General News
10 June, 2021
Nervous wait for Mortlake Art Show
VOLUNTEERS have added the finishing touches to displays ahead of this weekend’s art show festivities in Mortlake, but are holding out hope COVID-19 restrictions will ease to ensure the event can go ahead.
VOLUNTEERS have added the finishing touches to displays ahead of this weekend’s art show festivities in Mortlake, but are holding out hope COVID-19 restrictions will ease to ensure the event cango ahead.
The 2021 Mortlake Art Show, along with the Queen’s Birthday Markets, have been thrust in to limbo while awaiting news of State Government plans for restrictions across the long weekend.
The Queen’s Birthday markets have been tentatively cancelled while the art show has been prepared to run as planned.
Mortlake Community Development Committee president Kelvin Goodall hopes to put the spotlight on local artists after cancellations the past two years.
“We’re aiming to highlight what people have done over the last couple of years in the absence,” he said.
“It’s a rebirth which will be ‘COVID-lite’ with no opening show, no prizes and no theme; just an exhibition which is open to local artists to present their work.”
Art show co-convenor Cassandra Ellis said more than 81 pieces of art were poised to be on display, with more than 60 availablefor purchase.
“We’ve also got 15 artists under the age of 21 who have submitted their artwork for display this year,” she said.
“The youngest is nine year-old Hayley McDonald, and the oldest is just 18.
“It’s great to see. It has been hard to engage young people in this so it is encouraging, and some of them are repeat entrants.
“You talk to their parents up and down the street and some of the kids have put together 100 paintings during lockdowns.”
A second exhibition will also be held at the same time across the road titled ‘Art and Music – An exhibition of paintings celebrating the magic of music.’
“It comes out of an art exhibition which was going to be held for the Mortlake Music Festival which would celebrate the connection between music and art,” Mr Goodall said.
“Hopefully we’re going to still be able to have the two shows plus the market but we’re taking a punt on some restrictions being lifted in regional areas.”
Organisers are trying to be realistic, with the potential for renewed restrictions which could force the events further in to limbo.
The Mortlake markets have been tentatively cancelled but could still run if restrictions allow.
The art shows could be temporarily postponed to run over a following weekend.
Publicist Michelle Howat said it would be a shame for the markets to be cancelled as over 40 stalls were currently booked in, which would be among the largest the town has seen.
“It’s going to be kind of like a triangle of treasures with the art shows on Shaw Street and the markets over at Market Square,”she said.
“Everything would be in walking distance but this week has put a bit of a dampener on things again.
“We had come in all gung-ho and suddenly things have just gone a little bit flat because of the COVID-19 outbreaks.”
Mr Goodall said it “would be great to be back”.
“It’s like holding your breath under water for two years and finally you can breathe,” he said.
The 2021 Mortlake Art Show will be held in two exhibitions at the RSL hall on the corner of Shaw Street and Townsend Street, and at the Soldiers Memorial Hall.
The event will run over the three days of the long weekend from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 10am until 3pm on Monday.
Should the market be able to run, it will be held from 9am until 1pm at Market Square.
Entry to the 2021 Mortlake Art Show will cost a gold coin donation.
