Exhibition has Christmas gift giving artfully Gift Wrapped

Celebrating the opening of the Gift Wrapped exhibition are (from left) artist Waylene Currie, Mununjali Elder Aunty Roslyn Yuke, Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group Chair Cr Michael Enright and artist Tamlyn Geiger. Photo credit Irene Girsch-Danby.

As the Christmas countdown begins, Scenic Rim Regional Council has solved the present problem with an exhibition that is Gift Wrapped.

Officially opened by Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group Chair Cr Michael Enright at The Centre Beaudesert on Friday evening, the exhibition features works by artists, artisans and authors from the Scenic Rim and beyond that would make the ideal gift or acquisition for a collection.

"Gift Wrapped has something for everyone so, if you are searching for a gift for that special someone who has everything, look no further than the array of bespoke creations that Council is proud to showcase in this exhibition," he said.

"Many of the pieces available for purchase are one-off works of art unique to the Scenic Rim and reflect the creative spirit of our community.

"Some of the pieces really are a piece of the Scenic Rim, such as Larissa Warren's ceramics which have been created from volcanic clays sourced from Tamborine Mountain with the support of locals and traditional owners."

The exhibition showcases beautiful paintings, works on paper, sculptures, pottery, jewellery, textiles, fibre works and even books by authors including Robyn Dobbs, Jenny and Rick Old, Ailsa Rolley and Gillian Wells.

Painters, sculptors, potters and jewellers whose work features in the exhibition include Rhiannon Barrett-Brook, Zela Bissett, Renata Buziak, Nicole Crosswell, Waylene Currie, Heather Dale, Therese Flynn-Clarke, Tamlyn Geiger, Claudje Lecompte, Twisted Murf,  Felicity Smith, Larissa Warren, recent Swell Sculpture Festival award winner Colleen Lavender and Nicci Parry-Jones of PJ Pottery, who in 2022 won an award at the Sydney Teapot Show for one of her steampunk-inspired creations.

With works of wearable art, textile and fibre artists Erica Bates, Polly Cameron, Shannon Hunter, Bonny Shore and Cindy Wood are also represented in the exhibition.

"Gift Wrapped showcases the wealth of talent in our creative community and regular visitors to The Centre's galley will be familiar with the works of many of the artists featured in this eclectic mix which ranges from practical everyday items to the purely ornamental," Cr Enright said.

"Whether you are looking for the perfect present or something to spoil yourself, you'll find plenty of inspiration in Gift Wrapped."

Already wrapped for gift giving are handmade cheese boards by Rick Old, who uses Huon pine from Tasmania, pine, silky oak, jarrah and mahogany, each signed and dated by their creator.

The Scenic Rim's Indigenous heritage has been captured in works by Waylene Currie, whose artworks draw on her connection to culture, country and stories of the dreaming.

Textures in Gift Wrapped range from rugged wireworks by Twisted Murf to soft cyanotype silk scarves by Renata Buziak.

The exhibition, which runs until Saturday 16 December, has something for every taste and budget, from Heather Dale's hand-painted watercolour cards to major works of art and sculpture.

"As our final exhibition of 2023, Gift Wrapped beautifully wraps up our cultural year and ties it up neatly in a bow," Cr Enright said.