Travellers in Burnie

Published on 11 March 2020

Senator Jacqui Lambie, Senator for Tasmania, will officially open Traveller’s Cloaks: a collaborative exhibition by the Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers (HWSD) Guild of Tasmania at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery, on Friday 20 March at 6pm.

An exhibition by artists from around Tasmania; the artists have created three-dimensional, multi-media sculptures in fibre and textile. Hand-spun and woven in wool, silk, with a range of felting techniques, hand and machine stitching, the cloaks are evocative of medieval tales and ancient stories of bards traversing the countryside in cloaks that protected them from the harsh environment.

Burnie City Council Mayor Steve Kons said “The exhibition, Traveller’s Cloaks, brings together the textile and fibre community of artists and crafts people who are members of the HWSD Guild. More than a year in the planning and making, this collaborative exhibition by Guild members explores the terminology and mystique of cloaks in our culture: A Magic Cloak, Cloaked in Secrecy, a Blokes’ Cloak and more.”

Also opening on the same evening is an exhibition of new paintings by Italian/Australian resident and painter Claudio Polles. With a connection to Tasmania since childhood, Claudio Polles wears his heart on his sleeve as a passionate and flamboyant artist and poet creating paintings of rare sensitivity. His years of as a local businessman and artist has gained him a following of art lovers including well-known jazz musician Dr Viktor Zappner OAM who will officially open the exhibition.

Admission is free but please RSVP by contacting the gallery on 6430 5875 or [email protected]

The Burnie Regional Art Gallery is open free to the public from 10am to 4.30pm weekdays and from 1.30pm to 4pm weekends and public holidays.

Stay up to date with events and public programs that support exhibitions on the Gallery’s social media pages.

The Burnie Regional Art Gallery a Burnie City Council initiative and is assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts.

For further information and images please contact:

Regional Art Gallery Director 03 6430 587 [email protected]