Happy New Year to all our patrons.
We look forward to welcoming you once again to our wonderful gallery.
We began our year with a successful and busy stockroom sale weekend on the 16th and 17th followed by our first set-up of the gallery on the 20th.
Our first exhibition of 2021, The Irish Connection, featuring artist Hilary Wakeling and her husband Ashley Wakeling was installed ready for the doors to open on January 21.
Most Australians have a connection to another country or many countries.
In this exhibition Hilary has explored her "Irishness" and has used many of the icons from that country, with Australian icons that she holds very dear.
"Even though I feel Australian and am Australian, I am occasionally reminded that I am an immigrant and have a whole other heritage to acknowledge and be grateful for," Hilary said.
Hilary has been a Redland resident since 1983 and an active member of Coochie Art Group since 1994.
She joined the Old SchoolHouse Gallery, Cleveland, in 2012.
Ashley viewed this exhibition as a good opportunity to showcase some uniquely Australian timbers and combine it with Hilary's Irish heritage. Most timbers used have been recycled.
Ashley hunts for old wardrobes that are no longer wanted and converts them to more usable items.
He says: "I love silky oak, huon pine, hoop pine, but one of my favourite timbers is the red cedar. Most of the red cedar would have come from the East Coast of Australia, and only from a thick forest."
A highlight for Ashley is putting on the finishing coat to show up the beautiful grain and colour.
Opening night is February 6 and the show will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. All are welcome.
To view this exhibition and other fine new work the gallery is open Thursdays to Sundays, 9.30am to 4.30pm, at the Old SchoolHouse Gallery. When the flags are out we are open.
Australia is home to the world's third-largest population of Irish migrants - about 2 million people.
