Artists firing up

Kirstin Cross and Ian Warburton are gearing up for the Belgrave Art Show. 169023 Picture: ROB CAREW

By Derek Schlennstedt

Firefighters at Belgrave CFA are gearing up for their 34th annual art show.
With more than 300 pieces from local and national artists on show and available for puchase, the community is being welcomed to come and participate in supporting the brigade.
The iconic art show is used as the brigade’s major fund-raiser, with a small percentage of each painting going to the brigade.
There are various different styles being featured at the show and Kirstin Cross, community education officer at Belgrave Fire Brigade said visitors could expect a wonderful array of art.
“There are so many different styles, you can have abstract work, watercolour works, and the detail in all of them is incredible, it really does take your breath away,” Kirstin said.
The art show is renowned throughout Victoria, with some artists sending their work thousands of miles to exhibit in the show.
“We’ve got one artist who couriers his work to us from the other side of the city and then some of the other artists paint just for the art show which is really lovely,” Kirstin said.
Kirstin encourages and invites everyone to come along to the event to see a diverse range of intricate and beautiful art.
“The beauty of having it over the four days is you can come on opening night and meet everybody, and the artists and it’s a really nice atmosphere.
Then throughout the weekend you can have a look, go away, think about it, and you can always come back a day later and get the painting,” she said.
“People can come in and walk out with something beautiful.”
The Belgrave Fire Brigade Art Show will commence with a champagne opening on Friday 9 June from 7.30pm which will also include a presentation of awards to various artists.
The opening costs $15, but, from 10-12 June, entry is free.
The art show is supported by businesses in Belgrave and Tecoma which take out advertising in the show’s catalogue.