Tag: Art

Make & Take – Textured Art Workshop

Join Hollie Jade Studios for a Paint and Sip Event with extra added value.

At the beautiful Nabo in Mandurah, they will introduce you to Textured Art whilst you enjoy drinks, snacks, great company and good vibes!

Doors open at 6:15pm and creating starts at 6:30pm.

Follow along Hollie’s guided steps to create your very own textured art. She will have a range of different designs for you to choose from including a Christmas themed design.

Learn Palette knife techniques, colour mixing and much more.

The tools you use at our Make & Take event are yours to keep on creating.

 

MAKE – Included in the ticket:

  • Mimosa/Sparkling Wine on arrival
  • Light Snacks
  • Step by Step Guidance from Artist
  • Ready to Hang Canvas
  • Corkage included to BYO Drink of choice
  • Use of Apron

 

TAKE – Plus ! Take Home

Included in your ticket:

  • Set of 5 Stainless Steel Palette Knives
  • Texture Paste
  • Acrylic Paints
  • Tear off Palette Pad (36 Sheets)
  • 2nd Canvas
  • Access to Tutorial

VALUED OVER $65!

That’s right the team has crammed so much value into your ticket ! This event makes the perfect gift, date night, or unique get together with friends. Or come solo and treat yourself.

Note – This Event is Strictly for Adults 18+

A palette of experiences: Plein Air Down Under Festival in Mandurah

French for open air, ‘plein air’ painting is all about capturing the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject outdoors. And that’s exactly what the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival sets out to do.

Plein Air Down Under Festival in Mandurah

Discover a palette of experiences

Love to paint? Why not take it ‘plein air’!
French for open air, ‘plein air’ painting is all about capturing the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject outdoors. And that’s exactly what the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival sets out to do.

Western Australia’s largest outdoor painting festival returns this year during the September long weekend (23-25 September), providing a unique opportunity for artists to share their love of painting outdoors amongst the magnificent surrounds of Mandurah’s town centre, cultural precinct and the historic town of Pinjarra.

But you don’t have to be a Vincent Van Gogh to enjoy what’s on offer. Whatever your age or level of artistic skills – there’s something for everyone – spectators and art collectors alike.

What’s on at the festival hub

The Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is where it all comes together. It’s where you can view exhibited works, sign up for workshops, watch various painting demonstrations with guest artists and in the evening, switch off and kick back with live music.

On Saturday 23rd September, the Lotterywest Demo Zone on the Eastern Foreshore will also be buzzing with a series of free hands-on painting demonstrations. Never tried painting with watercolours? See how easy it is to get started with award-winning artist Amanda Brett.

Be sure to check out the full line-up of free events across the weekend.

plein air down under mandurah 1

Want to register as an artist?

All artists who register to paint at the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival can enter two paintings into the exhibition to be held at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Judges will be awarding artwork across various categories and there’s a prize pool of over $12,000 up for grabs.

Head to the festival website to register.

plein air down under mandurah 3

There’s artwork to inspire you everywhere you go

Wherever you go in Mandurah, you’ll be immersed in the arts. Continuing outdoors, you’ll stumble upon some of the most creative artworks along Mandurah’s Instagram Trail. 

3D pelican - Mandurah Instagram Trail
Follow the Mandurah Instagram Trail to find this hungry pelican by artist Jenny McCracken

Thomas Dambo’s famous Giants are still calling Mandurah home, and with the mild weather in play, it’s the perfect opportunity to head further out and explore the Giants of Mandurah. 

Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone by Thomas Dambo, Coodanup Foreshore
Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone by Thomas Dambo, Coodanup Foreshore

Visit the Mandurah Visitor Centre to get started, choose the Giants you’d like to visit and embark on your self-guided expedition. Don’t forget to check out the amazing ‘Welcome to Country’ mural by artists Peta & Corey Ugle and the 3D Augmented Reality experience that brings the artwork to life by telling the Aboriginal creation story of Mandurah’s vast waterways.

3D Augmented Reality Experience at the Mandurah Visitor Centre
Come to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to enjoy a 3D Augmented Reality experience.

Leave your car at the hotel and hire an e-bike or e-scooter, or jump on a ‘Ride the Giants’ e-bike tour. You can also take a cruise with Soulmate Charters to visit the Giant ‘Seba’s Song’ – which is best viewed from the water. See all Giants of Mandurah tours here.

Seba's Song Giant by Thomas Dambo
Seba's Song Giant by Thomas Dambo

If you need a change of pace, head indoors and visit some of Mandurah’s colourful art spaces and galleries.

Black Stump Art Gallery in Mandurah
Black Stump Gallery by Emma Blyth, Mandurah

Where to venture beyond the festival

When you feel like taking a break from all the action on land, change up the scenery and hit the open water. If you’d like to see dolphins in the wild and up close, jump on a boat tour or cruise through Mandurah’s waterways and estuaries. It’s home to more than 100 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins – the largest population in WA. And if you’re exploring with little feet in tow, the Pirate Ship Mandurah is an absolute must! 

For more ideas on where to go and what to do, check out our top 10 things to do in Mandurah.

CC Boat Cruises in Mandurah
Cruising the Mandurah Canals in Halls Head | image courtesy: Mandurah Cruises

Explore a different kind of palate

When you’ve run your paint palette dry and worked up an appetite, there’s no shortage of places to eat in Mandurah. Our top picks include breakfast at Wood and Stone Café, a relaxing lunch that lingers into the afternoon at Boundary Island Brewery and a dinner to share at Flics Kitchen. 

Boundary Island Brewery
Boundary Island Brewery

Mandurah’s restaurants are always cooking up great vibes no matter where you go. From popular local haunts Brewvino and The Pen to the iconic flavours of Redmanna on the waterfront – you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are so many great places to eat and drink in Mandurah. Just be sure to book ahead and reserve your table to avoid disappointment!

The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant
The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant

Where to stay in Mandurah

If you like to stay close to all the action of the festival, you’re in luck! Some of the best accommodation in Mandurah is centrally located for your convenience. The Sebel Mandurah and Dolphin Quay Apartments are footsteps away from popular attractions and dining options.

Venture a little further along the coast and Seashells Mandurah and C Mandurah Resort & Serviced Apartments have all the facilities you need for a relaxing stay by the water.

Check out all Mandurah accommodation here.

Seashells Resort Mandurah
Seashells Resort Mandurah

And if you don’t want to leave the pooch behind, there’s plenty of pet-friendly accommodation options and experiences.

Pet friendly experiences Mandurah
Walking along the Mandurah Estuary in Falcon

The Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival kicks off the Mandurah Arts Festival. Check out ‘our guide to Mandurah’ and plan your visit now!

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A Family Day in Mandurah for only $100

Have the best day ever in Mandurah for only $100 with these fun family-friendly activities!

A Family Day in Mandurah for only $100

A Family Day out in Mandurah on a Budget

Have the best day ever in Mandurah for only $100 with these fun family-friendly activities! Whether your family are looking for an outdoor adventure, are massive foodies or, you’re a bunch of beach bums – Mandurah is full of exciting activities to make your day out a memorable one.

From the morning to the evening, Mandurah has your entire day sorted with family-fun activities that will cost you $100 or less for the entire day! Having fun on your family holiday doesn’t need to be expensive. Here, we’ve picked out our favourite ideas to keep you and the kiddos entertained from breakfast to dinner.

Idea 1: Amaze-ing Adventure

Begin your morning with a stroll around the Peel Produce Market. Hosted every Saturday morning rain, hail or shine, pick up local produce, jams, cheeses and baked goods that will make for a delicious lunch later on. All goodies are made locally, meaning it’s all high quality, delicious and affordable. 

Peel Produce Market Dawesville
Peel Produce Market Dawesville

Take your packed lunch and head on an adventure to Amaze Miniature Park! The park offers a Family Pass (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children) for $50, plus under 3 years old are FREE. 

Admission to Amaze Miniature Park also includes unlimited mini golf, hedge maze, scale model trains, lego exhibition and playground offering hours of fun for the family. Enjoy the packed lunch at the beautiful picnic area at Amaze Miniature Park and soak up the quality time with your little ones. 

Amaze Miniature Park
Amaze Miniature Park

Head back into town to explore the Instagram trail and 3D artworks. This is the perfect way to discover the city and appreciate its wonderful art and culture. 

3dart pelican mandurah-1024x768
3D pelican at blue gatehouse at Mandurah Ocean Marina

After the walk, spoil your youngsters with a visit to one of the many playgrounds in Mandurah! Sprinkled throughout the city, there’s the Caterpillar Park, Adventurescape Playground as well as Mandurah’s iconic Skatepark for those with a board or bike. Sit back and relax whilst your children play. 

With Mandurah’s many beautiful beaches, it’s essential that your family make time to visit the seaside. The hardest bit will be deciding which beach to go to – there’s simply so many to choose from! Falcon Bay, Town Beach, Pyramids Beach, Lido Beach and more. Rally the family together and visit some of the best beach spots in WA. 

Town Beach Mandurah at sunset
Town Beach, Mandurah

As dinner rolls around, pop by one of the great fish and chip shops in Mandurah. For an affordable seafood feast, we recommend Foreshore Fish & Chips, Halls Head Fish and Chips, Smiley Joe’s Fish and Chip Shop, Ginger Groper Blue Bay Fish & Chips, Sharky’s Fish & Chips… the options are endless.  

Dining at Mandurah Ocean Marina 2
Mandurah Ocean Marina

I scream, you scream, we all scream – for ice cream! Make your kiddies jump for joy with a delicious scoop of ice cream from WA’s renowned Simmos ice cream or the local Cool Eats. The perfect way to finish off a fantastic day. 

Idea 2: Explore, Eat & Repeat

All aboard on an adventure in Mandurah! 

Pack up some homemade sandwiches and head on an excursion to the Pirate Ship Cruise. 

Whilst the parents can admire the stunning views on the 45 minute scenic cruise, the children will be entertained with the interactive pirates. For a family-deal of $75, it’s a bargain for the whole family. Just make sure you keep an eye out for the many Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins that play in Mandurah’s waterways. 

Pirate Ship Mandurah
Pirate Cruise, Mandurah

Alternatively, the Mandurah Cruises’ Dolphin Cruise and Views offer an incredible  and interactive water experience as you cruise the Mandurah canals and estuary and spot the wonderful dolphins splashing beside the boat. The kids will have a ball watching a western rock lobster catch demonstration and seeing this iconic creature up close. Mandurah Cruises’ offer a Family Pass (2 adults & 2 children or, 1 adult & 3 children) at $79 including dolphin guarantee. 

Dolphin and Scenic Marine Cruise Mandurah
Dolphin Cruise & Views | Image courtesy of Mandurah Cruises

After the cruise, book a spot for your family on Mandurah’s Little Toot train, which takes passengers on a fun journey along the Eastern Foreshore for only $25 for the whole family! The Tourist Fun Train never fails to excite the kids and impress the parents. 

Exploring Mandurah's Eastern Foreshore aboard the Mini Toot
Exploring Mandurah's Eastern Foreshore aboard the Mini Toot

Take it easy after the day’s activities and find a spot to watch the sunset at an insta-worthy location in Mandurah. 

If you’re looking to update your family album or snap a picture to post on Instagram, Mandurah’s sunsets are guaranteed to deliver breathtaking backdrops. From the Mandurah Bridge to Stingray Point and The Lake Clifton Thrombolites – your family album will never look so good.  

Thrombolites 4 day Mandurah itinerary
Lake Clifton Thrombolites

As bellies begin to growl for dinner, we recommend making use of the great BBQ spots. 

You can find BBQ facilities at most reserves in Mandurah. Some of the best spots are the Eastern Foreshore Reserve, Dawesville Foreshore Reserve, Caterpillar Playground, Falcon Bay and Henry Sutton Grove. Grab some delicious snags from the local butcher and enjoy a sausage and bun on the grass.

BBQ by the beach 960x640px 2
Falcon Bay Beach

Affordable family adventures

Who said family activities had to be costly? Not us! 

Choose how much (or how little) you spend on your holiday without having to sacrifice on activities. Here in Mandurah, there’s plenty of free and affordable activities that will keep the kids entertained. 

Looking for more affordable and free activities? Check out our blogs  Visiting Mandurah On A Budget and A day in Mandurah as a couple for only $100.

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SHELTER by Verity Byth

Shelter is a solo exhibition by Verity Byth that creates an interactive experience to articulate and prioritise the needs for shelter in our personal lives, community and biosphere.
The aim of this project is to engage the community in a discussion about homelessness by exploring the notions and emotions of shelter in a climate-ravaged world.

  • Exhibition Opening: Sunday 6 August, 2.30pm
  • Artist Talk: Sunday 6 August, 1pm-2pm

Visit Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah Facebook Page for updates.

Approaching Landscapes 2023 Art Sale & Exhibition

The not-for profit  community art organisation ‘Mandurah Plein Air Artists Incorporated’ is a group of passionate artists who are diverse in painting styles, mediums and skill level.

The group present their annual sale of original artworks including oils, watercolours, pastels and acrylics.

Come along to the Approaching Landscapes 2023 Art Sale and Exhibition.

If you’d like to paint en plein air (which means ‘outdoors’) yourself, join the group oaf artists who meet every Tuesday to paint en plein air at locations in and around Mandurah and the Peel region.

Spirit of the Landscape Art Exhibition

SPIRIT OF THE LANDSCAPE ART EXHIBITION, presented by Plein Air Down Under

This exhibition celebrates the vast landscapes of rural, regional and remote Australia, through the eyes of exhibiting artists. In telling these stories, artists may choose to reference place, the people of remote communities, the topography of the landscape or the challenges of living and working in remote Australia.

This carefully curated selection of award winning artists will ensure a high standard of work while acknowledging these artists’ continued involvement and support of the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival.

The Spirit of the Landscape Art Exhibition presents:
Andy Dolphin, Andy Conlin, Brendon Darby, Constance Conroy Paul, D’hange Yammanee, Hilly Coufreur, James Walker, Jos Coufreur, Leanne Pearson, Leon Holmes, Matt Ryder, Natasha Ruschka, Pip Phelps, Robyn Lowry, Samuel Swadling, Shane van Rensburg, Tiffany Forster, Val Brooks.

 

Exhibition Opening

  • Saturday 9 September 2023, at 2.30 pm (following the World Wide Paint Out in Mandjar Square)
  • Everyone welcome

 

About Plein Air Down Under…

Leading Australian outdoor painting festival Plein Air Down Under is held annually in Mandurah and the Peel Region over the September long weekend and follows in the footsteps of international plein air festivals held in Ireland, the Netherlands, mainland USA and Hawaii. The festival attracts artists of all levels to paint en plein air and features world-class tutors accessible to the general public through free demonstrations, artist talks and special events.

Find out more here.

Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival

Workshops, Paint Outs, Exhibitions, Awards & Prizes, Demonstrations and Artist Talks. This festival celebrates everything to do with outdoor painting. Plein Air Down Under invites artists and art lovers alike to join in the fun of the Peel Region’s outdoor painting festival. Come and paint, or come and watch!

Over $12,000 in cash and prizes are on offer for artists accepting the challenge of capturing the character and beauty of Mandurah and Pinjarra’s natural and built environment.

 

Pre-festival activities include:

  • World Wide Paint Out: 9 & 10 September, Mandjar Square Mandurah
  • Spirit of the Landscape Exhibition, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
  • Oil Painting Masterclass with feature artist Leon Holmes (AUS), two days
  • Oil Painting Masterclass with feature artist Matt Ryder (UAE), three days
  • Watercolour Masterclass with feature artist Amanda Brett (NZ), three days
  • Plein Air Drawing Workshop, with Andy Dolphin
  • How to Write an Artist Statement Workshop, with James Walker

 

Festival weekend activities include:

  • Artists Meet and Greet at the Leon Holmes Gallery
  • Demonstrations by feature artists
  • Lotterywest Free Demo Zone
  • Day and evening paint outs and festivities
  • Two-hour ‘Quick Draw’ painting competition
  • A day painting in historical Pinjarra
  • An exhibition of festival weekend artwork
  • Free have-a-go painting activities for all ages
  • Awards and prizes

Download the festival program here.

Ticket Information:

  • FREE to watch and enjoy the surrounds
  • Youth Artist Registration (aged 18 and under) $10.00
  • Adult Artist Registration: Earlybird registration $52.20 (before July 31st) then $67.50 Standard Adult Artist Registration

World Wide Paint Out, Mandurah

Artists of all skill levels and mediums are invited to paint in this free event, as part of the 21st International Plein Air Painters Worldwide Paint Out, hosted by the Mandurah Plein Air Artists Inc.

Bring your own paints and materials and join some of the area’s other outdoor painters as they capture the landscape and waterways around Mandjar Bay. During these two days artists around the world will be simultaneously painting outdoors.

All ages are welcome and the public are encouraged to watch individual artists while they paint. Artists are encouraged to upload photos to #ipapgreatworldwidepaintout2023 and be part of this international plein air movement!

Saturday’s paint out is immediately followed by the opening of the Spirit of the Landscape Art Exhibition, opening inside the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre’s Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

  • Date: Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 September 2023
  • Time: 10am to 2pm
  • Location: Mandjar Square Mandurah, outside the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Ormsby Terrace, Mandurah

Come along for some or all!

If you like plein air painting, you won’t want to miss Plein Air Down Under, Mandurah’s annual outdoor painting festival weekend, on 23, 24 and 24 September.

All Consumed Exhibition at CASM

ALL CONSUMED exhibition is an exploration into a broader world of consumerism, with the intent to draw awareness back to the prevalence of advertising and marketing that encompasses the world in which we live.

From a light-hearted perspective, Elisha has created a collection of vibrant acrylic paintings capturing everyday urban-scapes and landscapes depicting our world filled with advertising. In addition, a glimpse of supermarket shelves and pop art inspired still life paintings will have the audience sharing stories of nostalgia.

  • Exhibition Dates: Saturday 17 June – Sunday 16 July 2023
  • Launch date: Sunday 18 June at 2pm
  • Guest speaker: Paula Silbert, Art Consultant
  • Artist Talk: Sunday 25 June at 11am
  • CASM Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm

heartbeat.

‘heartbeat.’ tells the real stories of those attempting to create a career in the arts long after everybody else has grown up.

blending theatre, spoken word, music and verbatim elements, this debut show from ‘perhaps, a theatre company.’ follows five west australian artists as they desperately try to find meaning in their role as a performer. ‘heartbeat.’ explores the power of art in a world that favours the monotonous, returning both the audience and the performers to the magic of childhood and the thing that connects us all: the all-consuming, undeniable desire to create.

you’ve felt it too, right?