The Phoenix Trail
In November 2019 East Gippsland saw the first flickers of the bush fires that would engulf our community over the next four months and cause death, injury, destruction and trauma on an unprecedented scale. A brief respite in March only gifted a moment to regroup before COVID-19 engulfed us all. This trail is a celebration of the creative and human spirit that rises up and continues despite setbacks, big and small, and unimaginable.
The Phoenix Trail is a trail of artists’ studios and galleries running throughout East Gippsland from Omeo to Mallacoota. Over 30 artists with a wide range of creativity and products will be open during the East Gippsland Winter Festival in the following towns and villages;
Omeo, Swifts Creek, Ensay South, Wy Yung, Fernbank, Bairnsdale, Eagle Point, Metung, Nungurner, Kalimna West, Lakes Entrance, Orbost and Mallacoota.
OMEO
Omeo Makers Market
Old Standard Building, Day Avenue (opp the school)
OPEN: Daily 9.00am – 12.30pm.
Omeo Makers Market features textiles, natural fibres, basketry and weaving, sculptures, digital art and
paintings by local artists and craftspeople. Established in December 2021, this is a new gallery in the
historic town of Omeo and welcomes visitors to come in and browse.
https://www.facebook.com/Omeo-Makers-Market-105210215382974
SWIFTS CREEK
Great Alpine Gallery
6881 Great Alpine Road, Swifts Creek
OPEN: Thursday to Monday 10.30am to 3.30pm, other times call Ann on 0408 523 498.
The gallery features works from local artists – painting, sculpture, photography, fibre arts, printmaking and
woodwork.
https://www.facebook.com/greatalpinegallery
Allan Fox Studio
925 Cassilis Road, Swifts Creek
9.25 kms from Swifts Creek, the studio is on your left opposite a fixer-up boat.
OPEN: All welcome, best phone Allan ahead on 03 5159 4317.
Allan’s Hard Edge work is an area he has returned to often during his career. Paintings are in gouache,
under glass and framed.
https://allanfoxartist.com
SARSFIELD
Brush in Hand Creations
53 Raintree Court, Sarsfield
OPEN: Weekdays except Tuesdays 10.00am to 5.00pm. Weekends 1.00pm to 5.00pm.
Elena Dickman is a painter and a decorative furniture painter, specialising in customised work.
https://www.facebook.com/elena.dickman
BRUTHEN
Art Dreaming
61 Main Street, Bruthen
OPEN: Wednesday to Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 2:00pm
Jacqui is constantly inspired by nature, as a mixed media artist her work is an ongoing experimentation in capturing bird and wildlife through different mediums and techniques on canvas, papers and wood surfaces.
https://www.facebook.com/jacquireidartdreaming
WY YUNG
Linden Dean Art Home Studio
7 The Boulevarde, Wy Yung
OPEN: Please call Peter on 0427 526 731 for an appointment. Linden is a contemporary naïve artist
working in acrylic, oils, printmaking, ceramics and limited (10) edition prints of some of her works.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057315286810
FERNBANK
Malcolm Boyd, Potter
455 Fernbank-Glenaladale Road, Fernbank
OPEN: Daily except Tuesday 9.00am to 4.00pm other times call Malcolm on 0475 377 501
Malcolm hand-builds his stoneware pots and clay sculptures, which are then fired in a self built wood-fired
kiln. He hand-works the surfaces of his pieces with carving, inlaying and drawing, inspired by the rural
environment.
No website or Facebook
Paul Gennings Firetail Studio/Gallery
453 Fernbank-Glenaladale Road, Fernbank
OPEN: Wednesday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm, weekends 10.00am to 3.00pm. Other times call Paul on
0416 982 338.
Paul Gennings creates hand crafted sculpture for garden and outdoor living space. combining ceramics,
steel and timber.
https://www.facebook.com/PaulGenningsceramics
BAIRNSDALE
East Gippsland Art Gallery
2 Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale
OPEN: Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.
East Gippsland Art Gallery is the centre for visual arts in East Gippsland celebrating the diverse artistic spirit
of the region through a vibrant and dynamic program of art and cultural experiences for the whole family.
https://www.facebook.com/eastgippslandartgallery/
Foundry
75a Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale (down the laneway next to Woolworths)
OPEN: Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm.
Foundry is a volunteer-run artist collective showcasing handmade, sustainable & beautiful artworks &
creations from makers living & working on Gunaikurnai land.
https://www.facebook.com/foundrybairnsdale
The Brabuwooloong Art Gallery
80 McKean Street, Bairnsdale
OPEN: Monday to Sunday.
The Brabuwooloong Gallery is a unique exhibition space for promoting local artwork, operated by the East
Gippsland Shire Council, in the foyer area of the Forge Theatre.
https://creativegippsland.com.au/visit/performing-arts/forge-theatre-arts-hub/
Rhonda Gray Studio
28 Warde Street, Bairnsdale
OPEN: By appointment, call 0427492859.
Rhonda is a contemporary painter, drawer and teacher. Her work varies from super realism to figurative.
https://www.facebook.com/rhondagrayart
EAGLE POINT
The Clay Place
40 Mathiesons Road, Eagle Point
The Clay Place holds the work of potters Wendy Reeve and Liz Kent.
OPEN: Weekends 10.00 to 4.00pm, Public and school holiday weekends, other times call Liz on 0433 012
922 or Wendy on 0406 066 332.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Clay-Place-396073104301496/
Liz Kent Pottery
Liz specialises in colourful terracotta ware, life sculpture and high and mid fired function ware.
Wendy Reeve
Wendy’s work employs a variety of clays and alternative firing techniques to create exhibition ware. Wendy
also creates stoneware and midfire, functional ware.
NEWLANDS ARM
IJD Ceramics (Irene Dunwoodie)
27 Kyra Court, Newlands Arm
OPEN: Everyday 10.00am to 4.00pm. Please call Irene on 5156.0254 or
email idunwoodie@bigpond.com to organise an appointment.
Handmade ceramic items both decorative and functional ware including sculptural and novelty pieces and
jewellery. Pieces are fired in an electric kiln or woodfired raku kiln or smoked in a sawdust kiln.
https://www.facebook.com/IJD-Ceramics-101193218376428/
METUNG
Helen Crossley Art Studio Gallery
85 Kings Cove Boulevard, Metung
OPEN: Weekends 10.00am to 3.00pm. Other times call Helen on 0417 124 775. All welcome.
Helen’s paintings are inspired by East Gippsland’s nature and vistas. She works in pastel, acrylic, oil and
charcoal.
https://www.facebook.com/Helen-Crossley-Art-1447945718565841/
Daniel Jenkins Artist Photographer| Kate Shone sculptor
10 Coolavin Road, Metung
OPEN: Weekends 10.00am to 4.00pm, other times call Daniel on 0438 063 026 or Kate on 0438 063 359.
Kate and Daniel work independently making art works, small sculptures for the garden primarily. They
make their own patina colours, all safe for the garden and environment, working in copper.
https://www.facebook.com/kateshone62
Lilly Pilly Studio
59 Park Road, (off Stirling Rd) Metung
OPEN: Weekends and public holidays 10.00am to 4.00pm and by appointment call Jill on 0497 609 064.
Jill is a contemporary artist, working mainly in acrylics, influenced by the environment. She
enjoys experimenting with bright colours and abstract shapes.
https://www.facebook.com/createwithpateena/
NUNGURNER
Victor Greenaway Studios
35 Kleinitz Road, Nungurner
OPEN: By appointment, call 0447 108 373.
Victor Greenaway is an internationally renowned ceramic artist represented widely in public and private
collections worldwide. He has earned a reputation for fine craftsmanship and innovative ceramic design
as well as widespread acclaim for his two-dimensional works on canvas and paper.
https://www.facebook.com/victor.greenaway.1
Gillian Ellet Banks
Studio 30, 30 Loop Road, Nungurner
OPEN: First weekend of the month from February 2022 10.00 am to 4.00pm
Gillian has worked in the Creative Arts all her life as a trained Secondary Art Teacher and practicing Painter.
She works in Watercolour, Oils and Acrylics and Prints on paper, textile, acrylic and glass.
Her paintings are represented at MAGNT,(Museums & Art Gallery of NTerritory,) Civic & Private Collections.
https://gilliansartgallery.com/about-gillian/
KALIMNA WEST
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
Bush Cafe and Aboriginal Art Gallery
27 Scriveners Road, Kalimna West
OPEN: Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.
The Aboriginal Art Gallery at Forestec houses a wide range of artworks from many talented Aboriginal
artists living, working and practising culture across the region. It is a warm and engaging space that offers
visitors an opportunity to feel the connection that Traditional Owners have to Country and culture.
https://gunaikurnai.org
LAKES ENTRANCE
Jan Martin Gallery
24 Marine Parade, Lakes Entrance.
Open: Most days 10.0Oam to 4.00 pm or ring her on 0427235740 to arrange a visit.
Jan is a professional, award winning watercolour artist with many paintings on display of the local area and
further afield.
https://www.facebook.com/jan.martin.50364
Iceworks
5 Carpenter Street, Lakes Entrance
Iceworks is an artspace that features local artists in regular exhibitions, sited in a long abandoned ice
factory. Shared by artists, story tellers, hands-on workshops, and art-filled eco-conversations. We are the
HQ for FLOAT, FORA, School of Untourism, ArtLab, FROTH and Farewell Records. And we are building a
network of arts residencies across East Gippsland -FLOAT A.I.R.
http://www.float3909.com/iceworks3909
WAIREWA
Lemon Hill Gallery
158 Lemon Hill Rd, Wairewa
OPEN: Sundays 2pm – 5pm
Lemon Hill Gallery is a small gallery in a shipping container on a farm in East Gippsland featuring exhibitions
by local artists predominantly but also sometimes some not so local. The container was donated after the
2019/20 bush fires and is situated on the site of the burnt shed with a 360 degree view of the Wairewa
valley and the state forest. There is no charge for visiting and there is no commission on a sale.
Exhibitions change every 4 weeks and the Gallery is closed in January 2022 reopening in February 13 for a
special exhibition.
https://www.lemonhillgallery.com
ORBOST
Orbost Exhibition Centre
10-12 Clarke Street, Orbost
OPEN: Thursday to Sunday 11.00am to 3p.00m. Exhibitions Monday to Sunday 10.30am to 3.30pm.
The Orbost Exhibition Centre is a community based, not-for-profit arts centre hosting visual and performing
arts events and is the home of the National Wood Design Collection.
https://www.facebook.com/OrbostExhibCentre
MALLACOOTA
Mallacoota Arts Space
66 Maurice Avenue, Mallacoota
OPEN: Daily, 10.00am to 4.00pm during summer: varies in winter, phone Stephanie on 0437817852 for
confirmation of times. Mallacoota Arts Space (MA space) is located in the Croajingolong Centre for
Communication and the Arts. The high standard of work exhibited is mostly the work of Mallacoota’s own
residents.
https://www.facebook.com/mallacootaartspace
THE PHOENIX TRAIL – Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephoenixtrail