September media release - sculpture workshops

NEWS RELEASE ... GO TROPPO WITH LIFE CLASS

Port Douglas, 14 September 2009...

If you’ve ever imagined being able to build a life-sized portrait in clay and actually have it look like the model, a masterclass in sculpture during the Port Douglas Go Troppo Arts Festival is just around the corner.

Aden McLeod is a very experienced sculptor and teacher who now lives at Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands. Originally from Texas, USA, he has lived and worked in many countries, holding workshops and making bronze sculptures and life-like clay or bronze portraits of the people in towns that he has visited.

Aden says the appeal of life size sculpture is in revealing the spirit and likeness of a subject, and urges his students to go with the flow and allow themselves to create.

“A class is all about learning to let go and bypass the mind,” says Aden McLeod. “You want to see it, feel it, and just let it come out your hands.”

Aden’s full day workshop is titled “Learning to let go: an introduction to portrait sculpture.” http://www.gotroppo-arts-festival.com/portrait-in-clay.html

It is suited to beginners or to those with more experience.

Festival director, Jill Booth, said the festival developed as the result of a visit by a group of artists to Low Isles several years ago to observe the coral spawning at full moon, when they decided to spawn some ideas of their own.

“Visitors will be able to engage with a wide variety of artists as well as watch artists-in-residence working daily at the Sugar Wharf . There’s music and art by moonlight, an art auction and even a dog painting workshop just for fun!” said Jill Booth.

A choice of art, musical and theatrical workshops will see guests have the chance to catch the acting bug at Karnak Theatre in the rainforest, explore sensual oil paints as they develop a dreamy landscape or seascape painting, throw dye at silk scarves in colours that set a fashion statement, or abandon themselves to another realm entirely through the essence of belly dancing.

A feature of the festival will be local playwright Jack Heywood’s presentation of his new work, Max and Diana, which translates the romantic story of the couple who developed Nautilus Restaurant from a shell jewellery making business.

“A concurrent exhibition at the Port Douglas Community Centre will explain the significant role played by the Bowdens in shaping the culture and history of Port Douglas and also offers the opportunity to acquire pieces of Diana’s extra-ordinary shell jewellery from a finite supply not seen in public for over twenty years,” said Jill Booth.

Interviews: Aden and Karena McLeod Tel: 0408066906

Visit: www.go-troppo-arts-festival.com for all information about the program of events.

The Go Troppo Arts Festival gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of Regional Arts Development Fund, Queensland Events Regional Arts Development Program, Cairns Regional Council, Arts Queensland, Regional Arts Fund, Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree, Chroma Australia, the Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce,plus our media sponsors Radio Port Douglas, The Port Douglas & Mossman Gazette, Radio 4CA, The Cairns Post and all our other supporters including Friends of the Festival.

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