It’s difficult not to be impressed by any event that has the longevity and public appeal to reach 43 years – especially one that shows no signs of slowing down.
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North Eastern Art and Craft Association’s annual exhibition is one such event, and will celebrate its 43rd year with about 350 pieces of artwork when it opens to the public on June 11.
Hosted by the Scottsdale RSL, this year’s exhibition will again hold its official opening at noon on the Saturday, before keeping its doors open from 10am to 4pm daily for the following five days until its final day on June 16.
Exhibition secretary Rowena Simons said the exhibition would feature paintings from local artists Anita Williams, John Gibb, Pam Kidd and Janet Cairns as well as a selection of artists from further afield.
“The artwork will come from statewide - as far down as Kettering in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel, the outskirts of Burnie, St Helens, Dodges Ferry, Hobart, Launceston and the West Tamar,” Mrs Simons said.
“We will have people like David Hopkins who's a well-known southern artist and Michelle Beecham, she's a Launceston artist and she's very crafty at zentangles.”
A handful of works from select Tasmanian artists will be put under silent auction for the duration of the exhibition, while a selection of craft and jewellery will also be up for sale.
“We have some very nice jewellery from Dodges Ferry and some jewellery from Launceston that's made from sea glass - glass that washes up on the beach.
“It becomes quite fragile and then they polish it.”
Mrs Simons said the exhibition would also take on a more interactive approach this year.
“Throughout the exhibition we'll have several people demonstrating – Donna Grigg from Hobart will be demonstrating her bead making and we'll have a lady spinning and probably knitting for several days of the exhibition.
“This year we'll have more (interactivity) than we have in the past.”
This year’s exhibition will include a $1000 prize for the work which best reflects the theme of “home; a sense of place” and will also present a viewer's choice award worth $750.
Entry is $5 for adults and free for children.