Guy Gilmour the guest artist at Glenreagh Cedar and Steam exhibition

GUY Gilmour will be the guest artist of Gleanreagh’s annual “Cedar and Steam” exhibition in June.

Curator and artist Honi Reifler confirmed his attendance.

“Glenreagh is blessed to have a man of such incredible talent hang a retrospective display,” she said.

“Preparations are well underway for this year’s exhibition and we at the Museum are very thankful to have assistance from other local artists to help put on this event.”

Guy has been exhibiting his work at the Robin Gibson Gallery in Sydney for 40 years.

In 1988, he and his wife Dianne settled in the Orara Valley near Coramba where Dianne’s family, the Mortons, have a long history.

They have been farming beef cattle for the last 20 years with Guy’s retrospective representing the many works he has completed over that time.

In the forward for a booklet put out by Coffs Harbour City Gallery ahead of one of his exhibitions, Jeanette Ransom described how Guy’s work is a cohesive and fascinating narrative of his life in the Orara Valley. Landscapes reflect the riverside growth of eucalypts and the camphor laurel trees edging the cleared paddocks and the Dorrigo mountains in the west.

The animals include cattle, horses, and their much-loved cats and dogs.

The paintings feature family and friends, farmers in their comfortably familiar hats, working men and women growing food and tending livestock, homely furniture and ornaments, and children growing up in the beautiful and serene valley only minutes from the city of Coffs Harbour.

As a long-term member of Landcare groups in the Orara Valley, Guy is an active part of the landscape.

He has been involved in efforts to improve weed control and revegetation on his own property, as well as on his friends and neighbours properties.

Artists are now being invited to submit entries for “Cedar and Steam”.

There will be the usual five categories of photography, painting, drawing, fibre and sculpture of any shape, form or title.

This year’s special category is puppets.

“These can be created in any format: marionettes, jumping jacks, finger, glove or paper bag puppets can be entered as the ‘real thing’ or as a painting, drawing or photos,” Honi said.

The exhibition will be held between 26-28 June in the Glenreagh School of Arts (The Hall).

By Andrea FERRARI