Hidden Gem - winery in Megalong Valley

A visit to the Wollemi Gems shop in Katoomba is highly recommended if you like gemstones of any kind. The owner, Denys Joannes, began working with stones about 30 years ago. At first, he learned the basic skills of the lapidary art from experienced people and has perfected his own style over the years. It was during a trip around Australia that he first saw the striking Zebra Stone in the Kimberley region and decided then that he wanted to work with it back in Sydney. This was the humble beginning of a hobby that eventually turned into a passionate career. The Indian head figure below is carved from zebra stone and just for fun Denys recently captured the adjoining double-ended/headed zebra shot at Dubbo Zoo.

Travelling overseas then broadened Denys’ knowledge of stones and he was able to acquire rare and unusual materials that he could work with or that would become collectables. His preference is to work with Australian stones which he feels are often neglected by local artisans. When he started out, there were many lapidary supply shops and clubs. Unfortunately, these have mostly disappeared and nowadays very few people can claim to make a living from cutting gemstones. The competitive overseas factories make it uneconomical to produce lapidary goods in worthwhile quantities. Making stock for sale and running the shop as well keeps Denys very busy but he views it as a privilege and gets great satisfaction from selling something and explaining all about it directly to the customer.

Working with opals is a delight to him, exposing and transforming a rough piece of stone into a wearable piece of jewellery. He also works with a large number of Australian semi-precious stones, some of which remain unnamed, since new stones are discovered frequently.

Denys is also an inveterate and diverse collector. Trilobites and other perfect fossils in his extensive museum grade artefacts and minerals collection, along with ancient prehistoric stone tools and display specimens that will astound you. Feel free to enjoy this wonderful display. Opals are a specialty at Wollemi Gems. Opal is the national gemstone of Australia. It is mined in NSW, QLD and SA in commercial quantities. Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica and contains up to 20% water. Opal owes its colours to the refraction of microscopic spheres of silica. Australia produces nearly 90% of the world’s opals although it is also mined in Mexico and Brazil in small quantities.

The various regions of Australia where opals are found produce different opal features. Lightning Ridge in NSW is the only source of the precious and prized black opal (pictured at bottom left of page 13) as well as crystal opal. Queensland is the home of the boulder and matrix opal, which occurs as veins of precious opal in ironstone boulders. Coober Pedy is a famous mine producing commercial quantities of light opal in South Australia, where opal fossils are also found.

Photography is another of his passions and numerous examples appear in this magazine. Another serious interest is horology, and through the shop Denys effects intricate repairs to antique clocks and replaces watch batteries. The 200 year old French Gothic Cathedral clock pictured (left) was recently restored by Denys and is now working perfectly.

Denys is also a keen apiarist who began keeping bees for the last sixteen years, and learned the hard way, losing all his bees to disease twice but he never gave up. He now keeps about seven hives on his property which adjoins the National Park in Wentworth Falls. He is happy to help by contributing to the pollination of the forest as well as collecting a delicious honey, extracted using traditional methods. The honey has a rich, unique taste from pollen collected mainly from angophora, stringy bark and bloodwood trees. A number of customers even travel from Sydney specially to buy it.

At Wollemi Gems you’ll find a great variety of QUALITY OPALS from souvenir to investment grade at realistic prices.

SPECIMENS, CRYSTALS and other AUSTRALIAN GEMSTONES also available.

Visit us @ 51 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780 M 0412 720 244 T 02 4782 3733 www.wollemigems.com.au

OPEN 7 DAYS Just 2 minutes from Katoomba Station, a different and relaxed shopping experience

You will be amazed at the variety of stones, specimens and jewellery available at Wollemi Gems. Located at 51 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. www.wollemigems.com.au

Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum

The Norman Lindsay Gallery at Faulconbridge is the home of the Magic Pudding and displays the work of artist and writer Norman Lindsay (1879-1969). Run by the National Trust, the sandstone cottage and landscaped grounds are open Thursday to Sunday and there is a specialist gift shop and cafe.

Norman Lindsay (1879-1969), artist, cartoonist, and writer, came from a family that produced five artists. Lindsay left home when he was sixteen to live with his brother in Melbourne. In 1901 he moved north to make his permanent home in the Blue Mountains, working for the Bulletin in an association that lasted almost to his death.

His first novel was published in 1913, and by the 1920s he was both proficient and prolific in pen and ink drawing, etching, woodcuts, watercolours and sculpture. Lindsay’s art depicts Bohemianism and Arcadian pantheism madly admixed in a fantasy world.

From as early as 1904 his work was very controversial and in 1930 his novel Redheap was banned. The following year the police proceeded against an issue of Art and Australia that showcased his art.

There were many critics of Lindsay’s work but he remained popular with collectors, and his famous character, Albert, the loyal but cranky Magic Pudding from his classic children’s book (1918) is still just as popular with today’s younger generation.

A special exhibition titled A Private View featuring works owned by private collectors and not seen by the public for decades, is on display in the gallery until November. This will be followed in December by a wonderful exhibition for families called Springwood Cats...

Images: p.12 - (top) Large polished rhodonite stone (centre) 200 year old French Gothic Cathedral clock (bottom left) zebra stone carving of an Indian head (bottom right) a very confused zebra (or two) p.13 - (above) Black opal from Lightning Ridge, from the famed Rainbow Collection

Norman Lindsay Gallery

‘There’s incredible depth to the Blue Mountains art community, which is comprised of a significant number of award-winning painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and illustrators...’

There’s incredible depth to the Blue Mountains art community, which is comprised of a significant number of award-winning painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and illustrators. An impressive number of local galleries of all shapes and sizes host ever-changing exhibitions, and the exceptionally high quality of the work attracts art aficionados from all around the globe. Norman Lindsay Gallery, in Faulconbridge, is one of several highlights for art lovers. Once the home of the illustrious Australian artist and author Norman Lindsay (1879- 1969), the gallery is now managed by the National Trust (NSW). It displays the artist’s oil paintings, watercolours, etchings, ship models, sculptures as well as characters from his classic children’s book, The Magic Pudding. Set in beautifully landscaped grounds, the gallery also has a gift shop and cafe. www.normanlindsay.com.au Falls Gallery, in Wentworth Falls, has been specialising in works on paper and ceramics by emerging and established artists since 1990. Relax in the serene mountain garden before browsing the gallery, which is housed in a beautifully restored weatherboard cottage. This charming art space features works by gallery directors Ian Smith (pottery) and Anne Smith (paintings and prints). You can also view etchings by Garry Shead, Arthur Boyd, Wendy Sharpe, Max Miller, Anne Smith, Bernard Ollis, Charles Blackman, John Olsen, Michael Leunig and Alan Peascod. www. fallsgallery.com.au Lost Bear Gallery, on Lurline Street in Katoomba, champions an impressive mix of contemporary artists, including local sculptors Ian Swift (who created the larger-than-life polar bear that sits at the entrance) and Michael Mandelc, who uses industrial materials to exceptional effect. Along with a regular change of exhibitions, inside you’ll discover outstanding paintings, sculptures, ceramics and handblown glass items, all created locally. The size, scale and beauty of Lost Bear Gallery is impressive beyond expectation. With a large open exhibition space usually dedicated for monthly feature shows, the other rooms in this grand old guest house are curated with artworks by some of Australia’s leading and most exciting artists. Open daily. www.lostbeargallery.com John Wilson, one of the country’s leading oil painters, also has a studio in Katoomba. Having grown up in the Blue Mountains, John’s work captures the more elusive aspects of the unique Australian landscape and his paintings are highly collectable. www.johnwilsongallery.com The Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, at the bottom of Govetts Leap Road in Blackheath, has a large gallery space that hosts new exhibitions each month and specialises in exquisite nature-based photography. Entry is free and the centre is open daily. 02 4787 8877 If you love the idea of seeing as many galleries and artists’ studios as possible during your visit, follow the Blue

Charles Blackman, Red Nightmare, circa 1977, oil on canvas, 132cm x 172cm

(left top) Norman Lindsay

(left bottom) Lianne DePougy - Grandes Horizontales, by Anne Smith

David McKenzie, Moon Light, 2020, translucent ink and acrylic on canvas, 61 x 61cm

Mountains Art Trail (http://artstrail.org.au/arts-trail.php), which lists upcoming exhibitions and art events. Katoomba was chosen as the location for the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, one of Australia’s leading regional art galleries. Presenting an innovative and diverse selection of cultural programs that includes concerts, workshops, film screenings and book launches, the centre comprises the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, the World Heritage Interpretive Centre and a state-of-the-art library. Built on the town’s highest point, it also offers panoramic views. www.bluemoun tainsculturalcentre.com.au

Rex-Livingston Art + Objects brings to Katoomba a new exhibition space for both local and national artists and presents an eclectic vision of contemporary and modern art.The gallery is situated in Katoomba St and features painting, ceramics, sculpture and objects of interest. Director, David Rex-Livingston, brings many years of gallery experience to the Blue Mountains, having a diverse background in the commercial art scene in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Inspiration can come in many ways, it might come while taking a walk in nature or a swim in the ocean or seeing a piece of great art. In metal artist Ron Fitzpatrick’s case the inspiration for his garden art and other creations comes from his morning practice of meditation. As well as pieces for the garden the gallery displays a huge range of Ron’s metal framed art mirrors and clocks. There is also a whole room full of exquisite handcrafted imported silver jewellery. Rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets mounted with gemstones, pearls and amber. Come and be inspired. Great Western Hwy (400m before turn off to Jenolan Caves heading west) is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sun day. Ron 0407 723 722, talismangallery@bigpond.com or the Facebook page @ Talisman Gallery Hartley. Gallery H is not a fine art gallery, it is a place encompassing wild, urban, industrial, agricultural and more. Some works are on the serious side and some are a little left of centre. Lots of materials are recycled, very often reaching back into Australia’s farming and industrial past. Some sculptural pieces come courtesy of Lithgow Tip! (Waste Management Centre to younger generations). This is not your typical art space, we are attempting to create a place of diversity, fun and a bit of a visual challenge. Many pieces encompass tools of the past, while others are rooted in the present and sophisticated technologies. We are not fine art…we are finer. Gang Gang Gallery is housed in an early 19th century historic building, purposefully and respectfully restored into what is now the arts hub of the Lithgow region. A place where conversation, reflection and creativity come together. Regular exhibitions and art related events are held. The exhibition space is beautifully presented and houses a wide range of high quality works. Open Friday to Monday, 10-4pm. 206 Main St, Lithgow Hawkesbury Regional Gallery is located on the top level of the Deerubbin Centre, 300 George Street Windsor. The Gallery is located in North-Western Sydney, approximately 90 minutes (by car) from the Sydney CBD. Open 6 days a week Monday, Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm, closed on Tuesday and public holidays. The gallery has an ever-changing cycle of excellent exhibitions from it’s collections, local artists, visiting exhibitions and more.