For artists’ sake

Drawing on past experience, a new resident and random conversation saw the birth of a local network for Maldon creatives that is still thriving over 10 years later.

Photography by Leon Schoots

For more than a decade, the Maldon Artist Network has provided a supportive environment and network for creatives in the regional area. It was formed in 2011 as an initiative of Tricia Migdoll, who had moved to the area from New South Wales. Tricia was a member of the Byron Bay artists network and had enquired at the local art shop of her new hometown as to whether there was a similar group in Maldon. The conversation was overhead by another local artist and from there, the Maldon Artist Network, or MANet as it is known, began. The group started meeting on a monthly basis at Penny School, a cafe and art gallery in an iconic historical building. However, Tricia says that as not all artists could attend monthly gatherings an email list of more than 100 artists was compiled to share information. “A desire to collaborate, along with the combination of creative and organisational skills in the network, led to ideas about arts events that could be staged in Maldon,” she says. “The purpose of these was to offer artists of the Maldon district opportunities to exhibit their work and to attract visitors and tourists to Maldon.” Over the years, members and visitors have come and gone but the mainstays of MANet – Tricia, Jennifer Merkus and Catherine Tait – each have brought their organisational, display and curatorial skills to help stage excellent exhibitions.

Catherine explains that the first event, an Artwalk exhibiting works in most shop windows in Maldon, was held in 2013. “Thanks to sponsorship from the Maldon and District Community Bank, a branch of the Bendigo Bank, the Artwalk was successful,” she says. The event saw exhibitions of works from 70 artists delighting residents, tourists and visitors alike. The second event was the 2014 Maldon Portrait Prize, presented and curated by MANet. “The Portrait Prize showed the work of 50 finalists, who painted portraits of people living in Mount Alexander,” Catherine says. “Dubbed the ‘Marchies’, the artists’ works received much acclaim. There were three independent finalist selectors and a judge, all of whom had extensive arts experience and knowledge.” Jennifer Kalionis, the director of the Castlemaine Gallery and Museum, awarded the first Maldon Portrait Prize to Tricia for her moving portrait of her husband Jim. Since 2014, a further three Artwalks and Portrait Prizes have been organised by MANet. This organisation has also facilitated studio openings, pop up exhibitions, workshops and curated several Maldon Art Shows, sponsored by Maldon Inc, which is an organisation for businesses in the area. Meetings of MANet and events were put on hold due to the pandemic but once restrictions allowed, group members were keen to return to what they did best. “After the hiatus, the latest MANet Portrait Prize was held in February this year at Edge Galleries,” Jennifer says. “It was due to the generosity of directors Simon Dow and Brad Hooper, who not only offered their gallery but also assisted us with their curatorial skills.”

Mirror Me - Cailin Jansen

The Ecologist - Gabrielle Martin Independent panellists selected artists for the painting and photography sections of the prize. “It was different from previous years when eligibility was restricted to portraits of those living in the Central Goldfields,” Jennifer says. “This MANet Portrait Prize was open to portraits of anyone living in Australia. Consequently, there were more entrants. However as testament to the quality of arts in the region, many local artists were selected as finalists. Of the entries, 177 were exhibited online in our new website.” Judge Yvette Copperfield, a renowned artist and Archibald Prize winner, selected Gabriel Martin‘s portrait of her ecologist friend Cassia Read as the painting prize winner. Cailin Jansen was awarded the MANet Photography Portrait Prize, judged by Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum director Naomi Cass, for her work Mirror Me. MANet is fortunate and grateful for the continuing sponsorship of I Be Human, an international philanthropic organisation that supports arts and culture, environmental and social programs. It also appreciates the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, which provides organisational, insurance, risk management and governance support. MANet is again busy after the lull caused by COVID. There are plans for studio openings to be held concurrently with the Maldon Folk Festival and a Landscape Prize in 2023, in partnership with Edge Galleries. Another Portrait Prize is also in the offing. MANet will continue to meet to generate other ideas and share artistic practice. For further information, visit www.maldonartistnetwork.org.au