One day it’s a blank wall, the next, two whales swim through a sunlit ocean. At the Kempsey Central carpark, Daniel Hend has given the community something beautiful to see.

“As I painted people were waving and honking, giving me the thumbs up,’ says Daniel. “Murals do that – people feel a real sense of engagement.”

From Kempsey, Daniel headed north to Coffs Central, in the heart of Coffs Harbour. Within hours he had transformed the pillars on the ground floor near Kathmandu into a landscape vista that stretched from rolling hills, to desert to mountains.

“I paint fast,” says Daniel. “It’s a technique my dad and I developed over the years. We call it our dab-dab method.”

Daniel’s father is well-known landscape artist Len Hend. Len taught Daniel to paint when Daniel was nine. After Year 10, Daniel left school to study visual arts and business at Ace Community College Mullumbimby, ready for a career as a visual artist. His career took off immediately. He completed his first major mural at age 18 and has never looked back.

Painting Techniques

Daniel uses house paints, mostly Dulux, and an array of brushes from huge to tiny. He begins by laying down the base colour: for a landscape, sky blue, green for the hills and rough swirls of white above. These form the shapes and outlines. The next layer adds detail: light green to catch the sun on the hillside, blue and violet for the shadows on the hills and white where he imagines light glinting off water. The process happens quickly. Suddenly a whole world emerges.

Watching Daniel paint is like watching a dancer. He moves as if in a trance, but fluidly and in complete control of each brushstroke. He likens his process to meditation and derives great satisfaction from creating to meet a concept.

“I let my brain identify the shapes then I paint the tones as I am feeling,” says Daniel.

Making the Mundane Magical

Daniel has painted all over Australia, exhibited his fine art work and won numerous painting competitions. He also worked in film and television, creating scenery and props. In fact, there are very few things that Daniel’s brush cannot transform.

As well as murals, for public and private spaces, Daniel is sought after for what is called live painting and art battles. Sounds messy!

Art Battles

“Art battle is an event from the USA. Like a grand slam, with painters facing off in a live competition,” Daniel explains. “And live art is speed painting at a function or event. Often it is themed and sometimes my work is auctioned off afterwards to raise money for a charity or community program. They’re challenging events, but fun.”

Gowings, who own Coffs Central, plan to have Daniel decorate multiple areas in the centre, as well as adding another whale to the building in support of the Gowings Whale Trust. If you’re at Kempsey Central or Coffs Central, drop in and enjoy the art of Daniel Hend.

Visit Daniel’s website to view more amazing art.

The post Daniel Hend, Mural Master appeared first on Coastbeat.

Kaleidoscope Gallery Opening

It was standing room only at the opening of the Kaleidoscope Gallery on the ground floor of Coffs Central. The gallery featured work by many of the prize winning artists from the 2022 Coffs Coast Art Prize, including winner Kelly Finley. This is in addition the exhibition of the 2022 Coffs Coast Art Prize entrants, held upstairs.

Kaleidoscope manager, Katy Dee, said, “There was such a buzz in the air. So many people turned out to celebrate the vibrant arts community of the Coffs coast. We look forward to showcasing many beloved and emerging artists over the coming years.”

Art Studio Available

Of added interest to the Coffs Harbour art fraternity is the maker space at Kaleidoscope. Here artists and other makers can work in a comfortable studio setting that is open to the public. Art lovers get to see the work being created and chat to the artist. It is fascinating to watch artistic process and hear the stories behind each object.

Coastbeat visited while local artist Zepo was at work. Zepo works digitally and on canvas. He told the story of his grandmother, a European artist who traveled the world painting. She gave him a treasured box of pastels that he still uses.

Katy Dee is both store manager and curator of the collection. “The scope of artists and artisans at Kaleidoscope is really diverse. From jewellery to beauty to art. We are becoming known as a go-to place for unique gifts.”

Kaleidoscope welcomes art lovers, art makers and the curious into their boutique of wonders. Read the full story of Kaleidoscope here.

The post Art at Coffs Central appeared first on Coastbeat.

Stress less

Researchers at Duke University have found that stress damages the immune system and ups your odds of getting bacterial infections. Learning relaxation techniques that suit you is crucial: yoga, tai chi and transcendental meditation all decrease stress hormones and get blissful endorphins – the so-called ‘happy hormones – flowing.

Vim, vigour and vitamin C

People who take vitamin C supplements might still catch the odd cold, but research shows that it will be less severe and of shorter duration than if they had not taken vitamin C, which is a great incentive to ensure you are getting enough of it. Your body cannot make or store vitamin C, so you need to take it daily. Top food sources include kiwifruit, strawberries, citrus, Brussels sprouts, capsicum and spinach.

Get out and about

Exercise is one of the best ways to build stamina, stay energised and reduce depression. A University of Southern California study found that when participants went for a vigorous 30-minute walk, they reduced muscle tension in their bodies by 20 percent. Up the ante by walking in natural surroundings: Japanese studies show that ‘forest bathing’ – spending time in bushland or other green space – reduces blood pressure, improves immune function and boosts mental acuity.

Love your guts

Fermented foods, like kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir and kimchi, supply the probiotics you need to maintain a healthy gut microbiome – the trillions of cells, microbes and genetic material that live in your intestinal tract and help to ward off pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Eating foods rich in prebiotic fibre (e.g. asparagus, onions, artichokes and dandelion greens) will ensure the probiotic bacteria thrive.

Spice up your season

Use lots of fresh ginger and garlic in your cooking to boost immunity. Ginger will soothe sore throats and coughs and ease indigestion and nausea, while garlic has powerful natural antibiotic and antiviral properties. Toss hot chillies into your stir-fry – they are excellent for improving sluggish circulation, which in turn keeps you warm.

Pick a plant

Plant-based health remedies have long been an integral part of both traditional Western and Chinese medicine, and herbs have been proven to do everything from alleviating high blood pressure and easing pain to destroying germs. Medicinal mushrooms, such as reishi, shiitake and cordyceps, boost immune cell production and fight inflammation in the body. The antioxidant polyphenols found in green tea boost metabolism, burn fat, protect against liver disease, control blood sugar levels and lower LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol. And, if you do wind up getting sick, try the Chinese herb andrographis – it is one of the most powerful cold-fighting remedies on earth.

Stop SNACC-ing

That stands for Sugar, Nicotine, Alcohol, Caffeine and Chemicals. For one month, cut out sweets, coffee, empty calories and food additives, then reintroduce small amounts of what you’ve eliminated and see how you feel; you might want to leave some behind for good.

This story first appeared on the GO VITA BLOG. You can find GO VITA at Coffs Central

The post Winter Wellness Wonders appeared first on Coastbeat.

“I spend so much time trying to develop colour combinations and they always end up the same,” she laughs. “I make a rainbow – I can’t NOT do it!”

Whether it’s her weavings, rugs, paintings or jewellery, Therese’s unique handcrafted pieces inspire joy. A lifelong curiosity for all things art and craft took her to university where she studied textiles. Therese started her business Ena & Albert while living in Sydney and taught workshops around the country. Ena & Albert products were stocked across the city and things were humming along nicely. She was an Etsy darling and enjoying exciting opportunities like the David Jones Christmas markets. The move to the Coffs Coast came about 12 years after Therese’s partner first suggested it. 

“We got together when I was 20 and he started saying he wanted to leave Sydney pretty much straight away,” she recalls. “When I got into my thirties, I closed down my business and felt ready to leave.”

“We wanted to buy a house and get another dog plus we both love the beach,” Therese continues. “It’s four years this year here and we have absolutely no regrets.” 

Colours in Kaleidoscope 

As Therese settled into her new life on the coast, she enjoyed creating just for the fun of it. When she caught wind of Kaleidoscope Coffs Central’s opening, the small fire inside her was stoked. 

“The idea of Kaleidoscope got me really excited – I felt ready to make and sell again.” 

Therese is inspired by the space and her fellow makers. She only set up shop a few weeks ago but she’s already thinking of possible collaborations. Therese acknowledges that the price of handmade items can be daunting for some but explains that each piece requires serious time, skill and love. She’s working on smaller pieces like woven eye patches to make her work a tad more accessible.

“Little handmade things are like a gateway drug,” Therese laughs. “You buy one small thing then turn around and realise your whole house is full of handmade items!”

Shooting and Weaving

It can be difficult to grasp just how much work goes into Therese’s textile pieces. A quick demonstration in her home studio puts the pieces together. Tufting is Therese’s current obsession. She uses the technique to create her retro-looking patterned rugs. 

“You thread your yarn through what looks like a gun, then “draw” onto fabric that is stretched over a frame,” Therese explains. “I’ve been tufting about nine months and it’s the scale that appeals to me – you can go big with it quite quickly.” 

Therese’s pride and joy sits by the window at the front of her studio. The Japanese wooden floor loom was a gift for ten years of service at her last job. The Saori weaving method was founded by Misao Jo when she was in her fifties. 

“A lot of weaving is about perfection whereas the Saori way is about creative expression – finding the joy in making so there’s no such thing as a mistake, that’s just part of the cloth,” says Therese. “It suits me because while there are definitely proper ways to do things, my style is to figure it out myself.”

Find Therese’s textile rugs, bags, mirrors and more at Kaleidoscope Coffs Central and follow her on Instagram. 

The post In Rainbows – Meet the Maker Therese Lyons appeared first on Coastbeat.

These photographs are amazing! Congratulations to winner, Rafael Fernandez Caballero of Spain, overall International winner. And to Matty Smith from Australia, who won British Underwater Photographer of the Year with this awe-inspiring shot of a great white shark.

International Love Fest

The images are incredibly diverse, from up-close-and-personal with a froggy love-fest, to far too up close with Matty’s great white shark.

Coastbeat spoke to Matty from his home on the mid-north coast of NSW.

‘I came to Australia as a backpacker in 1999, surfing. In 2005 I returned to work as an engineer in Queensland and loved it so much that in 2007 I emigrated. Although my background is in engineering, my big love is nature and water.

I’ve been a photographer since the mid-90s. Doing a dive ticket introduced me to the underwater world. I started to dive more than surf. Underwater photography was a natural progression.

My major break came in 2014 when I shot a portfolio of what is called ‘half-over, half-under’ images of Pacific Man of War bluebottles. My images won the Australian Geographic Nature Shot of the Year; first, second and third place in the Ocean Geographic Best Photograph of the Year’; and gained me a Nikon sponsorship. This meant that I could make photography my fulltime career. I teach, lecture and shoot for publications all around the world.’

A shark-eye view

What Matty calls ‘half-over, half-under’ describes the camera position, with the lens half-submerged in the water. It is a striking style that gives his shots great realism, as if we land-dwelling humans have ducked our heads underwater for a moment.

Matty spoke at length to Coastbeat about his style, his process and plans for an expedition to Antarctica. We’ll be publishing the full interview, with some amazing shots he has kindly allowed us to exhibit, in next week’s Coastbeat. See you then.

View all the incredible underwater images here.

The post Best Underwater Photographer 2022 appeared first on Coastbeat.

Project’s Secret Sauce Revealed

The show is attracting visitors of all ages keen to discover the art, science and changing environment of this unique place. This month you can take a virtual trip to White Bluff to hear from four of the project’s collaborators. A series of short video stories will be released online over the next month.

The first features artists Ray Rixon and Sarah Mufford. They reveal collaboration was the ‘secret sauce’ to this four-year project they’ve led with a team of 19 local artists and scientists. For this week’s video story, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung artist Tori Donnelly shares how art helps us to connect with place, and how place inspires her work.

“In this area here, there are lots of beginnings or endings of dreaming stories,” says Tori. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (@coffsharbourregionalgallery)

Science and Stories

She found the science of the land and seascape resonated with Gumbaynggirr stories. Tori explains finding connection in her art practice and with the land work well together.

“You’re taking something that you’re inspired by, you’re internalising it and then creating something out of it.”

In a modern interpretation of White Bluff’s history, Tori worked with artist Sarah Mufford and poet Chris Armstrong. They created a poetry diptych for the exhibition. Manggaarla is a map of site stories. Words are drawn from Gumbaynggirr legends and language, early settler accounts and phrasing from scientists. It even features stencilling once used to label the area’s iconic banana boxes.

Connecting to Country

“It would be great if people seeing the exhibition can take in the process of what we’ve tried to interpret and turn into art,” Tori says. “They can go out there to connect to country themselves.”

When visiting the exhibition these holidays, children also have the chance to become mini artists and scientists at new Exploration Stations. Budding scientists can record their discoveries in a journal of activities. Young artists can create drawings on postcards and enter the Summer Vibes exhibition. Experience the Exploration Stations from December 18 at the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Museum and Libraries in Coffs Harbour, Toormina and Woolgoolga.

The summer vibe continues at a family cultural event at South Park Beach Reserve on Saturday January 22. It will celebrate a new Jellyfish public sculpture and slide. There will be a Welcome to Gumbaynggirr Country then children can play on the Jellyfish. They can join in on Storytime and get creative with art workshops by TAFE and the Regional Gallery.

Watch the White Bluff video stories on the gallery’s Facebook or Instagram.

The post Feel The Creative Summer Vibes appeared first on Coastbeat.

Cb: The Summer Arts Festival sounds incredible! Who’s behind it and why is it happening?  

Leanne Prussing: This year many artists have had to cancel or postpone performances, exhibitions and workshops. They didn’t get much exposure as we missed ArtWalk. With all the tourists coming to town and everything that has been cancelled and the restrictions lifting, we thought let’s hit hard in January. The team is Vivianne Hazenveld, Sue English and me.

Cb: There’s so much on the program – let’s start with opening night.

LP: We’re opening at 6pm on Saturday January 1 with Shed Ex – an underground exhibition featuring six local artists. Think industrial chic in the MakerSpace Shed. Artists will be there making art and everything will be for sale. We’re saying buy art from living artists because the dead ones don’t need the money! From 8pm there will be a light sculpture parade around Albert Circuit. It will feature Claude Teyssier and Margrit Rickenbach’s large-scale creations. Parading with them will be top-notch circus artists up from Melbourne, aerialist Shauna Johnson and acrobat Kam McKinnon. 

Cb: It sounds fabulous! What can we expect in the weeks to follow?

LP: Sketchy Cabaret is happening on January 8. It’s life drawing meets cabaret. Circus artists Shaunah and Kam will be back performing death defying skills and then they’ll strike a pose and Vivianne and I will give life drawing instruction. You can participate or just enjoy the performers and the artists drawing them. Dinner by Port’s Sacred Pizza will be included in the $55 ticket price. Alcohol will be for sale seperately. I’ll be doing two paint and sip workshops every Friday in January. Participants will get step-by-step instruction as we paint a popular culture masterpiece like Monet’s Water Lilies or Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. I also include an art history talk. Vivianne will be offering classes in Expressive Art Through Music and Movement, Abstraction, the Power of Colour and more. Visitors can also enjoy my portrait exhibition at MakerSpace and Endangered Species Mural Exhibition in the Wilderness Activity Centre.    

Cb: What are your hopes for the Summer Arts Festival? 

LP: It will be something for tourists as well as locals. I think it will be a great kick-starter for the new year. Classes were very difficult for people to commit to in 2021. But with restrictions lifting I think we’re going to have a good run. The Summer Arts Festival will be absolutely full of joy! 

Find out more about Port Macquarie’s Summer Art’s Festival on Facebook. Get to know artist Leanne Prussing here. 

The post Summer of Art in Port Macquarie appeared first on Coastbeat.

20 Years of Community Enrichment

The list of people who made Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery a reality in 2001 is even longer than the timeline to get there. The role it plays in enriching the community is complex. The gallery inspires audiences and supports artists, cares for collections and educates youth. At the gallery’s heart remains the drive to champion cultural development in the region.

“Twenty years ago, a group of passionate people working with the support of council helped establish the regional gallery, and since the beginning it’s staged exciting exhibitions and creative events that bring our community together,” says Acting Gallery Coordinator, Lisa Knowlson.

An existing office building, Rigby House, was acquired by council to house the new gallery and library on the ground floor. Initially the new Regional Gallery opened with just half of the current area. A year later it expanded into the full space you see today.

A Little Help From Their Friends

There to support the gallery over the years with events and fundraising, has been volunteer group, the Friends of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery.

“It has become a special place for us all to connect with culture,” says Friends’ President, Heather McKinnon. “One of the most important achievements of the gallery over the years has been building the relationship with our Gumbaynggirr community.”

“We’re proud to have played a part in the gallery’s progression, including sponsoring STILL and expanding the collection of still life art.”

The Friends have contributed works ranging from Archibald-winner Ben Quilty to convict artist William Beulow Gould c.1840. This year they will fund seven acquisitions from STILL including a work by Bidjara artist Michael Cook. The gallery’s signature art prize since 2017, STILL: National Still Life Award has built on the previous success of EMSLA, first established in 2007.

Hometown Connection

Over twenty years ago, Toni Southwell had returned to her hometown of Coffs Harbour with an arts degree and joined the effort to set-up the regional gallery.

“I was a youth representative on the working party when council sought input from artists, art groups, consultants and people across the community,” Toni says.

She says a regional gallery bridges the gap for local artists who often struggle to find somewhere to exhibit.

“Over the years many local artists have had their work shown here and shared their stories or creative practice,” adds Toni, who is looking forward to the larger, purpose-built gallery at YAM.

One of the first exhibitions in 2001 was Our Place: Images of Coffs Harbour & Regions. It brought together works depicting the region by local artists and well-known names like Dunghutti artist, Robert Campbell Jnr. Two decades later, works by Gumbaynggirr artists will open YAM in a potential re-interpretation of this concept titled, Yaam Gumbaynggirr Jagun, here is Gumbaynggirr country.

Added to the gallery’s story has been adapting to COVID-19, opening exhibitions to the world online through 3D tours, while reaching younger audiences through TikTok. Amid this year’s closures, the gallery pulled off an ambitious 20^th Anniversary program to celebrate the milestone. Starting this year with the prestigious Archibald Prize 2019 including the local Young Archie, the gallery then partnered Saltwater Freshwater Arts to present its 2021 award. The gallery’s signature prize, STILL 2021, was the biggest and most diverse yet. It further cemented Coffs as a centre for still life art. Now on show is The White Bluff Project, the result of local artists and community working together. Presenting exhibitions like this illustrates what a regional gallery is all about.

The 20th Celebration is December 14. Details here.

Revisit 20 years of exhibitions and the collection of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, on Coffs Collections.

The post 20 Years of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery appeared first on Coastbeat.

“COVID arrived soon after the bushfires, so people didn’t have much of a chance to recover from that,” explains Kirra Ratcliffe, Community Engagement and Youth Participation officer at Headspace. “Young people needed a safe space to create and talk about their experiences.” 

Headspace submitted plans for an Artful Recovery group and received a grant from North Coast Primary Health Network and Coffs Harbour City Council.   

“The group helped a lot of young people get their emotions on paper, build resilience and go on that journey with Emma and their peers,” says Kirra.

Art Therapy for Expression and Connection

Art therapist Dr Emma Gentle uses art therapy frames combined with community arts practices to support connection. She coordinates and develops programs for children, young people and their families in Australia, UK and Mexico. 

“The young people had the opportunity to come to get together and to express how they’ve been feeling,” Emma explains. “A lot of those feelings and a lot of what they’ve experienced is disconnection – sometimes from themselves, their peers and certainly their communities.”

Groups of young people aged between 13 and 20 took part across the year and adapted to online workshops during lockdown. Kirra says it was a joy to witness. 

“It was amazing to watch the progress of the young people,” she says. “They grew so much, developed confidence and built great relationships.”

Emma says the exhibition is an important part of the process as it allows the young people to connect with the community in a community space. 

“You all get to see the artists inside of them and what’s on for them,” she explains. “I hope you enjoy looking at this art as much as I enjoyed facilitating the art group.”

“They have blossomed in their art, blossomed in themselves and blossomed in their relationships with each other.”

Artful Recovery is open now and will be exhibited until December 15. It is located in the Coastbeat Creative Hub on Level 1 at Coffs Central. 

The post Recovery and Resiliance Through Art appeared first on Coastbeat.

Students Take Centre Stage

“The students found the venue, did marketing collateral, they’ve curated the show, hung it all and made the catalogue,” Head Teacher Sara Bowen explains. “My heart was in my throat wondering if they’d get it done – but they worked hard and I’m really proud of them!” 

Sara manages TAFE teachers and students in Coffs Harbour and Grafton across fashion, furniture making, photography, screen and media, music, ceramics and visual arts. She’s impressed by the students’ motivation, innovation, and quality of work. Sara points out that some are proficient in one medium but decided to experiment. Ceramicist Cath O’Gorman turned her attention to painting while 3D artists and animator Tony Nicholson attempted wood assemblage. 

“Our students come from all sorts of backgrounds and range in age from 16 to 65 plus,” Sara explains. “We have people with intellectual disabilities, people who are really established in the community and students who already have a university education.” 

Mixed Media Memories

Visual arts student Julie Byers chose to explore history, family and identity through mixed media. She has created record covers featuring collages of family photos. Each “record” is named after a song and tells a different story. Julie says one is an homage to her aunt and is particularly dear to her. 

“It’s called Secret Love,” she points out. “My aunt got pregnant in the fifties and gave up her child for adoption – she never really recovered.” 

Seeing her art on gallery walls has given Julie a boost and helped her appreciate the high standard of work produced by her classmates. 

Setting the Standard

TAFE will offer an impressive range of creative industry courses in Grafton and Coffs Harbour in 2022. Sara confirms music, screen and media, photography, fashion, furniture making, visual arts and ceramics are going ahead in the new year. Prospective students can pick up information brochures at the UNBOXED exhibition and get an indication of what’s possible. 

“This exhibition shows that students are being taught the practical skills needed for a career in the creative arts,” Sara says. “The standard is high but if that’s where you want to go, we can take you there.” 

UNBOXED is now open at Coffs Central on Level 1. The exhibition runs until November 17.

Coffs Coast creatives – get excited! Kaleidoscope is coming.

The post UNBOXED: Creative Industry Grads on Show appeared first on Coastbeat.