awards on 22 July. It attracts hundreds of visitors to Imbil and includes a Poets’ Breakfast on 23 July.

A Sunday luncheon with Soprano Donna Cain will be held on 10 July to fund the Suzie Smith Youth Encouragement Award. Bookings eatwell@thegreenbowledifice.com.au

Inquiries to Heinke Butt on 0419 024291 or email info@maryvalleyartfestival.com.au

........

POSITION VACANT COOK

Department of Education – Residential School Camp Centre.

Location: Sunshine Coast Environmental Education Centre Sunday Creek Campsite (3559)

District: North Coast Region

Sunshine Coast Environmental Education Centre – Sunday Creek Campsite, Jimna has a vacancy for a Cook to cater for ongoing School Camp bookings during the school year. Position will require some flexibility in hours per week. The successful applicant will be required to:

• Effectively manage the kitchen and prepare menus and food orders.

• Support the establishment and maintenance of hygienic operations within the kitchen and supervise food preparation and cooking practices.

The Cook reports to the Principal for the operations of the kitchen and dining hall.

A mandatory requirement of this role is a Food Safety Competency Certificate and the successful applicant will be required to obtain a Working With Children Blue Card and a Criminal History Check.

Email application to: admin@sunshinecoasteec.eq.edu.au and for enquiries phone 5448 4568.