Artwalk along Brooke Street
Inglewood
Brooke Street is full of delights, from the renowned collectable stores to inviting cafes, and this year it’s putting on a special show for Arts Trail. Start at the garden art, linger a little longer to see the paintings displayed in shop windows, then step into history as Aurora Lodge opens its doors for visitors.
10 Brooke St, Rusty Art Studio - garden art in and around the home studio of the Murdochs
54 Brooke St, 3517 Cafe – paintings by Janette Nixon
66 Brooke St, Carlie Clothing and Gifts– paintings by Kerrie O’Keefe
83 Brooke St, The Red Door – “Behind the Brush”, paintings by Robyn Holtham and Michelle Thornton
95 Brooke St, Aurora Lodge - historic display of Masonic Lodge Memorabilia including Freemasons regalia and photographs
Rusty Garden Art: Creations with repurposed materials including Rusty wall hangings, Rusty Dogs, Cats, Platypus, Kangaroo and Larger Birds for the Garden.
Janette Nixon is a self-taught artist working mainly in watercolours, although she does enjoy experimenting with all mediums through her creative work. Her colourful pieces exude a sense of vibrancy and joy.
Kerrie O’Keefe moved to Wedderburn in 2021 and has shown work at the Inglewood Library, Wedderburn Coach House Gallery and the Loddon Valley Arts Trail 2024. Kerrie won the Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Wall Prize 2024 with their work 'The Invert'. The judges said of the work, 'What initially stood out for us was the refined pallet and the subtle homage to surrealism. Overall the painting left us with a sense of ambivalent but curious interpretation and the dreamlike softness of it.' My recent paintings range in scope from the subtly ambiguous to the epic tale. My experience of any painting starts with an idea that emerges from a somewhat caustic poetic imagining that then requires the finest of painterly technique which I don't actually possess. So it becomes a painting that I have finished, (something in itself), and a painting that I hope others may enjoy.
Robyn Holtham trained as a Gold & Silversmith in the School of Art at RMIT in the '70s and has been making wearable art for most of her life until recently, when a worsening spinal condition made this too difficult. Her jewellery pieces are held in both public and private collections here in Australia, as well as overseas. It was during the Covid lockdowns, that she and a friend discovered an on-line painting group run by Sydney Artist Gabbi Lancaster. With the guidance of Gabbi and the group, Robyn then began to explore various different techniques painting in acrylics, first on paper and then canvas. These comprise most of her larger scale, intuitive and more abstract works. Always having been inspired by the natural world, it's beauty and it's fragility, regardless of medium, Robyn is now finding new inspiration in the Loddon environment, where she has chosen to retire with her partner. Here, she also met Mal Gilmour, following her participation in the 2024 Loddon Arts Trail and began attending his art classes to learn oil painting techniques. She has now recently added oil pieces on board and canvas to her artworks.
Michelle Thornton has been painting and making art for over 25 years, experimenting over time with a variety of techniques and mediums. Her work is inspired by her love for nature and animals, her fascination for geometric patterns in nature and decorative pattern art. Japanese, Islamic and Celtic patterns often make an appearance in Michelle’s work. A variety of materials and techniques such as printing and collage, are used to create her striking artworks, and she is always challenging herself to learn and improve by exploring new mediums and techniques. For the last four years, Michelle has been studying with the legendary Mal Gilmour, who has opened her up to the joys and challenges of working with oils.
Aurora Lodge Behind the façade of this 1892 building, the original Masonic Lodge meeting rooms with their ornate murals have been preserved by owner Richard Penno, and now house regalia and memorabilia.