Jeff Huddlestone
Local potter and fourth generation resident, Julianne Woodruff, has two passions for artisans in the region.
A permanent makers’ space for people to produce and sell their work and a creativity culture for arts and crafts people.
Long-time office holder , committee member and current vice President of the South East Art Society , Ms Woodruff, 65, was educated in Mount Gambier and studied fine arts in Warrnambool at the same time as Penola crocheter, Trevor Smith.
“I came home and tried to decide how to become an artist. I got a job, I couldn’t believe somebody found me one,” Ms Woodruff said.
That was with the South East Cultural Trust as community arts and crafts coordinator.
Then came a stint with the Caledonian Arts Society, a shop and Attamurra collective, after which her long association with the South East Art Society began.
For something totally different, Ms Woodruff also worked part time for the Australian Bureau of Statistics as a regional information officer.
“I could continue doing my art work and selling it. Peter and I got married, children and farm followed and we’ve been here for 30 years, “ she said.
Ms Woodruff is also a talented potter.
Ms Woodruff began her arts career as a painter, and held her first selling exhibition at the former Studio One in James Street.
“As an artist you’re on your own in creativity,” she said.
“I became frustrated with that and ran away to the pottery room.”
“I set up my first studio on my father Neil Ferguson’s land on the corner of Penola and Bishop Road and put in a second-hand kiln, which I financed from my first job,” Ms Woodruff recalled.
Ms Woodruff said pottery and sculpture go together, particularly with hand building of animal pieces, which she makes in her home studio.
“I was always surrounded by animals so I’ve had plenty of models, sheep, horses, cattle and chooks”, she said.
The South East Art Society is one of the oldest in the state, outlasting two generations and currently has about 60 members.
It meets each Wednesday at the old Stables headquarters, on the corner of Herbert Street and Sutton Avenue and open to participants of all types of art and craft.
The art society also holds open exhibitions at the Riddoch.
The Stables doesn’t have the space for a shopfront or gallery, but members attend to support each other with their work.
This raises the prospect of a permanent makers’ space.
“My hobby horse is a makers’ space. People are asking the society for lessons,” Ms Woodruff said.
The Woodruffs have purchased and have been given a lot of ex TAFE equipment, which the couple offered to gift to the community, but currently have it stored in various sheds, because there’s nowhere else to put it.
SEAS tried unsuccessfully to acquire the old ambulance station.
They have met with council about the Olympic swimming pool building, but a business plan is required. Julianne is working on one.
“Olympic Park would be suitable for a makers’ space,” she said.
“You could have a kiln, wheels, and printing press room for painting and to expand,” Ms Woodruff said.
Ms Woodruff is also focusing on a creativity culture for the art society.
She thinks the South East will follow the general worldwide resurgence in the arts.
“More and more people are wanting to explore their creativity. Let’s drop the words art and craft and call it all creativity,” Ms Woodruff said.
A pop-up shop has been successful at Port MacDonnell over the summer.
The shop is attached to the Community hall in Meylin Street.
It opened in December and whether it continues will be decided in February.
The small shop space has allowed members to make hand made items on site and also sell their wares. Pottery is the best seller.
It also does well privately , whereas paintings are the best performers at exhibitions.
“It’s a retail space, and what members have been lacking,” Ms Woodruff said.
“They’ve been happy and enthusiastic about that.”
She loves inspiring other people about the arts.
“I’ve drawn for as long as I could pick up a pencil, and I get twitchy If I’m not doing it. I love sharing it with people and seeing others get inspired,” she said.
Ms Woodruff is also a member of Twisted Threads, a textiles group which meets each Wednesday at the library.
“They call me Lord Molly Muck,” she said.
Ms Woodruff says the arts community must provide a pathway for the next generation to be exposed to artisans making their craft.
“If they can’t see it they can’t imagine it,” Ms Woodruff said.
