A Riverina society are proud to be hosting their 13th annual exhibition which showcases the works of local artists.
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Up2date Art started their event more than 10 years ago as a fundraiser for the local community and coordinators Angela McCann and Eileen Fox are proud of what the program has developed into.
“The Up2date Art committee partnered with Coolamon Central school and we have students helping out,” Ms Fox said.
“We are raising funds for a youth worker for the school.”
Ms McCann said the committee keeps nothing and all the funds go towards community groups.
The passion for putting this event on every year comes from being able to bring the community together, Ms Fox said.
“It’s great for the town commercially and culturally,” she said.
Ms McCann echoed the sentiments and said it gives Riverina talent an opportunity they might not have had otherwise.
“Artist don’t have to be prize-winning,” she said.
“Anyone who likes to dabble in art can show their work and it exposes them to a competition and an exhibition.
“We have first-time artists, artists who been exhibiting for 12 and 13 years and artists who keep coming back.”
The exhibition is high on the Coolamon Shire’s event calendar, Ms McCann said.
“It exposes the wider community to Coolamon’s culture,” she said.
Ms Fox said an added bonus is showcasing the history and the architecture of the Up-to-Date Store.
The general store served the Coolamon community for years, where anything and everything, from a plough to a piano could be purchased.
The collection will feature artworks from around the region and southern NSW. The artworks will cover all mediums including oils, water-colours and sculptures.
One of the sections follows the theme of ‘Fakes and Forgeries’ which gave artists an opportunity to reproduce famous pieces.
Wagga’s Sally Packer recreated Chinese artist Mu Boyan’s sculpture of an obese nude man hanging onto a wall.
Ms McCann said they have had the highest number of entries to date, which will feature more than 90 artists.
The exhibition is open for two weeks from July 28 until August 12 at the Up-to-Date Store, Cowabbie Street , Coolamon.
Ms McCann and Ms Fox said all are welcome to the opening night on Friday July 27 starting at 6.30. The ticket price is $15 and includes canapes.
The exhibition will be opened and judged by Dr Neil Overton from CSU.
For more information on Up2date Art click here.