Community
12 December, 2022
"Gazza´s Goss: Local artists are a DAB hand!"
APART from the usual festivities of Christmas and the New Year, the end of the year is an opportunity to have a rest and also celebrate what has been achieved over the last 12 months.
This is very much the case at Douglas Arts Studio Gallery or DAB, as it is better known, in Mossman.
They are currently running their End of Year Exhibition for 2022 with a huge variety of artworks including 350 items from 47 exhibiting artists. If you’re keen to take a look, the exhibition will run until Saturday, December 17.
DAB is located in an amazing Heritage listed building in Mill Street, which was originally a branch of the Port Douglas National Bank of Australasia and is now owned by the Douglas Shire Council. Architect Lange L. Powell designed the elaborate ‘Greek Temple’ façade of this timber building to give people confidence in the bank.
It seems fitting that such a beautiful building is now home for an Arts Studio Gallery.
The Douglas Arts Base was the brainchild of Marjorie Norris in 2002 who, with other local artists, saw a need for basic arts education courses for everyone. As a result, Douglas Arts Studio Gallery Incorporated became the first group of its kind in the region to open its hearts and minds to the local community.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a place to turn up and view a few paintings, this place is all about involving the community and is in fact 100 per cent run by volunteers with approximately 140 members each year.
Its facilities include a studio gallery where art classes are held and members can exhibit and sell their artwork and there are two sheds out the back for pottery, mosaics and glass work.
As part of their End of Year Exhibition, they’re having two People’s Choice Awards. Visitors can have two votes of their choice, one for a 2D artwork and one for a 3D artwork. There are also four raffle prizes to win.
Much of the artwork is up for sale so it’s a great chance to do your Christmas shopping, as there is something for all budgets.
If you’re keen to get involved in DAB, there are a wide variety of art classes on offer where participants can learn to draw, paint, do pottery, mosaics, wheel-throwing, urban sketching, collage or even work with glass. DAB caters for absolute beginners and also the more experienced artists, so there is something for everyone. Some classes are tutored, while others are ‘peer groups’, where you bring along your project and work, to talk and share ideas with other like-minded people in a very relaxed atmosphere. There are weekly classes, with courses that run for a number of weeks and workshops that for a half or full day.
DAB also holds approximately four exhibitions a year, where members are invited to exhibit their artwork…. so why not join and get involved.
I’m off to paint a Christmas tree, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
