A new visual art exhibition has opened in regional Victoria, showcasing the work of Trentham printmaker and artist Dianne Longley and her Elphinstone-based student Marylou Verberne.
The exhibition opened at St Arnaud Raillery Arts Hub last Saturday and runs until February 26. Local art lovers are encouraged to make the trek across to the venue to see the highly anticipated offering.
Exploring themes of the curious, the fantastic and the grotesque, the exhibition will feature an eclectic mix of techniques, materials and processes.
Dianne has had numerous solo and group exhibitions, and conducted workshops in printmaking, digital imaging, encaustic work and artist books in Australia, United States, Japan, Greece and the United Kingdom.
Dianne said she was thrilled to be showcasing her work in rural Victoria where she has resided for the past eight years.
“The exhibition is a unique display of fine art prints, large CNC engraved wooden works, mixed media cyanotypes, works on metal, and small bronzes cast from cuttlefish bones,” she said.
“I’ve been mentoring emerging artists for many years, whether that be teaching a range of subjects at tertiary institutions or running my own classes at Agave Print Studio in Trentham for anyone eager to develop their skills. I am delighted to launch a joint exhibition with Marylou to showcase local emerging talent.”
Elphinstone local Marylou Verberne joined the Agave Print Studio in 2019 to hone her printmaking skills.
“Just before the pandemic, I decided to follow a lifelong desire to become an artist and build my art practice from beyond just being a hobby, something I’ve always been passionate about,” Marylou said.
“I didn’t want to go back to university and do another degree, so having the mentorship by Dianne was a great option for me. It’s been a steep learning curve, but coming to this later in life, it has been an incredible experience to work so closely with such an experienced artist.”
“The opportunity to exhibit my work for the first time in my local community is special. My work focuses on landscapes with corroding buildings, capturing the present infrastructure and how it has been swallowed up in time, by nature. I hope the theme of ‘Change is the Only Constant’ resonates.”
The St Arnaud Raillery Arts Hub is located in Queens Avenue, St Arnaud and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.
