Pictured: A 3D work by artist Brett Williams at Bilambil.

Wish comes true
The people of the Tweed shire are richer by 28 works of art following the regional gallery’s 20th anniversary exhibition Wish you were here. By last Sunday, when the show closed, supporters and benefactors had combined to buy the exhibits from among the 72 selected for display by director Susi Muddiman. They now enter the permanent collection of the Tweed River Art Gallery – and that means that they belong to all of us.
‘We’re extremely elated that we’ve had such a wonderful response,’ says deputy director Anne Schardin. ‘People have been very generous, in spite of the economic climate. The acquisitions are truly unique and the support for the gallery and its collection is something the community can be justly proud of.’
Substantial contributions came from the gallery’s Foundation and Friends group as well as from private individuals. Artists Bill Robinson, James Guppy, Stephen Blanch, Angus McDonald, Rodney Pople and John Wolseley donated the works they had lent to the show.
One of the individual donors is Dr Patrick Corrigan, who provided the funds for Barbie Kjar’s work Escucha. Corrigan, who recently gave the gallery a substantial collection of valuable artists’ prints and drawings, has made hundreds of donations to galleries, libraries and musical organisations at national, state and local levels.
‘I do it because I enjoy it,’ he says with a chuckle. ‘It works really well when you have a rapport with the institution – when the works are going to enthusiastic people, like the team at the Tweed.’
Corrigan, a collector with a great eye for emerging talent, has recently been acquiring 21st century Aboriginal art and a book about his collection, New Beginnings, will be launched tomorrow, November 21, at Bond University.
He has been particularly supportive of young artists and jazz musicians during his 40-year involvement with the arts, for which he was awarded an AM. ‘I get a lot of pleasure from giving to galleries,’ he says. ‘It keeps art on the walls where it’s sure to be seen.’
You don’t have to be rich to contribute. The 1,300-strong Friends group, who pay a modest membership fee and organise fundraising activities, provided three significant pictures –  a fine mezzotint print by Graham Peebles, Anne Zahalka’s iconic beach image and an environmentally-aware painting by local artist Hobie Porter. ‘Our members come from far and wide, and from all walks of life,’ says President Josephine Nugent. ‘The commitment of our Friends has not faltered since 1988. I can’t thank everyone enough.’
A book on the Tweed gallery collection will be launched at 10.30am next Tuesday, November 25, by art dealer Philip Bacon, and Echo readers are welcome.

Celebrating young artists
For the next two weeks the regional gallery is showing its annual exhibitions of work by
students from primary to tertiary levels. Under the umbrella title Creative Communities, an extraordinary array of talent will be on display.
The Les Peterkin Portrait Prize for children (LPPP), named after the innovative local artist and teacher, is now in its 12th year and this time the theme is Fantasy Faces. Administered by Tyalgum Public School, it’s open to all primary students in the area and this time 1,450 entries were received from more than 20 schools. The judges had their work cut out to cull them down to the 44 works the gallery has room for.
Frameworks is an exhibition of work by HSC students from the eight local secondary schools. The perfect antidote to cynicism about the young, the show reflects a great breadth of concern with subjects of personal and universal significance.
The two remaining shows are by students from Kingscliff and Murwillumbah TAFE. Cue consists of work by some 20 people graduating in visual arts, while Human Soup presents work by 16 graphic design graduates.
‘It’s a great thing to see people who’ve been committed to their studies get to the end of the year and display their work in such a professional, high-profile gallery,’ says John Stewart, TAFE acting head of art and design. ‘It’s an extraordinary privilege. We’re fortunate in this area to have such a large number of outlets for artists – there’s also an exceptional number of private galleries.’
Creative Communities is on show from tomorrow, with the official opening on Sunday at 1pm for the LPPP, 2pm for the HSC and TAFE shows. I have to declare an interest – your arts correspondent has been asked to open the exhibitions, which is a real honour. Here at the Echo we love our connection with local artists. 
And by the way, no apologies for devoting this week’s column entirely to the visual arts – there are so many interesting exhibitions opening now for the summer. 
Tweed River Art Gallery open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

New galleries
The global economy may be in dire straits but undaunted, artists in the Tweed are starting new galleries. Recently we told you about the relaunch of How Great Thou Art at Cabarita. Now comes news that the old bakery at Bilambil has been converted into an exhibition space by artist Brett Williams, who recently moved into the area from Brisbane. ‘The original oven doors are still functional,’ he says. ‘They open from the gallery into what was originally the oven, but as the roof caved in years ago, the oven is now a small rainforest and sculpture garden.’
The opening exhibition Leftoverture, starting on December 5, is of Williams’ own sculptures and paintings, including his innovative one-hour 3D portraits, but he hopes other artists will soon be encouraged to exhibit in the Old Bakery Gallery.
Meanwhile Tyalgum artist Clare Johnson, a member of the Curious Art collective, is opening her own gallery in the village’s original general store, which she’s been busy renovating and decorating for several weeks. The store was built in 1908 and installing a gallery is a great way to celebrate its centenary.
Called The Laughing Cat, it’s open to the public from the end of the month, Thursdays to Mondays from 10.30am to 5pm. ‘The name suggests it’s an easy-going place, an invitation to come and enjoy,’ says Johnson. The cat will be no stranger to those familiar with her whimsical Miss Prissy drawings, a series about a character who, watched by her narrow-eyed pet, remains joyful in the midst of gloom. ‘Miss Prissy’s cat does seem to be taking over the world lately,’ says Johnson.

Childhood dreams
Over at Chinderah Drive, Curious Art opens the doors this weekend for its summer exhibition, What if, featuring work by both adults and children. ‘Sometimes as adults we’ve left something behind in our childhood that finds us needing to think like a child to retrieve it,’ says the gallery’s moving spirit Michael Bryant. ‘What if allows both the children and adults exhibiting to dip into their dreams and hopes and emerge with extraordinary legends of possibilities.’
Next month Bryant will launch 3 Points North, his third book in a series of East Coast perspectives through photography and verse. It’s about ‘how culture and the curve of a coastline can influence you and affect you for the rest of your life’. Bryant is a highly accomplished photographer and his love for our coastal environment shines through his work.
Curious Art, Chinderah Drive, Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm.

Creative Uki
The Images of Uki exhibition last weekend was a great success, attracting 101 works by local artists and 60 from primary school students. ‘The response was overwhelming,’ says organiser Julia Hancock, who worked all year to put the show together. ‘I knew there was talent out there, but we were amazed by the quality of the art.’ No fewer than 22 works were sold, and all proceeds from the event went to the fund to restore the Uki Hall. A great community initiative.

Kingscliff appeal
Organisers of the new festival planned for Kingscliff in May are appealing for assistance from artists who could give workshops. The festival will be called KAFE – Kingscliff Art, Food and Entertainment fiesta. ‘We are looking at doing a community arts workshop program on the Saturday and Sunday,’ says coordinator Carol Collins of Burleigh Arts Group, ‘but we’d like expressions of interest from artists who could conduct classes before, during and after the festival. These classes could include dancing and art and we are especially looking for classes that will involve young people.’ Anyone able to help can contact Gillian Hayllar on 0409 381987 or 02 6674 5874.