The latest exhibition on at the Goolwa Signal Point Gallery, is that of Michael Bryant’s Life in Art, called ‘A Magnificent Obsession’.

Michael Bryant lived in Goolwa and he was involved in many community art projects as well as solo exhibitions over the years. This collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture is a look into his body of work which show his style of a juxtaposition of images.

His paintings include likenesses of people, artefacts, nature and places, which are open to the viewer’s creative interpretation.

The paintings are also striking in the layered surface patterns that give an almost pixelated effect when you see them up close.

Many of the paintings have a collage like appearance that include elements of his upbringing, experiences and a disconnect of images.

The exhibition of over 100 works, most of which are for sale, is on now until Sunday 30 March 2025.

Next door to the gallery in the Wharf Wine Bar, you can see another exhibition of paintings by local artist Jen Biscoe. The exhibition is called Tides and Tempests and is a series of paintings inspired by the changing colours and moods of the local coastline. They depict the beautiful beaches and moody scenes of the ocean and sky in this part of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

I was pretty excited to see this exhibition because Jen Biscoe used one of my photographs as the inspiration behind one of the paintings, all of which are for sale, and on display until the end of April.

Take a drive to Middleton and you’ll see that the Middleton Tavern has recently added a new beer garden and rooftop deck which gives long views from Middleton Beach all the way down the coast. It also overlooks the trainline which gives a terrific bird’s eye view of the passing SteamRanger train as it makes its way between Goolwa and Victor Harbor.

The rooftop deck is a comfortable space to sit and enjoy the views, and features a wall of the colourful pastel cartoon like Australiana art of Brentos, Brent Turner and Tash Leemburg, who have partnered with Coopers Brewery on their Australian Lager advertising.

Just a few reasons to visit the Fleurieu towns of Goolwa and Middleton if you haven’t been for a while. Come for the day or stay longer while the days and nights are still balmy.

Enjoy

Glenys