The Summer Show

2 Dec – 23 Dec 2012

Painting|Photography|Sculpture|Print|Textile

The Summer Show exhibition is a selection of family works and friends that include Grace Mitchell (dec.), Jenni Mitchell, Mervyn Hannan, Sonia Skipper (dec.), Damien Skipper, Geoffrey Eggleston (dec.) and Tugsoo Sodnom (Mongolia). Much of the subject matter showcases recent journeys by Jenni & Mervyn to the ends of the earth including The Antarctic, The Arctic, Norway, Mongolia, The Australian desert and Eltham.

Grace Mitchell (1916 -2011) lived on this property since 1948. Grace passed away 2011 and the gallery is her legacy showcasing much of her sculpture and textile work. The gallery was once her pastry business and the orchard garden her pantry. Grace exhibited regularly in Open Studio exhibitions for many years and gained a Fine Art degree from RMIT (PIT) in the 1980s.

Jenni Mitchell – (1955) daughter of Grace Mitchell. Jenni grew up on this Eltham property and began painting at Montsalvat from age 10; later Fine Art Diploma  RMIT (PIT) and a Master of Visual Art  Monash Uni. Travelled extensively to wild places including the Australian Desert, The Antarctic, The Arctic, Norway and Mongolia.  Work held in many public and private collections in Australia and internationally.

Mervyn Hannan – (1954)  grew up Eltham son of Montsalvat artists Sonia Skipper & Joe Hannan. Travelled extensively working as an artist and musician.  Works in exhibition primarily pastel on paper from Mongolia and Flinders Ranges. Work held in public and private collections in Australia and internationally.

Sonia Skipper – (1918 -2009) Founding Montsalvat artist, sculptor and painter. Student of Justus Jorgensen exhibited regularly in Eltham before retiring to Renmark SA. Made a South Australian Living Treasure.                       

Damien Skipper – (1956) current resident, grew up at Montsalvat son of Matcham Skipper. Diploma Fine Art RMIT (PIT). Exhibited regularly since the 1980s. Major work as a painter working in oil and musician – guitar and song. Damien often creates a theme series. Work in many private collections.

Geoffrey Eggleston – (1944 – 2008)

Primarily a poet and founder of the Montsalvat Poetry Festival in Eltham. Considered himself a mystic. Painter of fine and delicate still life and watercolour work. Studied National Gallery School.

Tugsoo Sodnom – (1955) Mongolian born studied in Russian University gaining Master of Visual Art. Travelled and exhibited frequently throughout Europe, the US and Australia. Working in oil, acrylic multimedia and as a printmaker.

You are invited to:
The Exhibition of Grace Mitchell’s Work opens this coming Sunday at the Eltham South
Fine Art Gallery 2.00 – 5.00 pm.

Selected Gallery

Grace Mitchell: The Artist’s Work

Small embroidery of Tasmanian Opium Poppy Fields by Grace Mitchell

Eltham South Fine Art: Studios & Gallery hours:

Thursday  10.00am – 5.30

Friday       10.00am – 5.30pm

Saturday  10.00am – 5.30pm

Sunday     11.00am – 5.00pm

all other times by arrangement: 0417 585 102

Painting Classes are held in the gallery studio:

Thursday & Friday  10.00am – 12.30pm

Thursday evening     6.30pm – 8.30pm

Saturday                 10.00am – 12.00pm

enquiries: Jenni Mitchell (03) 9439 3458  or Mobile: 0417 585 102

email: jenni@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au

Jenni Mitchell

Its nearly three weeks since we returned to Eltham from our two months of painting exhibitions and travel to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.  And it’s so cold in Eltham! Snow storms had delayed our plane in Korea for two days; closing the airport into Ulaanbaatar. We then experienced temperatures up to 55 degrees celcius in the Gobi Desert! For temperature extremes Mongolia wins gold!

Visits to places like Mongolia reinforce how wonderful our corner of the world is. Mervyn and I are fortunate to have been born in Eltham. We have clean air, good food, art and a great community to share with the rest of the world. For us, Mongolia is a complex country of extremes; the exquisite beauty of the traditional culture juxtaposed with the hideous traffic and living conditions of the capital city Ulaanbaatar.  We will be continuing to explore these contrasts through our cultural exchange project; Desert Sharing, with Mongolian artist Tugsoo Sodnom. Some works will be previewed in our Eltham South Fine Art Gallery.

Other changes to our end of town are to announce we have decided not to continue with the Open Studio Program as we have a permanent open studio, not just for three weekends per year.  Eltham South Fine Art: Studios and Gallery is now committed to open weekly from Thursday to Sunday, 10.00am – 5.30pm. Painting classes are now available Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings. These classes are suitable for all students from raw beginners to students who would like to further their skills through a supportive program. Students are encouraged to use a range of materials from oil, acrylic, water based mediums and pastels. The classes focus on students learning to use tone to ‘see’ and to explore colour through observation.

Currently the gallery has a changing show of family work by Grace Mitchell, Jenni Mitchell & Mervyn Hannan, with selected works by our Eltham forebears including Sonia Skipper, Alan Martin and Lesley Sinclair.

Coming up this year will also be an exhibition of the late Grace Mitchell’s work. This will be our first solo exhibition  and to celebrate the life and work of my mother Grace who lived at this Eltham property for more than 60 years.

Do come and visit our winter gallery, studios and garden and share with us the turning season. Spring has already started at our end of the Shire.

Web sites to check: www.jennimitchell.com.au, www.ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au and a Mongolian blog at www.jennimitchellblog.com. Phone: 0417 585 102  or  9439 3458.

email: jenni@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au