Welcome to the official website of the Coochie Art Group.

Here we hope to keep our members, friends and the public abreast of our  aims, our programs and events, and to provide a showcase for all of our artists.

MISSION STATEMENT

“To bring together, through regular meetings, people with a common interest in art, in an atmosphere of friendship, caring and support.”

GOALS OF THE GROUP

• To increase members’ knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of art by:

  1. practicing art as a group of members

  2. practicing art privately at other times

  3. employing professional art teachers at lessons

  4. organizing special workshops with selected teachers

  5. organizing an annual workshop holiday for members and supporters.

  6. To enhance friendship, caring and support in members and supporters.

OBJECTIVES FROM THE GOALS

•  To present selected paintings produced by members during each year at an Annual Art Show.

• To have social gatherings and teachers.

 

“We accept you for the artist you are, and help you become the artist you want to be.”

 

Our Officebearers are:-

• President:               Donna Baldwin
• Vice-Presidents:  Gail McCallum, Jan Cox  
• Treasurer:              Anita Broome            
• Asst. Treasurer:    Robyn Matfin
• Secretary:               Sue Thomas
• Asst Secretary:
• Art Show Coordinator: Gillian Rich

Information for Visitors:

Coochie Art Group meets approximately every fortnight on Tuesdays at 9am at the Coochiemudlo Community Hall on Coochiemudlo Island.  Visitors are welcome to join us on those days we have room for them at a cost of $50 for the day. (2020 prices)  Please contact Jan Cox for information on individual classes.
Mainlanders meet at the Victoria Point jetty at 8.20am to catch the 8.30am ferry.  Ferry ride is approximately 10 mins. We are then met at Coochie by island members who provide transport to the hall.  The return ferry trip is around $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for concession card holders. You will need to bring all your own painting gear, canvasses, paper etc.  as well as your lunch.  Tea and coffee is available in the kitchen all day. We start to pack up at 3.15pm in order to catch the 3.45pm ferry back to the mainland.

History of the Group

The Coochie Art Group was founded in 1972 by Charles Barnett. Bob, as he was affectionately known, was an artist of some distinction and taught an enthusiastic group of students on Coochiemudlo Island for a number of years. We first began painting on the island at Pullen Hall and later at Eliott Hall, which is now known as the Community Hall.  Eliott Hall was constructed by volunteer local labour in 1973 and extended by the Redland Shire Council in 1991.  The group has flourished under a variety of excellent tutors. Our members are enthusiastic and classes are well attended.

Exhibitions

The first exhibition of the Coochie Art Group was held amongst the trees on the Coochiemudlo Island foreshore. It was obviously not an ideal situation with the threat of rain and high winds.

Over the years the exhibitions have been held in various places in Cleveland. Our preference was always the Council Chambers, being in the centre of Cleveland, and when we heard news of the Redland Art Gallery we were quick to secure our spot as regular annual exhibitors. We are very grateful to the Council and the Gallery for this venue and hope to be able to continue to exhibit in the Gallery.  We have also been fortunate to hold exhibitions at the Redland Museum, and less formally, in the local shopping centres. We try to keep the public informed of all our exhibits with regular updates in the local newspaper, so watch for forthcoming events.

About our Members

We are a friendly, happy and co-operative group from diverse backgrounds with a common interest in art. Artistic talent is not a pre-requisite to being a Coochie Art Group member.
However we do expect our members to be fully involved in the group, to attend classes as much as they can and participate in meetings and activities such as the Annual Art Exhibition. We also encourage our members to be supportive of each other, to encourage and motivate each other in their

art endeavours, and be supportive of members in their home life when the need arises.

Tutors and Workshops

The Coochie Art Group feels very fortunate to have had many excellent tutors who have not only divulged their own individual painting techniques, but have inspired us to step out of our comfort zones and explore new avenues of looking at subjects and new ways of expressing ourselves and our emotions. We are especially grateful to Donald James Waters, who tutored the

group for many years, and was always very helpful and encouraging. Tutoring has included exciting acrylics with Jenni Kelly, Jane James, Kylie Farrelly, wonderful watercolour with Jan Lawnikanis, Annette Raff, Cees Sleidrecht, John Lovett, Malcolm Beattie, as well as pastel with Louise Corke, Penny Gilbert-Ng, Lyn Dieffenbach, Tricia Reust, Louise Saunders, Maria Field, Hilary Wakeling, Vicki Whalan, to name a few.