It never ceases to amaze me how many talented people there are everywhere and in this painting I am celebrating that fact along with the birthday of Sydney’s Opera house although “she” has had many more birthdays since this artwork was painted.

Last weekend we went back to Balaklava the country town that our kids grew up in for the Eisteddfods as our daughter Hillivi and her school friend Jed Rowland were competing.  This year was the 17^th year Balaklava has hosted the competition and visitors come from all over the state to take part in the musical, theatrical, speech and drama performances.  The event is spread out over 3 days and includes a grand finale concert on the Sunday.  This year there were more than 1000 performers in 12 disciplines spread across 6 different venues and an amazing 120 volunteers assisting.  Some of these volunteers are also stars in their own right such as a former English teacher Geoff Gardner who always stars in the local Community Arts productions and is funny as a fit. The local paper The Plains Producer said; “Announcer Geoff Gardner kept the crowd amused and should’ve won an award for his entertaining witty ad libs!”

EISTEDDFOD

The Eisteddfod – which is an old Welsh word meaning a “sitting” but now used to describe gatherings of musicians, artists, poets, actors and crafts-people to compete, compare and learn from each other.  The town population swells to twice the normal size every August when the Eisteddfod are on, so for any budding performer eager to take part use the above link.  Many a famous performer got their start through entering the eisteddfods such as June Bronhill from Broken Hill and Sir Robert Helpman from Mount Gambier as well as Keith Michell from Port Pirie.

ARTISTS ON YOUTUBE

I have previously written a couple of blogs about another local boy made good; James Abberley and if you fancy a look at those art and music blogs here is some links 111. Indie music, Art and Paintings with James Abberley I’ll be a Bird and 116. Art and Music with Marie James and I collaborated on a Youtube clip which at this stage has just passed the 60.000 views which I think is pretty impressing.  Here is a link to my Youtube channel if you fancy a look as one of my other videos; Kissing Richard Branson & ARTnBED has reached 124.000 views and climbing!

CREATIVITY IN THE COUNTRY

However back to Balaklava, which is very good at producing creative people,  creativity is very much nurtured, embraced and valued which I think is perhaps a little unusual for a small country town where sports is normally the be all and end all.  Perhaps it stems from that the town was blessed with four dynamic women in Di Spence and Bronny Cottle in the performing arts and music side and Joyce Ross and Jo May to guide the visual arts.

STAR QUALITY

Another local performer Kelly Bickle took out several awards on the weekend and also ended up winning the Musical Theatre Solo Champion for her rendition of Wicked as well as winning the Contemporary Vocal Solo Champion where she could have given Liza Minnelli a run for her money with a song from Cabaret.  This girl should have taken off for Broadway a long time ago and I have told her as much for the last 20 or so years, but she is perfectly happy raising her family and living in a small rural town and gets her kicks from knocking the socks off the country folk at the local institute when she performs.  Perhaps Kelly is on to something after all when you look at the miserable lives some of the stars live – all that glitters isn’t gold!

HOME GROWN ARTISTS

So how did my daughter go then, I hear you ask?  Well she and her singing partner Jed did very well indeed says a very proud and happy mum.  They took out 3^rd place in the Contemporary Vocal Ensemble section against a field of very talented ensembles with the William Fitzsimmons song  “I don’t feel it anymore”  Both of them singing and Jed Rowland also playing the guitar and the adjudicator Libby O’Donovan strongly encouraging them to stick together and do some gigs around Adelaide as she felt they had great potential.  Jed Rowland is certainly someone to watch; he is every bit as talented as James Abberley and Jed also did a fantastic rendition of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love which got him another trophy in the solo section in 2^nd place.

My inspiration for my quote today comes from one of the songs Hillivi sang so beautifully on the weekend “Feels like home ” which always brings a tear to my eye, so here is John Ed Pearce’s quote which fit well here;

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all.

Love Marie xxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

It is that time of the year again – SALA – when we celebrate the South Australian Living Artists and this year it is for the 15^th time.  How time flies!

This Acrylic on Canvas Naive painting called ” SURFIN ‘N’ SA” is one of 3 artworks in the Sala Exhibition.

Sala an idea which grew from a seed planted by Paul Greenaway who thought we celebrated the dead artists at the detriment of the living and I couldn’t agree more.  Sala is a showcase for us artists that are not dead yet and that is a club I want to belong to!

This year there are 3,453 participating visual artists exhibiting in 520 diverse ranges of venues.  You will of course find art in Art Galleries, studios, public spaces, cellar doors, movie theater foyers, cafes and restaurants around the whole of our state.

ART TRAIL

However did you also realize that down in Glenelg they are presenting an inspirational art trail that offers a visual feast to stimulate the senses.  Jetty Road in Glenelg has totally embraced the Sala concept and nearly every business on this road has artists work on display.  This means that when you come to the bay you will also see art in hairdressing salons, chemists, ice cream shops, clothes boutiques, real estate agents, shoe shops and jewellers, yes all kinds of business have gotten behind the art here at the bay.

I feel very lucky to have lived where art is appreciated and embraced, for a long time it was in the mid-north town of Balaklava and now by the sea.

This year I have been too busy with overseas exhibitions in Europe, painting for ArtnBed and Giclee Link and various commissions so I am not having a solo show.   Instead I am exhibiting with talented artists living in and around the bay.  This mixed exhibition was held at;

The Bay Discovery Centre

Glenelg Town Hall

Moseley Square, Glenelg

Open daily 10am-4pm

(81799508)

3-26 August 2012

ART AT THE BAY

The theme explored is Play at the Bay with over 20 artists taking part including Clint Habib, Cat Leonard, Dave Archer, John Hamilton, Margo Miles and Sue McKenzie.

Sue McKenzie is an artist who is doing interesting work collecting discarded furniture from the roadside which she paints in bright bold colors.  “One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure” says Sue.  Sue’s work is also on display at the Better Health Midnight Pharmacies.

Another artist with two separate exhibitions for Sala is Sarah Philip her abstract work inspired by the ocean can be found on Jetty Road, Brighton in the Enuf Burger Bar as well as her stunning works of beautiful people which are my favorites showing at Westfield Marion – Events Cinema.

Here is a quote that I think we should all live by from William W. Purkey;

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.