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July-August 2026 Arts News

from Bellingen and Beyond

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In this issue:

Nexus Gallery Exhibitions
Painting on Wood Workshop - Mohani Art
Urunga ArtSpace Encounter
Movember Mens Art Exhibition
Sawtell's 38th Annual Art Exhibition

2026 Nexus Community Gallery Schedule

21 June to 16 July

Main Gallery and Studio
Winter Members' Show

Last week of the Winter Exhibition !

Artists COLLECT WORK: Friday 17 July between 10am – 12noon

19 July to 13 August - Opening 12pm Sun 19 July

Main Gallery
Dubravka Sabljak - Encountering The Self

After months of clay, colour, creativity, exploding kilns, broken pieces, unexpected surprises and a whole lot of imagination, I’m excited to share my upcoming solo exhibition, “Encountering The Self”.

This collection is a journey through the many characters, emotions and ideas that emerge through art and life. Some pieces arrived exactly as planned. Most had other ideas.

Loud, messy, curious, strange and beautifully imperfect, this exhibition is a celebration of individuality and embracing the things that make us uniquely ourselves.

Studio
Leonie Harrison - Painting with Papers

Painting with Papers represents my journey from textiles to paper and now to canvas. It combines my love of colour and texture, the bedrock of all my work.

16 August to 10 Septermber - Opening 12pm Sun 16 Aug

Main Gallery
Phyllis Codd

more about this exhibition in the next newsletter

Studio
Jai Waters - The Sitting

The Sitting combines paintings and poetry to imagine the inner lives of sitters. Through portraiture and her accompanying book, Jai Waters invites viewers beyond appearance into moments of reflection, vulnerability and presence.

Find out more about our other BCAC Activities

Bellingen and Beyond
More Events and News for your artistic pleasure

“Encounter” asks each artist to step outside their comfort zone and have a direct encounter with their subject. That may mean sitting on a hillside in the wind, painting from life or pushing a photograph past the obvious. It may be 3D work which has special meaning for the artist, it may mean taking risks. The artists are asked to create a narrative, and to record their experiences in some way.

“Encounter” promises to be different, provocative, and instructive, and will provide an insight into the challenges everyone faces when asked to be creative. The work will include painting, ceramics, sculpture, a fabulous immersive group work and certainly some innovative approaches to the theme.

Opening Sat 15 Aug 10.30am till 12 noon.

Painting on Wood Workshop

Mohani Art (Jeannette Kommer) will give a 'Painting on Wood' workshop on the 22nd of August at the Tree.O Gallery in Raleigh.

In this workshop, you will create your own artwork on a 30 x 30 cm wooden panel.

Using templates and acrylic paints, we’ll build up layers and patterns. After a lunch break, you’ll be introduced to a batik technique that creates surprising effects on the wooden panel.

COST: General Price $125

All materials are included.

DATE: Saturday August 22nd

TIME: 10am – 3pm (½ hour lunch break)

VENUE: Tree.O Gallery in Raleigh

DATE: Saturday August 22nd

TIME: 10am – 3pm (½ hour lunch break)

VENUE: Tree.O Gallery in Raleigh

Around and About

The Arts Council of the Dorrigo

Art Space Urunga

7-30 May
Then and Now

25 Jun - 8 Aug
Winter Exhibition

The Winter Show is a celebration of the colder months. Ti is a time for reflection, keeping warm and exploring creativity.
Artists will exhibit a range of works including painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, ceramics and perhaps some surprises!
Come to our open morning from 10:30am to 12 noon on Sat 27 Jun.

13 Aug-12 Sep

Encounter

Chris Wilson, Crystal Tate, Pete Gaily, Susan Romyn, May Southgate, David Southgate, Sarah Wade, Tom Maxwell and The Collective Four (Jackie Lee, Shelly O’Keefe, Philip Senior and Kathy Taylor)
Opening Sat 15 Aug 10.30am till 12 noon.

13 Bonville Street Urunga. Open every day from 10am till 3pm.

more info…

The Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery
Movember Mens Art Exhibition 2026

2-12 July
more info...

Sawtell Art Gallery

38th ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION 2026

until 1 August
Admission to view exhibition is free Gallery open Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 3pm (closed Mondays)

More Info...

The Gallery

Saltwater-Freshwater Alliance

Coffs Harbour

26 May- 29 Aug

Uncle Allan Phillips Solo Exhibition

A powerful new exhibition at The Gallery. Join us for the opening of “Your Story, My Story, Our Story – One Mob Dreaming”, a deeply personal solo exhibition by Uncle Allan Phillips — his first public exhibition since 2017. Through vibrant and heartfelt works, Uncle Allan shares stories of family, identity, connection, and community, inviting us all to reflect on the journeys that shape who we are.

8 Park Ave (opp Woolworths) Coffs Harbour

Learn More

Just Do It

Bellingen Life Drawing Group
10am every Thursday Contact Sue Gorrell at 80443622 for further details.

The Stables

More info….

Tamasin Pepper - Ceramic Classes for Adults
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10.00am-1pm. $250 for a block of 5 classes or $55 casual. Includes firing and glazing pieces made in class. Phone 0400 986 655, email [email protected]

Urunga Small Sculpture Prize 2026

see digital flier above

Entries Close: 9 August

More Info.....

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The monthly BCAC Newsletter highlights activities of its member groups as well as art news from around the district; it is published one week prior to Nexus Community Gallery exhibition openings. Occasionally, and as required, shorter news items may also be sent to our email list.

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