Chelly and Peter Gray of Castlemaine’s renowned Shades of Gray Studio Gallery and Garden will launch their highly anticipated spring exhibition of new work this Saturday.
The talented artists have been working furiously behind the garden gates for the past six months in preparation for their major event.
“We have been working 12 hours a day, seven days a week to prepare this latest offering,” Peter said.
The couple originally trained in the field of ceramics but switched mediums after discovering a roll of rusty wire on their country property in the early ’90s. In 1999 they settled in Castlemaine and have spent the last 21 years transforming the garden and outbuildings around their historic cottage into a place of wonder.
During that time Shades of Gray has also had work on display from Daylesford’s Convent Gallery to the Guggenheim in New York.
Chelly and Peter’s latest exhibition features a stunning array of new creations including Kooky Owls, majestic Wishing Trees, beautiful wreaths and signs, and flowers. Hundreds and hundreds of stunning flowers in every hue.
Those who visit will enter the garden under a ceiling of beautiful bellflowers and after exploring the majestic gardens dotted with intricate birdhouses, garden sculptures, weather vanes and taking in the wide array of pieces to be enjoyed in the intimate galleries, will exit via a ‘Florist Shop’ decked out with Shades of Gray’s signature metal flowers – complete with daisy chains and hand-picked bouquets.
Peter said with recent rain the garden was looking better than ever before.
“It is looking absolutely amazing and we look forward to welcoming everyone back this spring after lockdown forced our autumn event online,” he said.
Despite the setback, Peter said the response to the autumn exhibition on Instagram was amazing and they would now include an Instagram exhibition as an element of the spring show.
“We normally have visitors travel from as far away New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia to visit us so the Instagram exhibition is a fantastic way for them to still be involved and snap up pieces from our latest collection,” he said.
The pair has gone to great pains to ensure the exhibition is operating in line with COVID-safe guidelines for those lucky enough to be able to visit. They have installed entry and exit gates to assist the flow of visitors to the garden, will limit numbers on the property and in the galleries, and will have tracing and hygiene measures in place.
You can find the Shades of Gray Studio Gallery and Garden at the corner of Farnsworth and Brown Streets in Castlemaine (accessed via Ray Street).
The exhibition will be open for nine days from October 31-November 8 from 10am to 5pm daily and then every weekend until Christmas from 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
New pieces will be added to Instagram daily at shadesofgraystudio so stay tuned for updates. To have a sneak peek at what is in store and find out more visit www.shadesofgray.net.au
