TALENTED artists from across the Myall Coast brought in their pride and joy to sell and promote at the “Cool Summer: Mambo on the Myall” exhibition raffle for the local Rural Fire Service (RFS) on Saturday 17 January.
Several painters and craftspeople from the Galleries in the Gardens were driven inside by the morning’s weather, before venturing out again to display their beloved works for sale in the natural riverside setting.
The exhibition ran into its final weeks, with its major prize – a Reg Mombassa – Mambo memorabilia raffle ready to be drawn later in the month.
Katie Anderson led visiting kids in the creation of origami cranes, with proceeds also being donated to support the Pindimar/Tea Gardens RFS volunteers.
Among the artists was Sylvia Reczek, whose landscapes are inspired by places near and far, from Scotland and the Yorkshire Dales to Mungo Brush and Bulahdelah, as well as more playful subjects such as lollies.
She has been painting for 15 years, saying, “I was always good at drawing, but never had the time to try painting while raising a family.”
Live entertainment filled the space as Galleries in the Gardens President Anne Stuart played familiar tunes on the keyboard, while outside in the sunlight the enormous inflatable Reg Mombassa fish continued to “swim”.
On loan and a survivor from the Sydney Olympics, the inflatable fish remained a striking presence at the event.
Local polymath Chez Rands brought out her ceramic critters, including playful dogs, curious cats and mischievous mice, and some eye-catching bronze puffins.
Julia Ross showcased her hand-made jewellery, working primarily in silver and featuring vibrant gems such as bright orange carnelian, dark labradorite and lab-made opals, known for their vivid, uniform colour.
Bridget Taylor’s large reef and coral scenes were juxtaposed with fluoro dinosaurs that caught kids’ eyes.
The leaden north-western sky remained a reminder of the morning’s weather, but the afternoon was more forgiving as the south-west cleared up until another storm hit in the evening.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
