By Dongyun Kwon
YAVA has put on a different style of exhibition for the first time, which has provided a chance not only to exhibit artworks but also to connect with potential purchasers of them to local artists.
YAVA’s inaugural Art Fair aims to provide exhibition and sales opportunities for as many YAVA artist members as possible as well as to provide art lovers an opportunity where they could get a Christmas present, leading up to the holiday season.
Art Fair curator David Miller said the Art Fair gave opportunities for YAVA artists even those who had never grabbed an exhibiting opportunity before.
“We’ve got a lot of artists in YAVA and through a year’s program of exhibitions, it’s hard to get everybody’s work on the wall,” he said.
“This was an opportunity and a way of getting a lot of work on the wall.”
The exhibition showcases a variety of artworks in different mediums including paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more.
Art Fair curator David Miller said YAVA was excited to try a different type of exhibition.
“It’s a very busy exhibition, which is different to what we usually do,” he said.
“Usually, our works are more spaced out [with having] just one or two artists.
“We have a lot of artists and a lot of different works this time. We want to present all artworks well, so we thought carefully about where each piece should be placed in relation to the others.”
This exhibition features about 40 YAVA artists, making their smaller works accessible.
Sculptor Serafina Munns has submitted a few of her artworks to the exhibition.
She said she works with materials and styles which are commonly associated with basketry.
“Flowers in a vase I is just a flower in a basket. The flower is growing up out of a basket,” Munns said.
“Pink with Attitude is a cone-shaped bag, which is very vibrant with orange and red colours.
“It’s for someone who really likes to stand out and have a lot of attitude.”
Among her art pieces at the Art Fair, her favourite is The Princess Bag.
The sculptor said there is a fantasy story behind it.
“The story is that there’s a young girl who’s walking in the woods, and she meets a hermit and they spend some time talking,” Munns said.
“At the end of the visit, the hermit gives her this beautiful basket, which is a bag and says ‘This is for you. It’s a princess bag. Not all princesses are born royal.’
“Some of the materials are from the environment here from the bush and the garden, and there are some recycled sari and found materials, and it’s also got vintage fabrics aligning on it.”
Art Fair is on until 19 January from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm at YAVA Gallery and Arts Hub Healesville.
The exhibition will open until 8.30pm on 5 December, Healesville Twilight Shopping day.
YAVA will have a Christmas shutdown period from 23 December and will reopen on 8 January.
All artworks on display at Art Fair are available for purchase and take away straight away.
