Church opens Art Space
The Anglican parish of Woy Woy opened its doors to the local community over the October long weekend with the opening of St Luke's Art Space.
Publicity officer Ms Susie O'Donnell said the first exhibition Where Earth Meets Sky to kick off St Luke's Art Space was a huge success with more than 150 people in attendance on October 3.
"The parish council has worked to provide well-lit hanging space along one of the long walls in St Luke's Church to allow for regular exhibitions of work by local artists and school children," Ms O'Donnell said.
"To much applause from the 150 people gathered, the ribbon was cut by the mayor of Gosford Cr Chris Holstein, accompanied by our local state member Marie Andrews.
"The opening event included a Welcome to Country by local Aboriginal elder Gabi Duncan and the first performance of the Gandana Rainbow Dancers.
"These dancers range in age from under two up to 13 years, both boys and girls, and the group has been using the other centre in the parish, St Andrew's in Umina to rehearse.
"The Peninsula Choir, a local ecumenical choir which also rehearses in the premises, also performed and we had an enchanting presentation of local animals and bush tucker from the Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park.
"The children especially enjoyed holding the snakes."
According to Ms O'Donnell, the event was designed to tie in with the conclusion of the Season of Creation on St Francis Day.
"That afternoon at our Sunday Night Live gathering, the children enjoyed making animal masks and face-painting as we all climbed aboard Planet Ark to take our message to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd about our longing for a low emissions target to be set at Copenhagen," Ms O'Donnell said.
"All in all, the weekend expressed our aims of care for creation, reconciliation and engagement with the local community."
The exhibition will run for around three months and is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and by appointment on weekends.
Press release, 9 Oct 2009
Susie O'Donnell, St Luke's Anglican Church