Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Weekly Challenge for Artists FEATURED Nelson Bay (Tomaree Peninsula areas) by News Of The Area - Modern Media - April 21, 2020 Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Members at a Zoom Meeting The Zoom boom has even seen meetings of a few members along with their weekly entries pictured in the Zoom Meeting are Lizzie Paterson, Meryl Miller, Christine Leaming, Joana Johnston, Sylvia Heath, Diana Atkinson, Jeanette Robertson with her entry from the previous week, Marianne Newton, and Sue Kelly. PORT Stephens Community Arts Centre’s Artists have made the shift to remote mode from self-isolation to keep our community active. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Painters from the Community Arts Centre in Nelson Bay have got even more creative than usual to cope with the COVID-19 lockdown. Member Nikki Waters explained: “With the Arts Centre temporarily closed, many of our artist members are participating in a weekly ‘Art Challenge’.” she said “We send out a reference photo and ask participants to paint a variation on this theme in a medium of their choice – e.g. watercolour, acrylic, pastel, ink etc.” The first week saw more than 15 entries and the second week already has more than 28 participants. With the number growing to 40 entries for week 3. Some members have even submitted multiple versions depicted in different mediums. “Weekly, completed entries are posted on our Facebook page, and a compilation of all entries in thumbnail format are sent to all participants by email” said Nikki Waters. Members have welcomed the ‘Art challenge’ as one way of filling their time at home while they are minimising their social interactions. Participants have reacted very positively to this challenge. Members who usually participate in different crafts like Pottery and Fusion have also been getting into the weekly challenge. Some of the comments from members about the weekly challenge have been,“How lucky are we having you thinking ahead and arranging this opportunity; I have just been looking around to paint something but now I have some purpose; Keeping sanity levels and “It’s good to challenge our old brains with new things!” Any member of the Community Arts Centre is welcome to take part in the weekly challenge,” said Nikki Waters. By Marian SAMPSON
