LAST month’s VINO art exhibition at Coorinja Winery helped bring new joy to our community in what has been a difficult year for many local people.
It was an on-again off-again project as Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions crushed many arts and culture events with devastating consequences across Australia.
The Arts Toodyay committee sat down in July to talk about this year’s VINO.
Last month’s annual Toodyay Picnic Races were cancelled so where was Arts Toodyay with VINO?
Do we take the risk?
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We believed it was a very important decision for our community, our region and our membership of artists and helpers.
Then Toodyay Christmas shop owner Sean Byron said: “I will be your major financial sponsor – the community needs this.”
Something extraordinary happened right there and then.
In one single day, the generosity of local businesses and a call for award sponsorship fell into place.
New Toodyay Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst responded enthusiastically to our invitation to open this year’s 15th anniversary exhibition as guest speaker.
We were elated when our amazing judges Peter Efford and Georgina Efford accepted our invitation and again knew something wonderful was in store.
Judging took more than three and a half hours.
Our opening night was warm and balmy and started early with the arrival of about 150 invited guests, mostly local people.
Friendships were renewed, spirits were lifted, people laughed and joined together again at VINO – all in the name of art.
The three-day exhibition over WA’s Queen’s Birthday long weekend attracted a total of about 2700 art lovers.
Our team of hard-working volunteers greeted visitors who viewed more than 230 pieces of beautiful, interesting creations, and enjoyed good wine, goodwill and a very funny auction on the opening night.
Thanks Coorinja owner Michael Woods and local real estate agent Lui Marcelli.
Thank you Suzie for such a positive and wonderful opening address.
Thank you Sean for your sponsorship, clever lighting and Best in Show Award won by Stephen Hill for A Bend in the River.
Thank you local WA Nationals MP Shane Love for again sponsoring an Acquisition Award for best Local, Regional Emerging Artist which was won by Sue Walker for Dusk Over the Simpson.
Thanks to sponsors Christmas 360, Makit Hardware, Toodyay and District’s Bendigo Community Bank, Toodyay Op Shop and Toodyay Theatre Group.
The exhibition sold an amazing 77 works of art and enabled our community to share a great local art experience that brought joy to many – it was unique and special.
Thank you everyone.
Margaret Sommerville
Treasurer, Arts Toodyay
