ARTISANS, selling their handmade wares and demonstrating their skills, are the feature of a new attraction to the Bellinger River Agricultural Show, which will run on 21 and 22 May, 2022 at Bellingen Showground.

The new Artisan Tent is an added attraction that befits the local rural show in a town where regular markets are filled with homemade and hand-made goods.

Bellinger River Agricultural Society President Gillian Anderson said the Artisan Tent is shaping up to be a great new addition which the committee hopes will broaden the appeal of the show and inspire visitors to linger a little longer.

Gillian told News Of The Area, “We have a wonderful selection of local artisans, makers and growers and the list is still growing.

“Potters will gather together with a wonderful display of their works plus they will be showing how the potter’s wheel works and how to throw a pot, while kids get creative and make their own masterpiece in clay.

“If you’ve ever wondered how lead lighting is done, the talented Wendy Tanner will be there to show you.

“Needle felting will be displayed, and Charlotte and Jac, printmakers extraordinaire, will be showing you everything you wanted to know about printmaking and lino cuts.

“The enthusiasm for this new space has been so exciting – with support like this from the community, the Artisan Tent can be a Bellingen Show regular.”

Throughout the weekend there will be live demonstrations and displays as well as short talks from makers and producers.

Bellingen artist Fiona McAuley is one of the many artisans, creatives and makers in the spotlight in the Artisan Tent.

Her vibrant mosaics can be seen around Bellingen.

Fi will showcase some of her mosaics in a display of her work and invites you to get involved in a fun taster mosaic project of your own at the show.

Fi primarily uses reclaimed and recycled material in her creative practice (encompassing drawing, painting, mosaic, and sculpture) and as an arts educator loves to see the joy and sense of achievement that mosaic making brings to participants.

The Artisan Tent adds to the Show’s creative program which includes the extensive crafts competition on display in the Pavilion as well as the long running EJ Mantova Memorial Art competition.

Known to locals as ‘The Mantova’, the art competition pays homage to Ernest John Mantova, Bellingen’s first recognised professional artist.

The art competition invites submissions across a variety of mediums including landscape/seascape, water colour, open, drawing and sculpture.

The Bellingen Show takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May.

Bellingen Show schedules and entry forms are available from local businesses or from the Bellingen Show website.

For Artisan Tent enquiries email President Gillian Anderson on president@bellingenshow.com.au or phone 0419124368.

For more information about the EJ Mantova Memorial Art competition visit www.bellingenshow.com.au/entries/mantova/.

The closing date for entries is Friday 29 April with the exhibition opening on Saturday 14 May, 2022 at 3pm.

For further information about the show visit www.bellingenshow.com.au or www.facebook.com/TheBellingenShow.

 

By Andrea FERRARI