Welcome! This is a website that everyone can build together. It's easy!

Warrumbungles Arts and Crafts Inc. HomeThis is a featured page

WAACI Logo



Our logo depicts the Siding Springs Observatory and beside it is the Breadknife a unique mountain peak in the Warrumbungles Mountains. This depiction brings together nature and science with artistry. Both are iconic symbols revered hereabouts and often used in a variety of ways to represent our locality.
We are well pleased to have had this logo combining both symbols, made for us by such a lovely lady, talented artist and dedicated member.


ALL ABOUT US........


WAACI’s ‘home’
is the Anglican Church Hall in Dalgarno Street, Coonabarabran.
Gatherings are held every Thursday from 9.30am until closing usually around 1pm although some may linger a little longer.
Meetings are on the 4th Thursday every month at 10.30am .
This hall is airy and well lit and offers great storage area with sturdy trestle tables and a well-equipped kitchen.
It has often been the scene of hilarious occasions along with more serious application to productive days.
Whatever, they are always a bright and friendly bunch ready to welcome new chums and help them settle in.

PLEASE NOTE .............

WAACI is now happily back in their old home again - moving back in May - we were quite happy in our temporary home and are grateful for the bolthole during the repairs.

(from the beginning of the 2011 year, WAACI has relocated to the Adventist Hall (between the CWA Hall and the Dentist) in Cassilis Street. This
hall is light and airy with a well appointed kitchen and clean toilet facilities nearby. The hall has been cool throughout the warmer days with the help of overhead fans,
and will probably be quite cosy in winter. This is a temporary move as the Anglican Hall is being repaired and refurbished after previous storm damage.)


THE WAACI STORY

WAACI hold an Annual Art & Craft Exhibition as part of the Coonabarabran Festival of the Stars, usually held in middle to late October. This is a great display of local talent and regularly draws entries as far away as Queensland, South Australia and Victoria and sometimes even further afield. The Exhibition opens with an entertaining preview night and continues daily 10am to 6pm for four days.
The craft and art are housed in separate rooms with space to meander or linger. The talented sculpture enthusiasts have emerged as a totally separate entity and are steadily growing in scope and size. The inclusion of their work adds another charming vista to the exhibition’s display.
This event, previously staged for many years in the local small drama hall, has now moved to the much roomier Coonabarabran Town Hall. This then allows for the displays to be more spread out and presents a much more attractive spectacle.

WAACI hold two open days a year.
These open days give the locals a chance to mingle with the artists and craftists, watch them at work, browse displays and make purchases from the trading table all washed down with a delicious morning tea. Additionally, several workshops with experienced and talented art tutors are held several times a year. These are made available to members at a greatly reduced fee. Dubbo professional artist Peter Mortimore is a much-valued regular who generously works in a mentoring capacity with our group. Other artist/tutors of note have been Wendy Jennings (Painting), David McBride (Painting), Gay Campbell (Drawing), Judy Shalhoub (Painting),
Sue Harvey-Walker (Lead lighting).
See COMING EVENTS for dates.

Whilst painting or drawing workshops
have predominated in the past WAACI look forward to staging more craft workshops to accommodate the interests of our growing members needs. The craft members are probably the fastest growing element at the present time.

WAACI have some very talented and accomplished artists
on our books........

WAACI MembersRita England uses watercolour, oils, pastels, charcoal, and pencil in her artwork and is known for her exquisite orchids and lovely landscapes.
Rita has won many prizes over the years and has received the Acquisitive Award twice. Rita was the 2008 winner with her picture called "Smoko". Rita also makes lovely gift cards and is a very accomplished amateur photographer winning lots of national and international prizes. Rita has been the WAACI Treasurer for many years and is a real treasure herself as she performs many other duties outside this job description.


The late Elaine Worrel liked to create vibrant abstracts in pastel but was accomplished in all other media and styles as well. In 1998 Elaine received the Acquisitive prize for her lovely painting "Creek at Sunset", which hangs in the Warrumbungle Shire chambers in Coonabarabran. We mention Elaine because it was she who so generously created the insignia/logo that we proudly use seen at the top of this page. She will always be sadly missed.

Exhibition Preview 2008Maureen Lindsay, a true water colourist, has recently emerged a very competent prizewinner with abstract themes. Her landscapes though are in true watercolour traditional style. But, Maureen's charming "chook" paintings are always much admired and swiftly snapped up. Clever Maureen carries this theme across to teatowels and aprons as well.





Noeline Munns always excels at pastel and watercolour with old homesteads and woolsheds a specialty. Many gravitate to her beautiful paintings and are held in thrall by the historical accuracy. Noeline's works too wind up in pride of place
adorning home walls as well as the Shire Council's walls. Noeline too likes to ply the needle producing lovely embroidery and superbly knitted garments.

Preview NightJanet Head, another all rounder, has emerged as a talented pastellist choosing interesting and unusual subjects. Janet, a long time member was the last President of WAACI. Outback hats and boots are often featured. Janet's current interest is portraiture but she is inclined to try her hand at most genres, styles and methods with great success. Janet also likes to make gift cards using many different styles and methods.



Preview NightSue Graham as well as being an accomplished artist and major prizewinner is also a well known local identity. Sue likes to create large vistas, dancing subjects and indigenous themes while drawing in charcoal is her forte. A three times Acquisitive Award winner, Sue's works are always much admired. When not teaching art she can be found teaching yoga. Her work is often found on display for sale at Cardians, a popular local Coonabarabran Cafe.




First Expo 2007Norma Roberts’ tries to hide her light under a bushel. She likes to use oil, producing attractive landscapes and still life canvases that surprise her (but not us) by doing so well. Norma a valued member (formerly President of WAACi for some years), is active on many community committees and is dedicated to the RDA. Norma is currently a Vice President.




Preview Night

Dell Stewart comes from Binnaway and masters every medium she has tried and is so modest about her abilities. Her forte is attractive landscapes and she has a wonderful eye for a scene that works. Dell is also another TAFE student.



Christmas 2006Melva Thompson often wins prizes with her lovely water colour miniatures (as well as her exquisite crochet and delicate knitting). A long time member she is another quiet achiever.




Janet Smith is a supreme artist that draws much admiration for her wonderful light filled technique. Her seaside and farm scenes are very popular and swiftly snapped up. Janet is another regular prize winner and also has pictures hanging in the council chambers.

Preview 2009Barbara Broeksema is a perfectionist who paints mostly in watercolours and pastels and produces lots of lovely works with a passion for portrait and animals. Barbara too makes lots of intricate tapestries and cross stitch pictures which she usely gives away to friends and is an accomplished knitter. Barbara too wins awards for her crafts. She is currently doing the TAFE Fine Arts Course Cert II in Visual Arts & Contemporary Craft. Barbara is the current president elected in 2011.




Preview NightBruce Breckenridge is another member who attended the TAFE art course in 2008/9 and is emerging as a painstaking painter of attractive landscapes using different mediums. His delicate watercolours are always much admired. Bruce is also currently Secretary of WAACI.






WAACI MembersMonica Barker enjoys symogrophy (which is sewing lovely patterns with thread onto gift cards) and giving them to her friends on celebration days. Monica also writes the verses she inserts as well. She also enjoys knitting and crocheting delightful garments for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Monica also enjoys painting and drawing.






Preview NightLorraine Renneberg makes wonderful garments with her own spun wool, she also felts marvellous hats, skirts and shawls, embroidery is another of her passions. Lorraine also attends a creative art class at the local Tafe. Lorraine is a current Vice President.





Most of the above are, or have been in the past, regular and multiple prizewinners at most of the surrounding local Agricultural shows and Art Exhibitions. Five of the above named have received the Acquisitive Award, a couple more than once. There are also those souls who create for their own individual pleasure and do not exhibit at all and yes we do have some men on our books as well. One of them is currently our Secretary who does attractive landscapes. Quite a few of our members are doing a Certificate II Arts course at TAFE. and are in their 2nd or 3rd year. While others have been attending a more general arts course also at TAFE.


CRAFT


A recent past craft passion
was embroidered "Ladies", crinoline or otherwise, with many joining in that lovely pursuit. These were such charming visions of yesteryear usually produced in the form of wall hangings, doyleys and cushion covers. That year members brought in lovely 'olde' pieces of embroidery and such that were handed down in the family adding to the nostalga.

Some members like to do cross-stitch, others ply the needle with tapestry while nearly all crochet or knit. One lady tats beautifully while another draws admiration for her heirloom crocheted tablecloth. Patchwork fads come and go as does spinning.

Scrapbooking is always an interest of some while jewellery making has also been in vogue. Hand made cards have always been quite popular. These cards can use stamping or cut outs or symography (a type of embroidery similar to the nail and string pictures of the seventies). These often become more popular around Christmas time. Like the arts members, these crafty women all help each other to learn techniques, read patterns and correct anomalies. The craft ladies are multi-talented, very prolific and are also hiding multiple prizewinners too numerous to mention. Some cross over easily from art to craft and back again.

Whilst talent will emerge wherever it hides, most members are just happily doing their own thing in like company. Nevertheless, everyone who joins has something to share, after all, creativity is often reciprocal if not contagious - just like the laughter we hear each week.

_____________________________________________________________________

Don‘t forget
to read our semi-regular column "WAACI HAPPENINGS"
in the Coonabarabran Times Newspaper
and now included on a separate page of this website.
This gives the current news and details of coming events etc.
for those people who prefer to read newspapers.

AND . . . . . . . . . go to 'COMING EVENTS'
also a separate page on this website
for all the latest news & updates!

Contacts:

Barbara Broeksema, President - 68422294
Rita England, Treasurer - 68427846
Bruce Breckenridge, Secretary - 68422841
Maxine Bright, Publicity Officer - 68421288
WAACI email address: waacipeople@yahoo.com.au
WAACI website address: www.waaciartscrafts.wetpaint.com









barbbrock
barbbrock
Latest page update: made by barbbrock , Dec 15 2011, 10:31 PM EST (about this update About This Update barbbrock Edited by barbbrock

24 words added
12 words deleted

view changes

- complete history)
Keyword tags: None
More Info: links to this page
Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
MonicaMBarker THESE THREADS!!! 0 Nov 25 2010, 1:06 AM EST by MonicaMBarker
Thread started: Nov 25 2010, 1:06 AM EST  Watch
For those who get down this far ............ this is the business end of things, where the administrators communicate with each other and post the latest edits. The year old ones that were here previously have now been removed. TY
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Showing 1 of 1 threads for this page