Exhibition celebrates creatives

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition launch took place in Beechworth’s historic precinct last Thursday marking 50 fabulous years of arts and creativity by Beechworth Arts Council (BAC). BAC’s Chris Dormer said the ‘Beechworth Family Album – Portraits of Creative Beechworth’ project had been the next chapter in the Beechworth Family Album – a photography project started in 1984 and produced every decade since then. The exhibition curated by BAC committee member Ali Rowe celebrated Beechworth’s artists and crafts people with self-portraits in a creative display taken by professional photographer Marc Bongers. Ms Dormer paid homage to the late Dianne Mangan who was a creative photographed for the exhibition. “Dianne was a skilled and accomplished ceramist, and the portrait is one of her working on the wheel,” she said. “It was her family's wish that she be included in the exhibition." Thursday’s exhibition also took in a selection of photographers with some of their work when capturing and documenting Beechworth people, places and activities in each of the decade chapters. Among them were Stephen Henderson for the first exhibition in 1984, Richard Williams for 1994, Stephen Routledge for 2004 and Pam Magennis for 2014 each with a different theme and focus. Ms Dormer said it took a while to get the 2024 exhibition off the ground recording the Beechworth creative community with the project and launch held this year. “As it’s the fifth time the Beechworth Family Album has been held, we've decided to celebrate with banners for each of the project years with the photographer, coordinators, theme and project outcomes,” she said. Ms Dormer said the original project arose from going through photographs from the Burke Museum to select images for the Beechworth tapestry in the Town Hall with a reflection on future photographs. “In 1984 the Arts Council applied for funding for an artist in residence who was Mr Henderson,” she said. “Marc has done a great job for this exhibition, and it really is a wonderful snapshot of the creative people who make Beechworth a wonderful, vibrant place.” Mr Bongers presented an insightful account of his work with the challenges faced as well as the enjoyable and rewarding experience. Federal member for Indi Dr Helen Haines in officially opening the exhibition said she found the work extraordinary. She said it was also fitting to have a beautiful image of the late Dianne Mangan in the exhibition. “There are many people across our broader community, but most especially across the arts community, who are deeply grieving her very tragic and untimely death,” she said. Dr Haines said artists are courageous people willing to go to places and tell stories that others don't see or think with the showcase of the many images of previous generations, “To get these snapshots is really quite extraordinary with many people in the room captured in these images,” she said. She thanked the BAC for its vision and the community in creating the ideas and spaces. For graphic designer Matt Kinsey the exhibition had been a rewarding experience. “I've been able to have a sneak peek at all the old imagery that the Burke Museum has from previous projects,” he said. Long time Beechworth photographer Gary Coombes snapping photos for the launch also donned his 1984 Family Album t-shirt for the special occasion. Around 70 people packed the Sub Treasury Building for the celebration. The exhibition now running at the Beechworth Library until 30 June is an Indigo Shire and WAW supported event.

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