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Kick-Starting your Creative Journey Workshop with Jane Sawyer

Join ceramic artist Jane Sawyer for this one day workshop designed particularly for serious students or practitioners who are looking to fill some gaps in their conceptual development. Jane will share her journey with clay and teach you some practical structured methods and approaches designed to unlock your own unique journey in your creative practice. Weaving a dialogue through reflection, analysis and using personal responses to objects, she will turn the mirror to your own work to create meaningful pathways for the future. Expect tears and revelations whilst unlocking new thinking processes!

While practitioners working with clay will particularly benefit from Jane’s teaching, the workshop content is highly transferable across different mediums. All serious students or practitioners are welcome, regardless of medium.

→ Suitable for ages 16 and over
→ 12 places available
→ BYO lunch
→ Tea, coffee and biscuits provided!

About the artist
Jane Sawyer is an exhibiting ceramic artist and director of Slow Clay Centre, Melbourne, Australia. She is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics and has served on the boards of Craft Victoria on The World Craft Council Australia. After completing a degree in art education in the 1980’s she deepened her commitment to ceramics by training for over five years with traditional studio potters in Australia (with Andrew Halford) and Japan (with Shussai Gama). Her post-graduate thesis titled The Evocative Object (MFA VisArt, RMIT University, 2002) looked at the power of functional objects to create connection through touch.

Jane’s work draws on a blend of contemporary design, craft practice and conceptual curiosity. She eschews categorisation as her versatile ceramic objects often inhabit a territory in between all the above. Whether engaging the tactile sense corporeally through a humble tea cup or visually through sculptural pieces and installations, fluidity, movement and a keen interest in materiality are her pathways guided by an overriding interest in the object as a catalyst for connection and meaning. To find out more about Jane and see examples of her work visit her website janesawyer.com.au or find her on Instagram @janesawyer1

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This event is held in conjunction with SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary 1962–2022, a special Australian Design Centre On Tour exhibition project presented in partnership with The Australian Ceramics Association. Click here to learn more about this exhibition on ADC’s website.

Please scroll down to book ↓

Soft sculpture workshop with Kasia Töns

In this workshop you will explore soft sculpture techniques using reclaimed materials and hand stitching to create a small artwork of your own. We will look at the various stages involved in planning a project from initial idea to finished product such as sourcing and processing materials, developing a colour palette, problem solving, sketching and maquette making.

→ Suitable for ages 14 and over
→ All materials provided
→ 12 places available

About the artist
Kasia Töns is a textile artist working and living on Peramangk Country (Adelaide Hills). Hand embroidery and mask making are central to her practice, which sits at the intersection of art, fashion, and craft. Her process is slow and intuitive, colourful, and expressive. The labour and time invested in creating her work acts as an antidote to the fast pace of the modern world and the addictive seeking of instant gratification through digital means. Recurring thematic interests include social impacts of digital technology use, the Anthropocene, and interpersonal/interspecies relationship dynamics.

Please scroll down to book ↓

Life Drawing Classes 2024

During this 2 hour life drawing class, artist Bev Isaac will guide you through timed warm-up and extended exercises and techniques to capture the human form. Bev will provide instruction and support throughout the class.

All abilities welcome, no prior experience required.

Easels, drawing boards, butchers paper and charcoal, chairs, and tables are all provided. You are also welcome to bring your favourite drawing materials.

Session dates and times:
Friday 16 August, 5.45pm – 8pm
Friday 13 September, 5.45pm – 8pm
Wednesday 9 October, 5.45pm – 8pm

*Bookings will open 3 weeks before each class

→ Suitable for ages 18 and over (an exemption can be made for VCE art students)
→ Materials provided
→ 10 places available in each class

About the teacher
Bev Isaac is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Stawell, western Victoria.

Bev started her career in the early 1980’s as a model for RMIT fashion and fine art students, and went on to study for her Bachelor in Fine Art Sculpture at Prahran in Melbourne. She subsequently undertook teacher training and graduated with a Bachelor in Education from University of Melbourne.

Bev’s first life drawing class as a teacher was at Gas Works in South Melbourne in 1987.

In 2008 Bev and her partner Peter Voice relocated to Deep Lead near Stawell, and have become fixtures of the region’s creative community. Through their partnership Chalk Circle, they produce pavement art for festivals in Australia and overseas, as well as commercial art projects, teaching in schools and leading workshops for pavement art practice. Chalk Circle Gallery relocated in early 2024, with its new location on Main Street, Stawell, due to open at Easter.

About the model

Nella is an intersectional feminist creative based in western Victoria. Driven by a playful curiosity to dabble in a variety of mediums, she uses art as a form of storytelling and journaling to explore what it means to belong.

Nella recently stepped into the role of muse driven by a desire to support regular life drawing classes in regional communities. Being a life drawing model has been an empowering, inspiring and enjoyable experience and she often learns from the teacher and students during each session to improve her own drawing skills.

Please scroll down to book ↓

Stripe Weaving Workshop with Misako Nakahira

Stripe weaving workshop with Misako Nakahira

 

In this workshop, Japanese textile artist Misako Nakahira will guide you in creating a small bookmark-sized striped weaving using colourful yarns, recycled fabrics, fancy yarns, and more. This three-hour workshop is an introduction to weaving; you may finish a project during the workshop, or you can take your materials home to finish your project at your own pace.

 

→ Suitable for ages 18 and over
→ All materials provided
→ 15 places available
→ Free entry, bookings essential to prepare materials

 

Please scroll down to book ↓
About the artist

 

Misako Nakahira is a Japanese tapestry artist and lecturer. Her practice includes paper weaving, tapestry, ikat, felting, macramé, and yarn spinning. Most recently Misako’s practice has focused on the genealogy of stripes interrogated through tapestry.

 

Nakahira weaves her tapestries with spun washi paper, cotton, and other materials that are ‘familiar to life.’ She believes that the hand-woven details breathe life into the cloth.

 

Nakahira was an artist in residence at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne, in December 2023.

 

Life Drawing Classes 2025

During this 2 hour life drawing class, artist Bev Isaac will guide you through timed warm-up and extended exercises and techniques to capture the human form. Bev will provide instruction and support throughout the class.

All abilities welcome, no prior experience required.

Easels, drawing boards, butchers paper and charcoal, chairs, and tables are all provided. You are also welcome to bring your favourite drawing materials.

Session dates and times:

Thursday 27 March, 5.45pm – 8pm
Thursday 24 April, 5.45pm – 8pm
Thursday 26 June, 5.45pm – 8pm
Thursday 24 July, 5.45pm – 8pm
Thursday 14 August, 5.45pm – 8pm
Thursday 16 October, 5.45pm – 8pm

→ Bookings will open 3 weeks before each class
→ Subscribers to the Gallery mailing list will get an early notification when bookings open; sign up here
→ Suitable for ages 18 and over (an exemption can be made for VCE art students)
→ Materials provided
→ 10 places available in each class

About the teacher
Bev Isaac is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Stawell, western Victoria.

Bev started her career in the early 1980’s as a model for RMIT fashion and fine art students, and went on to study for her Bachelor in Fine Art Sculpture at Prahran in Melbourne. She subsequently undertook teacher training and graduated with a Bachelor in Education from University of Melbourne.

Bev’s first life drawing class as a teacher was at Gas Works in South Melbourne in 1987.

In 2008 Bev and her partner Peter Voice relocated to Deep Lead near Stawell, and have become fixtures of the region’s creative community. Through their partnership Chalk Circle, they produce pavement art for festivals in Australia and overseas, as well as commercial art projects, teaching in schools and leading workshops for pavement art practice. Chalk Circle Gallery relocated in 2024, with its new location on Main Street, Stawell.

About the model
Nella is an intersectional feminist creative based in western Victoria. Driven by a playful curiosity to dabble in a variety of mediums, she uses art as a form of reflection and exploration.

Nella stepped into the role of muse a couple years ago driven by a desire to support regular life drawing classes in regional communities. Being a life drawing model has been an empowering and enjoyable experience with additional perks of learning from Bev and students during each session.

Please scroll down to book ↓

Analog Art Club 2025 – Slow Looking in the Gallery

Analog Art Club is a statewide initiative that invites Victorians to slow down, switch off their screens and connect in real life —through art. Hosted by galleries across Victoria, these phone-free events offer a welcoming space to reflect, discuss and experience art together, making creativity social, accessible and refreshingly analog.

This program encourages deeper connection with both art and community by fostering genuine, screen-free engagement in a relaxed and inclusive environment.

Analog Art Club is a joint initiative of Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) and ArtsHub.

Join Visual Arts Coordinator Katy Mitchell to spend time in the current exhibitions, engaging in guided intentional slow looking exercises, including conversational prompts or observational drawing.

→ No experience required
→ Materials provided
→ Phone-free event: please keep your phone on silent in your bag or pocket
→ Suitable for ages 14 and over
→ Free entry, with bookings appreciated to help plan seating

Session dates and times:

Saturday 9th August, 2pm – 3.30pm
Saturday 13th September, 2pm – 3.30pm
Saturday 11th October, 2pm – 3.30pm
Saturday 8th November, 2pm – 3.30pm

SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary 1962-2022

SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary 1962–2022 is a special ADC On Tour exhibition project presented in partnership with The Australian Ceramics Association to acknowledge this significant anniversary.

The Journal of Australian Ceramics (JAC) has, over its sixty years of print publication, presented the history of ceramics in Australia. It has acknowledged the achievements of so many in that time, as well as educating readers on the importance and position of ceramics within Australian art. The JAC has been at the forefront of addressing significant issues of the time and, in turn, is a dynamic source of contemporary history.

The exhibiting artists are:

Glenn Barkley | Alison Milyika Carroll | Kirsten Coelho | Greg Daly | Pippin Drysdale | Dan Elborne | Penny Evans | Honor Freeman | Susan Frost | Shannon Garson | Patsy Hely | Jeffery Mincham | Damon Moon | David Ray | Ben Richardson | Tania Rollond | Owen Rye | Jane Sawyer | Yul Scarf | Vipoo Srivilasa | Kenji Uranishi | Gerry Wedd

This celebratory exhibition was guest curated by Anna Grigson and ADC’s Lisa Cahill with design by Studio Garbett and video by Jane Curtis.

SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary 1962-2022 is an Australian Design Centre (ADC On Tour) national touring exhibition, presented with assistance from the Australian Government Visions of Australia program. The Visions of Australia regional exhibition touring program supports audience access to Australian arts and cultural material, with a particular focus on tours to regional and remote Australia.

Australian Design Centre is assisted by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Australian Design Centre is assisted by the New South Wales Government through Create NSW, and the Australian government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Click here to learn more about this exhibition on ADC’s website.

New Acquisitions

The TAMA Collection comprises an extensive survey of contemporary (post-1970s) textile and fibre art practices in Australia, alongside key international influences.

While the primary focus of the TAMA Collection is textile and fibre art, there is an allowance within the Gallery’s Acquisition Policy to acquire artworks of local relevance and significance. In 2022 and 2023, works were acquired by four artists local to the Ararat region: Nanette Bourke, John Eagle, Stan Kelly and Carole Mules.

Ararat Gallery was established in 1968 as a few small rooms in the Old Municipal Offices of the Ararat Town Hall. The specialisation of the TAMA Collection takes inspiration from Ararat’s historical association with fine merino wool production.

During the Ararat Arts Precinct Redevelopment Project, completed in August 2018, the Gallery doubled its exhibition and collection spaces. In recognition of its significant textile collection, it was renamed Ararat Gallery TAMA – Textile Art Museum Australia.

Kasia Töns | Panoply

Panoply is an emergency shelter that aims to provide a place of retreat and safety in the first stage of displacement. Motivated by the uncertainty of life and a fascination for textiles and architecture, this project has been incubating for many years. This iteration of Panoply has been laboriously hand stitched over many months and utilises reclaimed fabrics and stuffing. The design elements of colour, shape, base, doors and ‘windows’ are personal to the needs of the artist with the idea that this modular approach can be adapted to the needs of different inhabitants. The main considerations are the ability to make and transport it by oneself, be able to look out but not to be looked in upon and to have multiple camouflaged points for entry/exit. These entry/exit points can also be used to join with other ‘panoplies’ to create the option of either a communal dwelling or a private one.

Kasia Töns is a textile artist working and living on Peramangk Country (Adelaide Hills). Hand embroidery and mask making are central to her practice, which sits at the intersection of art, fashion, and craft. Her process is slow and intuitive, colourful, and expressive. The labour and time invested in creating her work acts as an antidote to the fast pace of the modern world and the addictive seeking of instant gratification through digital means. Recurring thematic interests include social impacts of digital technology use, the Anthropocene, and interpersonal/interspecies relationship dynamics.

Töns has exhibited nationally and internationally and has participated in residencies in Australia, Iceland, the USA, Latvia, and the Slovak Republic. The Rothko Art Centre, Latvia holds two of her pieces as part of their permanent collection and her work was selected as a finalist for the 2021 Ramsay Art Award. She works part time as an arts mentor.

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Ararat Rural City Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work, the Eastern Maar, Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, Jupagulk, and Wadawurrung peoples, and recognise their connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.