Here is a selection of 7 Art Galleries in the McLaren Vale wine region and Northern Fleurieu Peninsula.
Galleries
Fleurieu Art House
Fleurieu Art House is the artisan hub in McLaren Vale Wine Region, situated within the grounds of Hardys Tintara an easy 800m stroll from Bellevue. The gallery is surrounded by giant, majestic Morton Bay Fig trees.
There are 8 resident local artisans working from their studios and workshop space which means you are highly likely to be able to chat with one of them while they are working, who knows you may want to commission a piece from them!
As the artist studios are open topped you can peer in to see what they are working on currently and collect their business details for later if that suits you better.
There is also a large exhibition gallery, a retail shop selling local artists works such a variety of rusted iron garden or wall pieces; cards; jewellery; furniture; wood carvings and so much more.
Their newest addition is a delicious coffee area with a selection of cakes and pastries, you can site inside admiring the artworks around you or do the same outside!
Art workshops are a regular feature so sign up to their mailing list for more info.
Micky Barlow Art
Micky Barlow is a Kokatha woman who has chosen to set up in McLaren Vale, her new studio space (Micky Barlow Art) on the Main Road in McLaren Vale. This is a leisurely 1.4km walk from Bellevue B&B. Micky is an Aboriginal contemporary artist and basket weaver.
Using traditional dot work in her paintings, incorporating symbols and colours passed down from her grandmother and mother. Her art is an original take on the natural colours and traditional symbols passed down by her grandparents from their traditional homelands: The Central Western Desert near Alice Springs.
Micky also uses woodturning, French polishing and wood burning in her craft, skills she and her late father used to practise together. She mainly uses acrylics on canvas but also like to use recycled, up cycled furniture and wooden objects and natural fibres such as drift wood, sea shells, bark and natural grasses.
So; if you have ever hankered for the opportunity to try necklace making or basket weaving make sure you check in with Micky to get the latest info on her workshops.
If you find you are unable to visit in person, she has many of her wonderful pieces available in her online shop.
Red Poles
Red Poles
Located only a 7 min drive from Bellevue B&B, and across the road from historic Wirra Wirra Winery Red Poles has hundreds of artists whose works are featured throughout the galleries.
It has been around since 2005 and Red Poles is the lovely blend of food, wine, art and ale – in the middle of a vineyard, surrounded by lawns, gardens and bushland. Seasonal menu focusses on local Fleurieu Peninsula produce and their kitchen garden.
There is a strong Indigenous display of works in the galleries at all times and a regular art program featuring Indigenous works from all over South Australia.
Art workshops are available for corporate groups, family events, adults and children. A strong school holiday art program is always very popular. There is a growing program of Indigenous workshops including story telling.
The Current Exhibition is called ‘Alaalpi Apinha’ (‘Many Hands’ in Adnyamathanha language) it is running until 14th Feb 2021. A wide variety includes; mixed media, ceramics, weaving, paintings on canvas, prints, textiles (painted and screen printed) and jewellery.
The gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday 9am-5pm.
Willunga Gallery
Willunga Gallery is an art gallery, exhibition space, gift shop, and special events venue, located on Willunga’s iconic High Street (just an easy 7-minute drive from Bellevue B&B).
The Gallery is a meeting place for lovers of art enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
There are delightful pieces for your garden by Overwrought, cushion covers from Red Parka or jewellery by Under The Shade of a Bonsai Tree
Browse the beautiful works on offer, attend art workshops and exhibition openings.
Willunga Gallery offers something special. Enter this gallery and you are in the world of individual creations, with works of Australian artists and designers, including authentic Aboriginal art, graphic design, contemporary crafts, gifts, cards, garden art, and jewellery. You will be delighted to know that if you are purchasing as a gift they will wrap it for you (no charge).
So, if you are looking for a “one of a kind” handmade gift, look no further! As always check their opening hours and if you can’t get there, they have an extensive online shop.
Off the Slate Gallery
Off the Slate Gallery is a co-operative of 20-25 artists, from the Fleurieu Peninsula (and beyond) and that makes this place rather unique.
When visiting you can expect and huge range of artworks displayed for sale, including paintings, sculpture, pottery, slumped glass, jewellery, lamps, woodcraft, photo art and digital art.
The Gallery has a number of exhibitions annually and art classes are available upon request, you will usually find one of the actual artists on duty in the gallery so do pop in. The opening hours can vary but if you see the flag out the front, they are open!
The Gallery shares the premises with the Willunga Glass Studios, less than 10 minutes from Bellevue B&B. They have been around since 1995 and the display of glassware is amazing. Quite a number of interesting pieces on display.
They have a great variety of beautiful glass ware which is created for the public to purchase. Lead light repairs and restorations are also a feature.
If the glass artist is not too busy, he (Glenn Howlett) will explain how they were created. All pieces are unique. Take a look at the lead light glass – this is a def favourite!
Try to make sure you are there when they are onsite as you are very likely to be able to watch them blow glass right in front of your eyes.
DogRidge
DogRidge is a small family-owned venture that produces a range of boutique wines from 90 acres of premium McLaren Vale vineyards.
The gallery, joining the tasting room, displays the works of local artists as well as artist in residence Jen Wright. Jen’s drawings and paintings, including her intriguing bird studies (the Tawny Frogmouth is a personal Fav!).
Stunning charcoal sketches and portraits, Jen has captured typical local scenes in oils celebrating life in the vineyards and at the beach.
Her most distinctive works are a series of bird paintings where she experiments with colouring from squid ink, beetroot, walnut and of course wine along with other natural and found materials.
There is a heavy focus on bird life and nature. This is captured in intriguing paintings to peer at, ponder and to purchase.
After purchasing your art why not enjoy a picnic and sit under the trees beside the creek while enjoying the beautiful, natural surroundings and a bottle of DogRidge wine.
Green Tank Gallery
John Lacey’s studio and Green Tank Gallery is a must see when visiting the Fleurieu. If you love art you will most definitely enjoy your visit here. Located just south of Mt Compass on Wood Cone Road and a short distance from Bellevue B&B (20 mins by car).
Love the name? Little story behind it, the gallery takes its name from the large, defunct water tank that sits on top of the hill in the adjacent property, the home of the artist John and his wife Lydia Lacey.
It’s here that John paints, teaches and sells his work. Open most days (check the website as john is often out painting or playing golf) and you are more than likely to find artist John Lacey working in his studio.
John is always willing to show you around the galley and discuss individual works. Johns artistic range varies from impressionistic to expressive contemporary landscapes. Gallery exhibitions are changed regularly and is therefore worth a visit on more than one occasion.
There is plenty to choose from, often you’ll find 10 -20 works out, resting on the walls just waiting to be thumbed through. And there is a story to be told about most of them. If all of this impresses you then you can make enquires about the workshops (usually based around a specific subject) or painting classes that are held around 4x per year in 6-week blocks (so you will need to come and stay multiple times!)
@johnlaceyartist
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