{"id":227182,"date":"2019-01-30T14:45:29","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T04:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=227182"},"modified":"2020-07-24T19:11:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-24T09:11:35","slug":"gallery-adds-to-trail-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/01\/30\/gallery-adds-to-trail-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Gallery Adds To Trail Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blackbutt Art Gallery’s Val McGrath with some of the works that have been on sale at the gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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The gallery’s art displays change regularly, and range from traditional to contemporary pieces<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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The gallery displays the works of 18 local artists, including Lisa Tee<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

January 30, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blackbutt Art Gallery will be celebrating its 17th birthday this year, and if the summer holiday season is anything to go by it should be a happy occasion.<\/p>\n

The gallery, located next to the Blackbutt Bakery, has been enjoying good sales over the Christmas and New Year period.<\/p>\n

Good sales in the run-up to Christmas isn’t necessarily a surprise.\u00a0But good sales January – which is usually a quiet time for most local retailers – certainly is.<\/p>\n

So what’s the secret?<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Passing trade,” gallery volunteer Bev Brown said.<\/p>\n

“A lot of people pass through Blackbutt on their way to things elsewhere, and we get a lot of sales from that.<\/p>\n

“We also get a lot of sales from visitors who come to Blackbutt along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.<\/p>\n

“Just recently, a lovely lady from Hervey Bay who was cycling the Trail came in and bought a big picture we had in the gallery.<\/p>\n

“It was too big to carry on her bike, so we held it for her until she could come back later in her car and pick it up.”<\/p>\n

Bev said being located next to the Blackbutt Bakery didn’t hurt, either:\u00a0“The Bakery gets a lot of Rail Trail visitors all year round.”<\/p>\n

The gallery is run by a not-for-profit community arts group and currently displays the works of 18 South Burnett artists and craftspeople.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We have award winners in acrylics, oils and watercolours as well as glass art, photography, Aboriginal art, pottery, leatherwork, lino-art, fine woodwork, picture books, cartoons, quilts, ceramics and even music CDs by one member and her husband,” Bev said.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a smorgasbord of country culture and the variety is amazing – people just love to come in and browse.”<\/p>\n

Bev said small items were particularly popular with some visitors because they were inexpensive and easy to transport.<\/p>\n

“Over time we’ve found what things sell well and what don’t, and we’ve gradually changed our mix so we’re carrying the items people really want,” she said.<\/p>\n

“This is good for our artists as well as our customers, and our guestbook is full of really positive comments.”<\/p>\n

The gallery always welcomes new members, and in recent years a number of “tree changers” who’ve moved to Blackbutt have joined the group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some now sell their own artworks through the gallery, while others volunteer to help run the shop and socialise with visitors.<\/p>\n

“Anyone who’d like to find out more can just drop in any day for a chat, or follow our Facebook page<\/b><\/a>“, Bev said.<\/p>\n