BArtS Newsletter – September Update
Participants at Pippita Bennett's recent 2 day workshop 'Plant dyeing and stitch' workshop
At BArtS, we’re full of the joys of Spring.
Cheerio, we say, to another creative Blackheath winter, filled with studio groups, workshops and some lovely BArtS drinks and get-togethers. We are doubtless all thrilled with this glorious Spring weather, and excited for the Wattle and Boronia and Waratahs to come. And good lord, the Daphne. Honestly, someone should paint them all.
Participants at Pippita Bennett's recent 2 day workshop 'Plant dyeing and stitch' workshop, Laverne's recent 'Backstrap Weaving for Beginners' workshop and Tony Brink's 'Introduction to working at the Potters Wheel' workshop.
October Open 2026
The big news for this newsletter is that our October Open Exhibition is only a month away.
All artists across the Blue Mountains are invited to enter, and we encourage every BArtS member to exhibit. This year’s theme is PLACE - and you can interpret that however you like. The theme is not obligatory and is very much open to interpretation, so take it wherever your imagination leads you.
Critical Dates
Entries open: 1 September
Early Bird closes: 12 September — $20 per entry
Entries close: 21 September — $30 per entry
Entry Form: https://events.humanitix.com/barts-october-open-exhibition-3-5-oct-2026
Up to 2 entries per person
Exhibition capacity: 100 x 2D works and 30 x 3D works
Once we reach these numbers we cannot accept any more work, because we don’t have the room in our modest shed!
Artist Statements
For the first time ever, artists have the opportunity to provide a short artist statement to accompany their work. There’s a handy instruction guide on our website if you’d like to have a squiz.
To submit your artist statement of 25 words or fewer, email it to info@blackheathart.com.
Pop your name and the title of your artwork in the subject line. We will then coordinate with a volunteer to put your statement next to your work when hung.
Artist Statements are worth the effort - they connect the viewer with the artwork, giving them a way to understand something about what they are seeing. This then may well entice them to buy the piece. If you want to sell, this is a good thing to take your time with.
Judges
We have two esteemed judges this year for the Open:
Hayley Zena Poynton - artist and curator at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre who will be judging the 2D, and Justin Morrissey, local Sculptor who will be judging the 3D work.
We Need Your Help
Running an exhibition takes many volunteer hours. When we share the load, it makes the whole event more enjoyable for everyone.
Step right up, you good things, and volunteer for a shift - either at the studio or through our SignUpGenius roster. Volunteering feels good and research shows it makes you live longer. Why wouldn’t you put your hand up with those stats?
Studio Groups
Bringing together representatives from each individual studio group, a Studio Group sub-committee will meet for the first time in the next few months.
The subcommittee will discuss studio space, equipment, supplies, studio fees, storage, future priorities and ways BArtS can assist with future projects.
Please get to know your Studio Group representative, and spend some time talking within your group about your ideas, needs and concerns.
The aim is to identify practical priorities that benefit both the individual Studio Groups and BArtS as a whole. We reckon this plan can make a real difference in the way Studio Groups operate and bring us all working closer together.
Blank Canvas Bag Project
So - here’s a new exciting project dreamed up by Lisa and Jennie from the Printmaking Studio Group - The BArtS Blank Canvas Bag Project.
A bit of a first for us, this project is a creative prototype fund-raiser. Over the next few months, 28 artists and makers from across the various Studio Groups will use paint, ink, fabric and yarn to decorate a blank canvas bag. These bags will be donated to BArtS to be auditioned off at our Christmas Market in December.
A week or so ago, we did a call out for spare fabric for the project. Liz from Fibre group dug through her stash and generously donated 18 metres of calico. A few days later, Yve and Julie got busy working out a roomy bag pattern. Before you could say ‘Pass the good scissors please’, suddenly 28 blank and un-assembled bags were cut and ready to decorate! (Fibre Group moves pretty fast!)
We then did a call out for artists and within 24 hours all bags had been bagsed by keen artists.
Stay tuned on the BArtS socials to get updates on this rather cool fund-raising experiment that promises to be bags of fun.
The Power Of We
Any one who has been to the loos of late would hopefully have noticed their recent makeover.
One toilet is now wheelchair accessible with a new sliding door and both have been painted and decoupaged within an inch of their lives. Lovely job, Ann, Angie and the two Jens.
Housekeeping
A wee reminder that our BArtS is a volunteer organisation. We have a cleaner once a week who takes care of the floors and bathroom, but everything else is down to us.
So, after enjoying your creative endeavours, please leave the studio ready for the next group.
Wipe down benches and work surfaces.
Clean up around the sink.
Empty bins when needed and sweep the floor.
Return desks and furniture to their original positions, if you have moved them.
Put away anything you have used.
And, most importantly, clean up any mess you make.
Leave the studio sparkling like Dolly’s best rhinestones, bless her. We all know she’d encourage us to be considerate of the next people to use the space, because we rely on each other, uh-ha.