Studio Sensations: Noosa Open Studios
In just five years, Noosa Open Studio has grown to be Australia’s second largest art trail and this year’s event is shaping up to be brighter, bigger and more engaging than ever, as Deb Caruso discovers.
almost 100 local artists, galleries and artisans over five amazing trails, Noosa Open Studios has firmly cemented its place as the region’s largest studio tour – and the second largest in Australia.
Offering an immersive experience for art-lovers, afficionados and the curious, Noosa Open Studios sees artists dust down their workspaces and throw open the doors to their private studios, the inner sanctum where the magic happens. Local galleries and art hubs are also joining in on the action with special exhibitions and programs planned for the ten-day event.
Now in its fifth year, the determined and talented volunteers at Noosa Open Studios have been overwhelmed with the response from artists wanting to participate in the annual celebration of their craft and have curated a program full of inspiring, engaging and informative studio visits, workshop opportunities and special events.
Artist talks, workshops or simply watching an artist in action in their native environment will allow visitors to learn about the creative processes, discover new work and perhaps even create their own art or purchase an investment piece.
The free event is a choose-your-own-adventure style of journey with five geographic art trails covering ceramicists to sculptors, knife artisans to illustrators; furniture makers, mixed media artists, printmakers, photographers, painters; and those working with glass, metal, mosaics, textiles, wood and more.
Start your trip at the historic and recently-refurbished Wallace House in Noosaville, where you can collect your Noosa Open Studios Guide and view an exhibition showing one example piece from every artist on the trail. The wonderful volunteers at Wallace House can provide you with refreshments and advise you on your tailored road trip.
There are five trails to be explored over the two weekends: Trail One is Noosa, covering Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Tewantin and Cooroibah with 25 artists and three galleries; Trail Two covers the Beach areas from Peregian to Sunshine with 21 artists and one gallery; Trail Three covers Tinbeerwah to Eumundi with 25 artists and two galleries; Trail Four in Cooroy offers 13 artists and 3 galleries to be discovered; while Trail Five in Pomona has three artists and two galleries. Along the routes are fantastic food choices, cafes and coffee roasters, craft breweries and distilleries to satisfy the soul.
The enterprising committee have created two novel fundraising events starting with a Deck Chairs on the Green that will see 30 Blue Gum deck chairs handmade by Cooroora Woodworkers and adorned with canvases painted by selected artists go up for auction in the stunning surrounds of the Noosa Botanic Gardens.
Soirée at Moon Mountain will be an immersive afternoon of all thing artistic.
Noosa Open Studios: 9-11 October; 16-18 October and other days as noted in the official program. noosaopenstudios.com.au