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Kathryn Portelli Mosaic
March 1st 2018, Deborah Mullins, Kathryn Portelli and Marianne Bradman started Art on Piper Inc in Kyneton to showcase the artworks of locals. By 2020, we had 23 renting exhibitors plus a monthly changing guest artist in a brightly lit feature room and a patron supporting our plans.
In August 2020, the committee expanded to include a sales enquiry role for phone and website sales.
Kathryn became President in August 2020 with a new focus on connecting to the wider art loving community.
The Mystery Art Trail walks between AOP and The Old Auction House in Mollison St was one initiative. Maps are available from both venues which lead walkers to 14 permanent tile installations with little site-specific illustrations by member Elizabeth Darling. Pass a labyrinth, the place where Ned Kelly was charged, heritage buildings, cafes and more.
Kathryn sells jewellery, small hanging murals, chessboards, Thunder Eggs (suitable for outdoors) plus a separate display of gift boxed legging/pendant pair ups which are added to regularly. SEE SHOP
September saw a black, white and red theme and 'We Love Australia' showcased a native colour scheme
as the theme with mosaics in sculptures and wall hangings. Safe Passage plaques contain gemstones.
'together dreaming the possibilities' is a 3m mural at Our Lady of the Rosary PS, completed Dec 2024.
'Fertile Seeds' is a Melbourne public art installation, the first using stoneware pottery discs as a feature.
Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg commissioned the 3.5m mural for their new childrens' playground.
Kathryn collaborated with Tony Barnes of Moonshine Pottery in Malmsbury to achieve the fantastical
landscape of magical plants emerging from the flow of abundance with his beautiful glazes.
Kathryn completed two small commissions - 18 for a repeat client's son's home (coincided with Kathryn's son becoming 18). And Casa Nelson, a surprise gift to a partner for a home in Melbourne.
10 x 15cm mosaic works will be exhibited in the Pop Up art gallery events at three railway stations
from November and a further three outlets until April 2019, bringing artists ideas into new spaces.
Art on Piper participated as a 'Pop Up' gallery during the CFA fundraising event in Kyneton in November.
Signage was installed for ease of visibility while passing by car and from the market across the road.
The full moon coincided with the 50th anniversary of the NASA landing which was fun to link with.
The gallery stocks a wide range of media from the 24 members, with the guest room bringing in art from further afield each month. We have a loyal local following and delight tourists as they find us.
Some of the artists enjoyed our sixth birthday celebration in 2024 - food and wine, chatting with the public, swapping motivational ideas with each other and generally having a good time discussing an arty life. We have our birthday celebration in April each year to coincide with the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, a beautiful time in the area.
The 'AFTER' Black Saturday memorial was illuminated for the 10th anniversary, funded by a government
grant. The memorial also features in Alison's doctoral thesis, together with the Bendigo memorial, in which she explains the methodology, similarities, differences and resulting community benefits at the two sites.
60 Years 60 Shoes is a 60 piece mural at RMBegg Aged Care facility to celebrate their sixty years of business. Clay features were handmade to capture the character of era specific examples to aid conversations for the residents as they remember their own experiences, like rollerskating, iceskating,
dancing, playing football, working or relaxing in comfy slippers. Some were on a wish list too!
MAANZ Canberra 2019 Symposium Presenter - The Transformative Nature of Mosaics
International and Australian speakers shared their experiences with effective public art outcomes.
The Mystery Art Trail is a walk between two Kyneton galleries, featuring 14 tile installations of artwork by Elizabeth Darling. Kathryn project managed the endeavour after receiving a MRSC grant.
Art on Piper celebrated its fifth birthday in March 2023 with many of the artists in attendance to enjoy food and wine, meeting interested members of the public and some of our loyal local followers.
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