Next BOP Meeting - all welcome

All invited to attend the next BOP meeting!

This meeting is primarily a working group for the Wildflower Print project. A funded project that will roll out 3 days of community art over the shire this winter.

Community will be invited to participate in a variety of environmental and art, and we are looking for any community groups that would like to put on some food as a fund raising exercise.

As with all meeting we invite anyone interested in joining the group to pop along and get to know us, we are a small and passionate lot that want to see more art in our shire. Got an idea? need help with grants or connection? Pop along and say hello.

Held at Samantha Thompsons studio in Lethbridge, BOP Director

81 Goggin Rd, Lethbridge, Vic, 3332 - 0429 487 721

Successful grant!

Together with The Friends of Brisbane Ranges, we will be facilitating a community arts project in 2025 called “Wildflower print project” The concept is to invite community in for free, to learn linocut, and also understand our local environment by using the wildflowers as reference photos. Keep an eye out for more info on our social pages! Thankyou to Golden plains Shire Council for their support to run this.

LINOCLUB

The last LINOCLUB for 2024 will be held on the 7th Dec, Lethbridge Hall, 12 to 3pm! All welcome, please book online

BACK FOR 2024!

After a couple years of Covid induced quietness the BOP is Back! We where successful in a funding application from local council (Golden Plains Shire- Thankyou) and we are now back and offering creative and unique offerings in the Golden Plains and surrounds! Got an idea? let us know, or attend an event!

Farms and Fields Exhibition

Our first ever group exhibition in June is fast approaching, just two months to go for entries!

The theme is "Farms and Fields", and it's only open to members.

If you are a member you should already have received the entry from by email, but feel free to ask for another copy if needed. Payment for entries is through the shop section of the website.

Entries close on Friday the 8th of June, so there’s still some time to make or choose pieces to exhibit.

Join us for the opening at The BOP Arts co-op, 10 Wallace St, Meredith, Victoria on Saturday the 23rd of June from 3PM - 6PM.

Grant Approved for Linoclub Materials

Huge thanks to BOP member Bev Loveday who applied for a $500 grant from the Golden Plains Shire for the monthly linoclub. The grant was approved and we have new materials for the next year!

If you're interested, you can book through our website and join us on the first Saturday of every month.

Happy New Year!

The BOP has lots of things coming up in the new year, including Linocut Workshop #14, a Paper Puppets Workshop, Linocut Workshop #15 and Applying for Success: Grant Writing workshop. You can find all the dates and details to sign up in the shop section.

Also coming up is our meeting on the 10th of February at 12:30pm, all members are invited and encouraged to come!

Then in June we are having out first group exhibition, "Farms and Fields". It's only open to members, and entries close on Friday the 8th of June, so there’s plenty of time to choose or make pieces to exhibit.

The BOP Annual General Meeting 12 till 1pm (BOP HQ - 10 Wallace Street, Meredith)

Would be great if everyone could make an effort to get to this meeting! Meeting starts at 12 for BOP Artists and winds up at 1pm

Starting from 2pm, we are setting up the Christmas Party and mini Market. Please bring a plate to share, invite friends and family members to come and have a drink, and a look at what we all make!

The idea being that we bring our art/craft to show and tell/sell/trade on the day to each other, and the public. Kinda like a mini market and party rolled into one! What could be better!

So come at 12 for the General Meeting, and from 2 set up the space with food/drinks and our mini market and the doors open at 3 (time to party)

All welcome!

Creative Artist Books made at 2 day workshop!

The first week of the school holidays kicked off the 2 day workshop sponsored by The Youth Team at GPS. The first day was all about experimenting on paper, creating texture, tone, colour and 3D shapes. From this imagery we bound books, made hard cover journals, practised stab binding and made fantastic pop up books. 

Keep your eye peeled to the Facebook page for more artistic events @ The BOP

The BOP has a home in MEREDITH!

Meredith residents might have noticed some little hums of activity at the old information centre over the past few months and wondered what was brewing. We can now confirm that after many months of planning and working out details, the building has found a new lease of life as the BOP Arts Co-op headquarters.

The BOP is a supportive, cooperative group of professional and hobbyist creatives hailing from Geelong through to Ballarat. The BOP has been working to promote the rich artistic potential of the region since its inception in 2016, but given the regional focus a permanent meeting place in the middle has always been the goal. The old information centre is perfectly located. By working closely with Golden Plains shire, BOP Director and founder Samantha Thompson has managed to secure a safe place for the community to come together to create art, learn from professionals, and inspire one another.

Keep an eye out in coming months for even more activity as the BOP starts to work on making the space fit for purpose. Expect workshops, exhibitions, and special events. And feel free to get involved – come and say hi, pitch your creative ideas, get inspired!

Written By Sarah Hart

Little Creatures Group show -April 2017

7 BOP artists have made this exhibition a stand out! If you are around Geelong in April, pop over to Little Creatures and check out some of our wonderful artists.

News March 2017

BIG YEAR SO FAR, HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS!

-The BOP has received a Grant from the Golden Plains Council to run a free mixed media workshop for Parents and Children. If you would like to register your interest please pop over to our Facebook page and check out the events section. Limited numbers so be quick (Children over 8, max 2 per family)

- The Bop directors are almost there on leasing a HQ in Meredith! We will be taking over the old Information center and we cant be more excited! As you can image there has been quite a few meetings, to get this project happening, but we have started to pencil in workshop etc in that space as of MAY 2017.  We have our fingers crossed that we will be in by then and it will be THE FIRST space just for the arts in the region. Stay tuned for more details.

- Golden Plains Art Trail - We had 6 BOP artists get involved this year and I think everyone had an successful weekend, well done!

- Our first Group BOP exhibition in getting bumped in on Thursday! And will be show casing 6 BOP artist with a combination of great art on display at Geelong Little Creatures. It will be hung for a month so get on down there for a bite and check it out! One till 30th April 2017.

-As ever, we welcome new members to join from all across the arts industries so don't be shy! This month we have welcomed several new faces, Im looking forward to getting to know you all at the many evens and exhibitions we hold.

- As a CO OP, it take a community to build a vibrant and rich arts culture, so if you have any ideas about grants, exhibitions or an idea for a workshop please share with the group!

Thanks all, X Head BOP Samantha

Golden Plains Art Trail 2017

We had 6 BOP artist get involved this year, and we where lucky to have Zoe from Zebrafish (And also a BOP artist) to come along to venue 12 and put a couple small promos together. Thankyou Zoe!

Annual General Meeting and a New Year!

Annual General Meeting and a New Year!

Thank you to all that attended the first Bop meeting, it was great to have met new faces and catch up. Co-ops are required to have one Annual Meeting a year so it was great to have achieved this in such a casual and enjoyable setting!

All members have been emailed the meeting notes.

The New Year brings with it new opportunities, including our first Annual Geelong based art exhibition. The entry form has been emailed to all current members, however if yours has not been delivered please let us know via email, (info@thebop.com.au) also in the works is a Ballarat based exhibition at the close of 2017, you will be updated you as the planning develops.

Several more workshops have been booked in, as well as numerous opportunities; achieved in conjunction with local community groups and the council to involve the arts in this region and beyond. Through securing places in arts markets and galleries for our members to sell and display their art and products.

All members are invited to the next meeting. (which will be held at the end of January.) To chat about new ways to get involved!

Merry Christmas and see you next year!

Samantha Thompson - Head BOP

Whats happening!

BOP ARTISTS TAKE NOTE!

Updated info please read and contact us to get involved,

1.Free Retail space

We have been offered a free space to display cards/art -small format in Bannockburn Cultural Center, also The Mill in Geelong - Please take advantage of this free retail space by dropping off or sending us your print advertising, cards etc, and or some small priced works to display - (Please send to 81 Goggin Rd, Lethbridge, 3332, or bring along to an event)

2. Markets
-Creators and makers craft market on a Sunday 27th of Nov in Bannockburn - We have enough artist to share this space

3. Promotions
We have 2000 DL flyers for the Vic Tourism INFO centers dotted all over the place. These will advertise the BOP and have 4 selected artists each run, on the back. Fantastic free advertising for you! (Its at the printers!!!)

We have a large sticker attached to a very cool retro Van for this years Speed Trials at Geelong Water front- Last week of November - Should be seen by 1000's!

4. Workshops

-include Business Development 29th Oct 10 till 12) (Lethbridge) and Mixed media in Bannockburn Cultural Center - (Wed 16th Nov) Cheaper for BOP members, tix and info under the events on this page, buy online via www.thebop.com.au

5. Art Exhibitions

- Call out for BOP exhibition at the Cultural center in Bannockburn, Free - Dates are 1 December 2016 – 27 January 2017, work need to be delivered before Wednesday 30th November, Limit of 3 pieces each.
- The BOP Arts co - op Inaugural Exhibition - Held at Little Creatures Geelong - 3rd - 30th April 2017
- We are currently applying for a space for a Ballarat based exhibition for next November 2017 ( more details to come)
- The Bop will have a group exhibition of 3 artists at the Golden Plains Art Trail next year in April.

Please pick what you would like to be involved in and let me know please, we need you all to get involved to make this group a fantastic art community!

Cant make it? No problem but please send me business cards etc so I can represent you at these events.

X The Head BOPS Samantha and Deb

Mixed Media Workshop - Bannockburn

MIXED MEDIA MADNESS

A workshop run for BOP members and general public -everyone welcome - Held at the Bannockburn Cultural Center

Love mixed media?

Want to learn how to combine paper, printmaking, Perspex, textiles found objects and more into an artwork? Come and get inspired and have a whole lot of fun whilst also learning techniques to combine media.

Come and learn with Professional artist Samantha Thompson, who has been producing work and exhibiting fine art for over 18 years. Over many years of practice, and in the design industry, she has acquired knowledge about multiple medias, aided through 3 years at RMIT studying "Textile Design"

The work shop is all inclusive (material supplied) however if you have special things from home please bring them!

Things covered in the workshop include, simple printmaking techniques with Lino and other stamps. Ink/pastel/chalk etc on paper, create images in which to cut out. Which supplies to use, how to balance and create interest in your mixed media piece. Select from a supplied variety of printed paper. How to create depth in your work using Perspex and other tricks.

I'm hoping everyone has a finished piece by the end of the work shop, or close too!

This class is great for artists, crafty people, scrapbookers and people that want to learn something new. No experience required.

Timeline
6 pm - workshop starts, quick intro
An introduction to mixed media, and materials I use.
6.15 - Lino demo- tips and tricks to hand press and make stamps
6.30- Start working on your own piece with equipment and materials supplied. Cut, dismantle, stick, sow, glue, tack, paint your piece together!
8.30 finish

Cost of workshop is $10 each payable when you book for BOP members and $20 for the general public. (Normally $75)
Booking required either Direct Debit or Paypal /credit card via our website(info@samanthathompson.com.au)

Please bring drawings, found objects, textiles etc that you might want to include in your mixed media work.

Questions? Please let me know

PH 0429 487 721
samantha@samanthathompson.com.au
www.samanthathompson.com.au
or
Info@thebop.com.au
www.thebop.com.au

A Night with Stephanie Browne

Come along for a casual evening with Stephanie Browne, who has built her bespoke business into a world recognised brand.

Established in Melbourne in 1988, Stephanie Browne is synonymous with creativity, design, and quality, and is especially suited to brides looking for stylish, on trend, and luxurious accessories . Stephanie's recent collections released in New York and London are world renowned, and consist of mother of pearl headpieces, golden crowns, silk wreaths, vintage inspired combs, earrings, and bracelets that are often mistaken for the real thing.

Each piece of her originally designed collection is handmade using the finest materials, Swarovski crystal, fresh water pearls, and components sourced worldwide. They are then all lovingly assembled in her Melbourne studio. Stephanie has created for dozens of celebrities, television shows and movies, and most recently designed accessories and jewellery for The Dressmaker and further a field for Lady Gaga in American Horror Story.

The Stephanie Browne collections can be viewed online, where you will also find her stockists list. Her very own Melbourne Boutique is located at 1210 High St, Armadale. Stephanie is available by appointment, or you can be styled by one of her well-qualified team. The Armadale store houses hundreds of designs from her collections and many bespoke pieces. We promise you will be wowed!

This talk will be a fantastic opportunity for any creative, especially those in the rags, textile, or jewellery industries.

Location to be advised, depending on numbers.

The BOP Arts co - op Inaugural Exhibition

Here at The BOP, we are so thrilled to be able to tell you that our inaugural exhibition will be held between 3rd - 30th April 2017 at Little Creatures Brewery, Geelong.

A re-purposed textile mill, Little Creatures opened in Geelong in December, 2014.

It's involved a little bit of planning, and a lot of talking to get us this far, and there's a little bit to go. Bear with us, though, because we're going to get all the information up online soon.

Exhibition entry is free, but will be open to members of The BOP Arts Co-Op only, so make sure you become a member today.