Works for art

By Casey Neill
THE Sherbrooke Art Society will auction dozens of paintings to raise funds for repairs and improvements to the gallery.
Sherbrooke Art Society committee member Susan Gillham said the event would provide an opportunity to buy the landscape paintings well below the usual gallery prices.
The 130 members of the society have each been asked to donate one painting for the building renovation fund but Ms Gillham said one member has offered seven works.
The auction is on Sunday 18 November.
The paintings can be viewed from 11am with the auction kicking off at 2pm.
Auctioneer Billy Schroeder from Ray White Real Estate has donated his services for the event.
The society held a similar auction four years ago that raised $13,000 for roof repairs.
The leaking roof caused damage to the ceiling, which is one of the areas now in need of repair.
“Dry rot presents a huge problem in structural timbers and members desperately want to refurbish the interior of the building,” Ms Gillham said.
The State Government has pledged $70,000 for the project but the society needs at least $100,000 to replace rotten woodwork and make the building structurally sound.
“We hope to get on with the renovations over summer,” Ms Gillham said.
“We want to get our facilities taken care of so we can concentrate on other things.”
Ms Gillham said the building has been in need of repair since Sherbrooke Art Society members bought the former tearooms in 1976.
The weatherboard gallery was built in 1925.
Since the purchase, Ms Gillham said there has been just enough money coming in for general maintenance and to run the gallery but not enough for large-scale repairs.
The society has also applied for funds for improvements to the gallery and studios through the Federal Government’s Regional Partnerships Scheme.
It refined the formal application four months ago and are waiting to hear the outcome.
The society plans to use part of the grant to double the size of one studio to accommodate a growing interest in classes, Ms Gillham said.
“There’s huge demand for art classes,” she said.
This year the society introduced junior classes in acrylics.
“It provides something for people to do in the hills,” she said.
Ms Gillham said the gallery interior would be repainted and a new hanging system installed.
Members also want to open a gift shop for pottery and smaller art pieces.
A garage sale on 6 October raised $2000 dollars for the structural repairs.
The society is also selling raffle tickets for $2 each with the chance to win a Holden.
Ms Gillham said donations of paintings from former members and benefactors would be very welcome.
The gallery is located at 62 Monbulk Road, Belgrave.
For more information about the auction or classes call the gallery on 9754 4264 from Wednesday to Sunday between 11am and 4pm.