Trade-inspired
weathervanes on shop roofs. Whimsical weathervanes astride posts in gardens and
school grounds. Private roofs flying traditional and contemporary designs.
Artistic weathervanes in parks. Children’s designs in playgrounds. Weathervanes
above bus shelters and clubhouses and emergency services buildings…
Velislav had this weathervane vision when he
first came to the town some five years ago. About five weeks ago he, Sarah
Springfield, the Bartlemans and I decided we’d invite the town to start making
the 1,000 weathervane vision a reality.
Our group is going start the ball rolling
by installing six permanent artwork weathervanes on properties in the main
street.
We’ll then invite the rest of the town to
get involved by asking them to make, buy or commission a weathervane for their
home. We’re currently assembling a list of potential weathervane suppliers
(must be based in the Shire). If you’d like to be included in the list, please
email Tor via torrox@iinet.net.au. You
need to include:
1 Your Name
2 Your phone number
3 Your minimum price for creating a
weathervane (e.g. $250+ or $1,000+ etc.)
4 Your website (if you have one)
The purpose of the project is to help
Ballan become a more distinct town to visit and also to create work for artists
and artisans in the Shire. The project is a community initiative. We haven’t
sought any government or public support.
In 2007, Omnibus Art Gallery and Wombat Regional Arts Network combined forces to establish the inaugural Ballan & District Frankibald Portrait Prize. The prize invited entrants to paint a portrait featuring someone with a close connection to Ballan or its surrounding district. Prizes were donated by the Flying Teapot Café, Omnibus Art and the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce.
On the weekend of 23-25 November, the gallery hosted an exhibition of 43 portraits executed by a broad cross-section of the community ranging from first time artists to professionals. The works were judged by Carolyn Eskdale and Greg Creek.
Local musical duo Chime donated their performance at the opening and performed outside the gallery over the exhibition weekend.
In the lead up to the exhibition Wombat donated canvases, which were given out to community members. Wombat also secured funding from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund for Neighbours Painting Neighbours, a project that saw well known local artist Ben Creaney helping community members to give portrait painting a go.
Ben visited the Ballan Hospital on a number of occasions with paints and canvases and brushes and also led some portrait painting parties through the Ballan and District Community House.
Selected images from the Frankibald
Phillipa Osborn Smith with her portrait of Dennis – Winner of the Contemporary Portrait Prize.
Self portrait on a bad hair day by Beatrice Brockman-Munn - Winner of the Innovative Portrait Prize.
Contacts and Links for participating organisations, sponsors and funding bodies
Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce – PO Box 241 Ballan Vic 3342.
Ballan & District Community House – 143 Inglis Street Ballan Tel 53681934 or visit home.vicnet.net.au/~ballanch
Ballan Hospital – 33 Cowie Street Ballan Tel 5368 1100 or visit www.ballanonline.com/sites/communityhealth
Wombat Regional Arts Network is grateful to the Regional Arts Fund for it support of the Neighbours Painting Neighbours project.
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional and remote Australia, administered in Victoria by Regional Arts Victoria.
