On Saturday and Sunday November 5-6, 15 local artists will be opening their studios for the inaugural Lithgow Hartley Artists’ Trail.
Here is a great opportunity to not only discover some of the artistic gems but also to enjoy beautiful landscapes in the Lithgow and Hartley valleys, visit magnificent gardens, and maybe buy some little treasures you find along the way.
All the studios will be signposted and have one of Ludwina Roebuck’s beautiful flowers with corresponding map numbers at their gates.
Along Clarke Simpson Drive, Kanimbla Valley Drive and Megalong Place at the end of Cox’s River Road Little Hartley, you can meet artists, potters and ceramicists Colette Jonquiere, Anne Graham, Margaret Aalders and Anna Culliton working in their studios and gardens.
Travel back to the Hartley Historic Village and be amazed at Ron Fitzpatrick’s metal art at Talisman Gallery and enjoy Wendy Hawkes’ delightful clothesline exhibition of her drawing work at Ivy Cottage.
From the highway turn in at Forty Bends Road and visit Sarah Childs at the Summer Hill Sewing Emporium in the old shearing shed and the peony garden at Forty Bends. Entry is free and for a very reasonable $8 you can enjoy delicious Devonshire tea on the lawns. (Money raised goes to the Lithgow City Brass Band.)
At Old Bowenfels, turn in at the “To Old Bathurst Road” sign to find the “Oakfield” driveway down to Annie Joseph’s studio with her paintings, drawings and postcards, wonderful garden and views.
Back along the highway and out to Marrangaroo, just after the Mudgee overpass, is Kay Booker’s studio with ceramics and paintings.
In Lithgow itself, there are six artists whose works cover a wide spectrum. Ludwina Roebuck in Hassans Walls Road does amazing recycle sculpture, pottery and ceramics, and Tim Johnman at the Old Lithgow Pottery in Silcock St does wondrous large scale sculptures.
Around in Mort’s Estate, Linda Hine in Sutcliffe St does paintings, drawings, prints and cards, sewing and craft; David Newman White at Karingal Studio in Laidley St works in painting, drawing and mixed media, specialising in portraits and figures. Up the road in Hay St, Oakey Park, you’ll find Jannine Smith’s lovely craftworks – hand stitch, embroidery, paper works, and recycled textiles.
Then along State Mine Gully Rd, you can find blacksmith Philip Spark working at the forge making sculptural and functional metal art in the old State Mine Heritage Museum. This is a really amazing artistic space where the aura of Lithgow’s industrial past mixes with a sense of excitement for the artistic future.
The studios are open both days 10am-4pm. Brochures, with maps, are available at the Lithgow Tourist Information Centre and at most cafes and many shops in the area. You can also find all the information you need to enjoy the art trail on the Lithgow Hartley Artists in Action Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lithgowhartleyartistsinaction/.
