Easter art fest

By Tania Martin
A 15-METRE long rainbow serpent painting will be a major drawcard for this year’s Performing And Visual arts in Emerald (PAVE) festival.
Now in its fourth year, the festival will kick-start over the Easter long-weekend, on Monday 13 April.
It aims to make arts in the region accessible to everyone with events that are free or at the lowest possible cost.
This year promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
From live music, to visual and performing arts, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Local artist Jenny Saulwick has designed a 15-metre long rainbow serpent painting on terracotta, pink and white clay tiles, which will highlight the region’s Aboriginal culture.
More than 200 students from across the hills have joined the project.
They painted animal footprints on the tiles including a duck, swamphen, frog, wombat and other birds.
The rainbow serpent is considered by many Aboriginals as the protector of land, its people and life.
The painting and exhibit will be unveiled on day two of the festival as part of indigenous culture Family Day on Tuesday 14 April, at Emerald Lake Park.
The day will have something for everyone from basket weaving to indigenous dancing, storytelling and music.
Organiser Dale Blair said other highlights of the festival would include a range of activities such as photography workshops and exhibitions and plenty of music.
He said a day out at Puffing Billy Park on Saturday 18 April was another great way to spend the weekend.
People are invited to bring their dogs along to compete in the Mongrel and Pedigree Dog Show, or join one of the Circus Oz workshops.
There will also be plenty of music, demonstrations and market stalls.
A full list of events is available by logging onto www.pave.org.au.