The Water Dragon Project was a popular attraction within the Landcare Expo at the Orbost Show on Monday, March 9.
Members of the Wilderness Coast Artists (WCA) painted alongside members of the public to create small pieces of the overall artwork.
The theme of the environment along the lower Snowy River encompassed representations of plants, animals and human activity along the river.
Members were honoured to have Pip Courtney from ABC’s Landline paint one of the squares.
Each small painting is 15x15cm and is glued onto a large 120x240cm board.
The overall image of the Gippsland Water Dragon is emerging as more painted squares are added to the artwork.
After the Orbost Show, the artwork travelled to the Forge Theatre in Bairnsdale as part of the East Gippsland Shire’s Immersive Arts Month.
Wilderness Coast Artists members were present to guide members of the public in painting more pieces of the dragon.
A group of year nine students from Nagle College, accompanied by their art teacher, participated in painting pieces.
On March 28, the dragon will appear on stage at the Creative Summit conference in the Forge Theatre and Wilderness Coast Artists spokesperson, Cynthia Boyle will give a short presentation about the production process that enabled the project to come to life.
Hundreds of volunteer hours are an essential ingredient on projects like this but are often invisible behind the finished work..
Wilderness Coast Artists would like to publicly thank Far East Gippsland Landcare for their support at the Orbost Show.
The invitation to participate and the help given by Landcare were instrumental in making the Gippsland Water Dragon Project come to life.
The Water Dragon will return to the Wilderness Coast Artists’ studio following the summit to be finished by members of the group.
Visitors to the studio are welcome every Tuesday from 10am until 3pm.
Studio activities
On Tuesday, March 24, the WCA Studio is hosting Creative Summit on Tour from 9.30am-12.30pm.
Creatives are travelling around the East Gippsland Shire to talk, network and coordinate all things arts-related.
A new watercolour special interest group has started up from Monday and will meet fortnightly from 10am until noon.
Every Tuesday is Art Day. Members of the public are welcome to pop in for a visit and a chat from 10am until 3pm. Bring along a work in progress or start a new one.
Drawing class convenes every second Monday from 1pm-3pm.
Artist of the Month, Ngaere Donald’s work will be on the feature wall of the studio until Easter Tuesday.
