By Callum Ludwig
The art displays and sculptures for the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead’s Art on the Hill exhibition are in and set to be installed.
Art will be installed on Friday 9 September, with the exhibition running on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September between 10.00am and 4.00pm, before the works are uninstalled on Monday 12 September.
Art on the Hill exhibition coordinator Paul Cacioli said there are 50 different entries from 20 different artists.
“It’s a whole variety of media from bronzes, metalwork, ceramics, woodwork, paintings and combinations of all of those, and with contemporary and classical styles. It’s going to be a very eclectic and interesting show, and the prices range everywhere from $200 to $5000-$6000,” he said.
“People do so many things, from work with reclaimed metals or reclaimed materials to paintings that are abstract to realistic to surreal, it stimulates the mind. Some make a political statement or an environmental statement that gets you thinking, and art is meant to provoke the mind so it is great.”
A group of blacksmiths, including Mr Cacioli himself, will be on-site and putting on a display smithing show as well, making statutes or candlestick holders among other things. The Two Peas in a Pod cafe will also be serving food and coffee.
Mr Cacioli said exhibitions like this are important for giving artists exposure.
“They also can come in contact with different people that appreciate their art and hopefully, people that really appreciate it will buy it. Artists obviously need to be able to sell their work as well,” he said.
“With this exhibition, I’ve charged the artists a small entry fee and there’s no commission so they are able to put reasonable prices on their work.”
Both new and old works have been accepted into the exhibition to help include art as exhibitions have been halted over the last two years by Covid, and with the association of sculptors of Victoria’s exhibitions having restrictions on the number of times one piece can be exhibited.
Mr Cacioli said the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead also provides a unique location for people to get out of the city and enjoy.
“It adds a bit of interest and has a lot of history being built in the 1800s. People can have a look at the art and they can sit and think in the gardens or have a walk around the property. It adds a different facet to the exhibition.” he said.
“I think people really miss coming to exhibitions, it’s really good for people to see the different things that artists do because they’re just so many things.”
The Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead will also be holding a Blacksmithing Festival on 16 October featuring a number of blacksmiths putting on more displays and presenting a variety of metalworks.
