There will be no better place to experience an assortment of visual art experiences than at this year’s Jumpers and Jazz in July festival. The official program is packed with exhibitions and opportunities to indulge in the visual arts.
First on everyone’s list will be the delightfully unique tree jumper exhibition featuring 110 beautifully crafted artworks wrapped around the trunks and branches of the trees in the CBD. Entries for the official exhibition have been arriving in the mail from as far away as Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom however most of the entries are created by participants from South East Queensland including many from the Southern Downs.
In addition to the famous tree jumper exhibition, Warwick Art Gallery will present the third touring exhibition from the Alice Springs Beanie Festival titled Colours of the Country III. The exhibition showcases the artistry and universal appeal of a warm cosy beanie. The Gallery will also present an incredible seven metre long freeform knitted and crocheted artwork featuring hundreds of small artworks from 27 different countries. These small works were sewn together by well known Queensland yarn artist Prudence Mapstone and the entire work is a celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the Flower Power movement.
The Gallery’s creative yarn bombing team will transform the façade and forecourt of Warwick Town Hall into a “yarntopia” of vines, flowers, hanging plants with plenty of delightful surprises that this experienced team is known for.
Make sure you don’t miss seeing the incredible sculpture Casting Off created for Jumpers and Jazz in July by award winning Townsville artist Alison McDonald. Inspired by the retro favourite Granny Square, this artwork is made entirely from thousands of plastic lids and zip ties. From a distance the work looks colourful and cosy but as you get closer you realise the materials used are plastic, hard and prickly. Alison McDonald is passionate about recycling and highlighting our love/hate relationship with plasti
“My artwork represents our strange relationship with plastic, “says Alison, “We need it and use it every day but end up with so much of it as waste – what do we do with it?”
The fifth annual art@st.marks will return for another free art exhibition during the first weekend of the festival. Visitors will be able to buy original pieces for their home or business or that special gift and take a warming break in the onsite Art Cafe. This professionally displayed exhibition grows in popularity each year.
Cafe Jacqui’s will present My Last Hu-rrah by Warwick’s queen of recycling Helen Newton featuring her knitting, crochet and fabric art.
The Southern Downs community is lucky to have several very active and motivated art groups who throw open the doors to their studios during the festival. Warwick Art’s Group will present their Showcase exhibition at their studio on Willi Street and the Warwick Potters Association will display their creative clay work at their annual Hot Pots exhibition.
The Warwick and District Historical Society have curated a new exhibition for the festival called Visions of the Past depicting the development of Warwick and District from the mid 1800’s to the mid 1900’s. A visit to this exhibition is an absolute must for anyone interested in heritage and history.
The Blue Bird Kitchen and Bar have invited artist Sophie Hart to exhibit during the festival. Owner Katie Osborn is committed to dedicating the walls of their unique restaurant to emerging artists.
“Sophie’s watercolour paintings are simply beautiful,” says Katie, “We love to offer young artists like Sophie the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work, especially during the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival.”
For details about the comprehensive festival exhibition program, head to the Festival’s website www.jumpersandjazz.com to view the full program or purchase the program booklet for a gold coin donation at Warwick Art Gallery, Warwick Visitor Information Centre, Bryson’s Place, Style Shoes, Classic Dimensions or Just Because Flowers and Gifts.