By KATRINA BRANDON

 

STUDIOS across the region will host the Open Studios Latrobe exhibition on October 25 and 26.

Open Studios has been running for around 10 years, organised by the art group Moartz, which is celebrating more than 25 years of service to the local art community.

Moartz was founded in 1999 by a group of arts-minded people who wanted to develop, support and encourage a diverse range of arts and cultural activities within the Moe/Newborough community.

Last year, Moartz celebrated 25 years in a book compilation of photos, media, newsletter articles, history and memories from many members.

Moartz’s current president, Sharon Anderson, told the Express she was very excited about Open Studios.

“It started back in 2015, when a group of us decided that we’d like to do an open studios based on what they were doing in Baw Baw Shire,” she said.

“It went really well, and we’ve been doing it almost every year, apart from one. We’ve got a wonderful amount of artists here in the Latrobe City area.

“In October, we have a collection of artists, a group of artists, that open up their studios so visitors can come around and say hello and come and see what people do, and the artists do their demonstrations, which is fantastic, because otherwise people don’t know what they do.”

Open Studios is an opportunity for people to explore the local area, visiting artists and broadening their artistic horizons throughout a weekend, while exchanging ideas and insights into the art world.

Looking into photography, acrylics, sculptures, graphic design, screen printing and more, Ms Anderson said that there is a large variety of artists to see within the event and that the artistic world ventures far and wide, with a wealth of talent locally.

“We’ve had students come in from high schools and primary schools, young people with their families come in and talk to the artists, and I know that they’ve gone on to do further art, or even just art as a hobby,” Ms Anderson said.

“Getting advice from the artists who are in Open Studios, and there are art groups around that people participate in as well. And that’s what art is about. Art’s everywhere. There are artists everywhere.”

Ms Anderson practises her own work in her studio in Moe, which was formerly located in Newborough. Her main mediums are painting, screen printing, cyanotype, pastel drawing, and experiments with abstract photography.

As part of Ms Anderson’s business, Art-Fx, she designs and screenprints a range of artworks and tea towels, including Art is Everywhere and The Wonders of Latrobe Valley.

For more information on Open Studios, go to: https://moartz.com/open-studios-latrobe-2025/