Wooli Artists’ Gathering (WAG)

Wooli artists and art lovers have come together to form Wooli Artists Gathering, or WAG, to celebrate the creative talents of the village. The group meets every Monday morning at the Wooli Hotel. Anyone with an interest in art of any form is welcome, even if they have never held a paintbrush.

We are hoping WAG will draw attention to Wooli ‘s unique beauty and the talents of the people inspired by it. There is enormous creativity in Wooli. WAG hopes to provide a meeting ground for all art enthusiasts to paint, learn, teach and share their love of art, said convenor of the group, Leone Coper.

The formation of WAG was prompted by the Protect Wooli campaign. This campaign is urging Clarence Valley Council to rethink the policy of planned retreat from the village proposed in the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan for Wooli.

The threat to Wooli ‘s future has brought a sense of community to many residents. Our first WAG Exhibition in April 2011 raised money to support the Protect Wooli campaign, said Leone.

Wooli resident Tanja Ackerman is an active member of the group. Tanja is an accomplished artist and photographer and a finalist in the prestigious Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery ‘s prize for still-life artists, which attracts entries from all over Australia. “Wooli is my favourite place. Its extreme natural beauty allows my creativity to flow unimpeded and my energy to be recharged”, she said.

WAG ‘s inaugural exhibition was held in the Wooli Hotel/Motel at Easter 2011 and was a resounding success, with well over 100 works across several media and a vibrant children’s art section on display on opening night. Sales were brisk and Therese Lord’s mixed media cormorant on a nest was the People’s Choice winner.

Anyone interested in joining WAG or exhibiting should contact Leone Coper on lcoper@attglobal.net.