Since then buttons have had a fascinating history and an important place in human adornment.

Renee in her studio

BUT IN OUR modern world of zips, snap fasteners and Velcro, buttons have taken a back seat. However, jeweller Renee Blackwell has re-discovered the button by creating attractive rings, pendants and earrings from a bewildering array of buttons from all over the world.

Renee has been designing and making jewellery for over 25 years, using a wide variety of materials in her work such as stones, gems, glass, clay/porcelain, metals and found objects.

Then she discovered the fascinating world of buttons

“On a trip to Buenos Aires a few years ago,” says Renee, “I discovered in an antique market a stash of beautiful, old buttons, and I felt they were so exquisite I might be able to use them in my work. Since that trip, I have been to Paris, Germany, New York City and San Francisco all in search of antique and vintage buttons. The metal antique buttons are all late 1800s and the vintage buttons are from the post WW2 era – the late 1940s. These buttons are mainly French, German and Czechoslovakian and made of glass.”

Renee is constantly in search of vintage buttons from the 1940s which she tries to buy on the original card.

In Paris, Renee discovers a box of "new" vintage 1940s French glass buttons. These buttons have never been off their original button card.

In Paris recently, Renee discovered an antique button dealer’s shop where she spent the entire day looking at, and buying buttons. The woman who owns the shop and her husband bought the business from his parents, who were button and trim suppliers to the world of Paris fashion designers in the 1930s-1960s.

“I set all the buttons as rings, earrings and pendants usually in sterling silver,” says Renee. “ For me, the button jewellery is so much more than “just another ring or pair of earrings,” she adds. “They become a piece of jewellery with a rich history – the ultimate reuse of objects made in another time and era.”

Renee Blackwell’s jewellery is stocked in about 85 jewellery stores and galleries right around Australia. Renee’s website: reneeblackwelldesign.com

SCAP winner Miles Hall with Caloundra Regional Gallery Director, John Waldron following the announcement of the $15,000 prize for Pine Lime (Splice).

BRISBANE-BASED artist, Miles Hall is the winner of the fifth annual Sunshine Coast Art Prize. Miles is the son of Maleny residents Les and Rae Hall. Miles has won a $15,000 cash prize and four weeks workshop residency at Arley Farm in Maleny. The winning painting is an abstract called Splice (Pine Lime).

This year’s judge, well-known art critic and weekly columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald, John McDonald commented on the distinguished contribution SCAP was making to the national art calendar.

Highly Commended was Catherine O’Donnell’s Civic Centre. Catherine is from Sydney.

“Australia has a fatal attraction to art prizes, from the Archibald to the local fete”, said John at the Caloundra Regional Gallery. “By avoiding an obvious theme such as portraiture or still life, the prize leaves the door open to many different styles and genres in a range of media.”

While announcing the winner at the Caloundra Regional Gallery on August 26, John said, “Splice (Pine Lime), is essentially an abstract picture that generates a range of pictorial tensions. We see the work at first as a kind of landscape, depicting tangled undergrowth or a reflection in water. The severe green line across the bottom of the work creates a jarring contrast, bringing us back to the formal issues of line versus plane, depth as opposed to flatness. It’s an edgy, speculative affair that never aspires to perfection, but that’s part of the appeal.”

Commended was Vicki Hersi’s abstract painting, Still Life Objects.

Catherine O’Donnell’s Civic Centre was given the highly commended award.

John McDonald commented that, “Few will fail to be impressed by the artist’s painstaking mastery of charcoal, and her careful delineation of a piece of urban geometry that would make even Jeffrey Smart think twice,” said Mr McDonald.

The 2010 SCAP exhibition at the Caloundra Regional Gallery showcases the work of all 40 finalists. It is open until 3 October.

All works are for sale and entry to the gallery is free. If you would like to place your vote for the People’s Choice award you can do so either online at www.scap.org.au or at the gallery.

“I STARTED supporting Becky with her art eleven years ago. The first year we went to TAFE together and after that she worked with me in my studio. I could see that for Becky, art was a way of communicating, so I took over a mentoring role with her.

From an early age Becky’s mum taught her through the use of patterns. This is a process that involved putting words, numbers, colours, etc on the floor and Becky would crawl over them reading and learning as she went. The shapes and colours communicated to her even then. Becky’s Mum, one of the founding members of the Maleny Arts and Crafts Group enjoyed painting, so art was always around her. When Becky found she could paint and work with art, it was a way of decifering information and bringing it out again. “

Corrie has always been a career artist but at the same time has felt a need to commit to the broader community. She gained a Certificate IV in Disability and has worked with downs syndrome and cerebral palsy patients for 15 years. During that time Corrie has found that creativity has an important part to play in the disability sector because it offers a different approach to the way people learn.

“I believe that a lot of people with intellectual disabilities have a right brain approach to things. When I first met Becky, her way of getting information back out again was through her art. So we started using her painting as a way of learning. We started to tap into the other side of her brain that she needed.”

Sadly, Becky has other problems, particularly with her eyes. She has depth of field difficulties which make it difficult to diagnose. While this affects her art, it also impacts on the physical side of her life.

“When we started coming to gym Becky couldn’t even sit on a fitball because of a depth of field imbalance. But we started working with the trainers, Charmaine and April and now Becky gets on and off the fitball without any problem.

“One positive thing that Becky has had all of her life is her ability to say, I can do that or I will give that a go. I think that’s partly having lived in a family with six children and being treated as a normal child.

“In the gym Becky knows  that I am not just standing there to help her, because she can do it. I think you have to empower people to know that they can do it.

“April has been working with me on Becky’s programs and we are always targeting different things. At the moment it is Becky’s balance because her eyesight has declined considerably over the past two years. So exercises like balancing on the fitball and stepping up and stepping down are important. And with April, we have implemented a program that she can do at home too. It helps to give her confidence right now when her eyesight is not as reliable as it has been.

While care for the intellectually disabled is clearly demanding, the long relationship between Corrie and Becky has been sustained through a connection with art.

“We’ve gone all around the country doing workshops together,” says Corrie. “Becky goes into joint exhibitions and she has her own exhibitions. I am constantly surprised at the power of her art to communicate despite her intellectual disability.”

Maleny Community Gym trainers are experienced in tailoring programs for the elderly and disabled. Tel: 5429 6911

Aspiring songwriter, Jonathan Adkins said the short course at Nambour TAFE run by acclaimed international guitarist and writer, Peter Koppes, has given him the motivation to take his leisurely interest in music much more seriously.

“Music is a creative process and I’d always found it difficult to construct a song properly”, Jonathan said. “My songs always took a direction of their own, without me in control. Peter gave me some fantastic tools for developing and completing a song – to rehearse it, play it live and record it.”

With Peter Koppes’ help, Jonathan built a home studio in his basement and between them they recorded a CD. Peter is well know as songwriter and guitarist with the highly influential Australian rock band, The Church.

Mr Koppes said his TAFE students were encouraged to network and collaborate with like-minded musicians. “That’s a big part of being in a band and recording understanding what personalities, styles and ages you work best with,” he said. “Students are definitely given the opportunity to experiment with mixes of people from different genres. Because it’s not always obvious and you never know unless you try.”

To get his confidence up Jonathan Adkins has already started playing locally including at Montville’s Family Day, Mary Cairncross Cafe and Zana’s restaurant in Montville. He has teamed up with another local musician, Taz Harrison to form their new band, Fairweather.
www.myspace.com/fairweatherofficial

WHY DID YOU COME HERE?

S: It’s not like we were desperate to leave anywhere.It was just an opportunity that arose, something we looked into, and it all fell into place.

D: We are both from the Hunter Valley. Steph grew up in Pokolbin and I grew up in Tamworth. She had been working there for seven years and me about five. And that’s how we met – in business.

We had been working for the Harrigans Irish Pub chain before deciding to come here. We weren’t necessarily looking for a change but we happened to stumble across this venture with the Turners. We came up and viewed the property and the area and just fell in love with it instantly.

We felt it would be right for us. It was a different style, more intimate setting and the high quality level of service and product that really interested us. It’s beautiful countryside too.
We see similarities in the seasons, with the trees and the flowers, the changes in colour and leaf drop. So we’ve come from one beautiful place to another.

We’ve experienced business taking over our lives, and we know what businesses like this demand. You have to do everything. But I think we’re now managing our time very well. Steph’s forte is front office, administration and reservations. Mine is more a food and beverage background. So we complement each other pretty well.

WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IN COMING HERE?

S: Not much really. We haven’t had to compromise in any way. It’s been a very positive experience. Where we came from was very cold in winter so we really appreciate the
beautiful weather here.

D: We were working in a similar situation in NSW but not living on site, and we had different roles. This is the first time we have worked really closely together, and we wouldn’t change it.

S: I think we would find it hard not working together now. It works for us and we love our time together.

D: We brought our four-legged friends with us – our ‘kids’ up at the house – we have a ‘shar pei’ bulldog and ‘bird’ – a ring-necked parakeet. They’re loving it here and they’ve taken to the changed environment.

S: This is certainly a place we can see ourselves for a long time. We love Queensland. There’s a lot more to see and do on the Sunshine Coast.

D: The clientele here is fantastic – so interesting in the depth of what they are doing, what they enjoy and what they like to experience.

S: We do find we need to get away on short trips – mainly seeing more of Queensland – because when you work on-site you are always accessible even when technically, it may be your day off.

D: Yes, it was one of the promises we made to each other that we would enjoy and make the most of our time. We don’t want to live to work but very much work to live. And that was a big change coming here. We knew the first twelve months would be tough, opening a new business. But we always find time to relax. We love walking, playing golf, we love the beach and we love taking our dogs on adventures. So, we’ve managed to do that since we’ve been here at least once a week.

WHAT WOULD KEEP YOU HERE?

D: Everything as it is right now.

S: Yes, continuing to have the ability to work and enjoy everything that we do, especially with our furry friends. But we love to travel, seeing different places and experiencing
different things.

D: We do want to do a lot more travelling but we have both said that we would be content to stay here and let this be a base for the rest of our lives.

Following the success of the children’s picture book From Little Things Big Things Grow the publishers, One Day Hill are launching three more books that use the strong lyrics of iconic Australian songs.

ALL THREE books have illustrations by local Hinterland artist Peter Hudson (above), whose enthusiasm and commitment to the Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody book, helped give birth to the three new titles.

The three new books are My Island Home with Neil Murray’s lyrics, Took the Children Away with words from Archie Roach and Shane Howard’s Solid Rock.

Neil Murray’s book is illustrated by the paintings of school children of the Kintore and Galiwinku communities. This is the area that inspired Neil’s song which was sung at the
closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Author Martin Flanagan who has endorsed all three books, says “White people, aboriginal people and people from  overseas sing My Island Home like it’s theirs.”

Took the Children Away is a moving indictment of the treatment of indigenous children from the Stolen Generation. Archie Roach’s song not only strikes a chord with the wider aboriginal community but it won an international Human Rights Achievement award, the first time a songwriter has received such an award.

Apart from the song lyrics, the book features the classic artwork of Archie’s late wife and soul-mate Ruby Hunter. Peter Hudson has also embellished the book with stunning landscapes of south-west Victoria, Archie’s traditional lands.

Shane Howard’s massive anthem, Solid Rock was one of the first popular songs to tackle aboriginal rights in Australia, back in 1982. Its impact across the world still inspires other songwriters. Shane’s book is illustrated by the school children from Mutujulu, near Uluru. It was here that Shane returned with Peter Hudson to gather stunning paintings from the local school children to illustrate the book. Peter’s brilliant images of Uluru and surrounding landscape place the story in the land itself.

In commenting on the impact of the three children’s books, author Martin Flanagan said, “The publisher has matched lyrics with paintings of places and experiences that the songs relate to. It’s a wonderful way of taking these songs to another generation so that they can have an understanding, both from where those songs come, and why they are so significant in our national culture.”

Peter Hudson’s powerfully raw and emotive paintings reflect his increasing connection with aboriginal lands. “It’s not just the landscape”, says Peter. “You’re not just painting a
piece of land, you’re painting the spirit of the land and the spirit of the people, and it really does come out. It’s simply our history too, and it needs to be retold.”

From Little Things Big Things Grow started out as a picture book for children but it has now been embraced by all ages. The same is likely with these three new books, combining as they do the passionate feelings of their mature authors with the naive innocence of the children’s illustrations.

All three books are being launched this month at the Brisbane Writers Festival and can be purchased at Rosetta Books in Maleny, or contact the publishers at website: www.onedayhill.com.au

Bus Stop 21 Oil

ONE OF THE advantages of growth is being able to appreciate different aspects of a subject and for an artist, life experience is invaluable. This is apparent in the works
of Kevin Oxley who has the enviable combination of honed artistic abilities, plenty to express and a genuinely different way of looking at the world. A recent move to a larger studio, heightened his awareness of his own technical and creative progression, as various artworks resurfaced. This has led to a delightful collection of works to be featured at ‘Art on Cairncross’, which Oxley has aptly titled “Ways of Seeing”.

“I hope that those who have enjoyed my highly successful exhibitions along various themes over the past few years, will enjoy seeing where a lot of those ideas and methods

Flower Study - Oil on Terylene

came from”, says Oxley.

The works encompass glorious oils and cross-hatched pencil drawings alongside fine watercolours and etchings. The subjects range from traditional landscapes expertly capturing the light to some still available works from the Quixote series, all of which
command respect and consideration. Oxley has seen many sides of life from a working class childhood on the Hay Plains through to his twenties, when having earned his living with many different jobs, he was painting and drawing as much as possible and knew he wanted to be an artist.

He applied for a visual arts course at the East Sydney Technical College, presented a

Hill Form, Blackall Range - coloured pencil

portfolio and was amazed when the interviewer essentially told him that he had already
accomplished all that the course could teach him. His ‘selfdirected’ learning continues to this day and in this collection the marvellous results will speak for themselves.

“Ways of Seeing” will be on display at ‘Art on Cairncross’, Cairncross Corner, Maleny from September 11th – 26th. The gallery is open 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday and more information can be found at www.artoncairncross.com.au

KEN WENZEL was born in Brisbane in September 1930. He has called Maleny home for well over thirty years and has been a major exhibitor at the Montville Art Gallery for nearly as long.

“They’ll have to carry me away in a box,” Ken told us. “I find constant inspiration from the magnificent scenery surrounding my home and studio on the crest of the Conondale Range, but I also enjoy visiting the many magnificent beaches here on the Sunshine Coast. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to transfer onto canvas a scene I have experienced and enjoyed.”

“No other artists capture Jacaranda and Poinciana trees quite like Ken,” said Lisa Powell, long time manager of the Montville Art Gallery.

“His realist paintings of the Glasshouse Mountains are exceptional and extremely popular with interstate and overseas visitors,” Lisa added.

Ken has had numerous battles with illness but always manages to bounce back. He is not permitted to fly so he travels extensively by car in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

“I relish the challenge of capturing the colours after a long hot summer, or the magic hues of spring, as ‘Salvation Jane’ covers the hillsides.”

In the year 2000, Ken self published a beautiful coffee table book, “The Many Facets of artist – Kenneth Wenzel”

“I felt I wanted to share my life,” Ken told us. “I did most of the writing on the beach and gradually built up the story in much the same way as I develop a painting.”

“Ken’s book has 44 colour plates of his favourite paintings showing him not only as a multi-talented artist but as an extremely competent photographer as well,” said gallery owner, Tony Page. “We are thrilled that he has agreed to be our feature artist in September to coincide with his eightieth birthday. Ken will be at the gallery on Sunday, September 12 to sign copies of his book and to chat to customers about his paintings.”

Open daily from 10am to 5pm, the Montville Art Gallery is located at 138 Main Street, Montville, opposite the Village Green.

Ken’s paintings will also be featured under “Exhibitions” on the gallery’s website: www.montvilleartgallery.com.au from September 1.

Hilda is a classically trained pianist who has been a very gifted teacher. Today Hilda’s musical talents still bring hours of pleasure to the residents who share her lodge.

Hilda was born in London in 1910 and can vividly recall early memories as a child growing up in London during World War 1.

As a schoolgirl of six or seven along with her classmates, she recalls being shown how to sit under her school desk in the event of an air raid by German Zeppelin airships.

This amazing woman spent World War 11 working in the British War Office for Winston Churchill and had regular chats with General Eisenhower when he visited.

The highlight of Hilda’s life these days is spending time with her son Richard and entertaining her companions on the piano.